Scribblers: Casus Belli part one

Scribblers: Casus Belli

Issue the First

1. INT. T.O.R.Y., DINAS BRANCH. Day 1 - 0900

A plush office, very flash, all floor-to ceiling windows; outside we can see a compound that looks a bit like a sort of army base-cum-prison, with a troop of identically dressed men combat training in the courtyard. Inside, though, since that's where I said we were in my instructions, stands BLOCK (pretty, self-important, designer-cool costume), facing a large plasma screen. The face of RINGTONE (late 40s, toupee, tediously extravagant) is upon it. They are conversing, as you do.

BLOCK
So that's four hundred ready for shipment, sir. We're just powering them up now, and they'll be deployed to you in half an hour from now.

RINGTONE
Excellent!! Yes!! It's an important day, you know. And you say they'll be loyal??

BLOCK (slightly smug)
Unswervingly, for the duration of the contract. We're very thorough.

RINGTONE
Oh good good, fuck me yes!! I look forward to it, Mr Block. See them in half!!

The screen goes blank, and Block turns on his heel, attempting a dramatic and cool sweep from the room.

He fails, and just looks a bit like a tit.

CUT TO:

2. INT. T.O.R.Y., DINAS BRANCH. Day 1 - 0902

A long white-and-chrome room, with long medical stations running down its length including hundreds of individual examination tables with robotised syringe-wielding machines hovering above them. Most of the tables are currently occupied by muscly types in cheesy uniforms with a picture of a phone and the letter R on them. A large electronic control panel stands against one wall. BLOCK enters and moves over to DISCHORD (disdainful, sadistic), who on seeing him turns and strides to the doors.

BLOCK
That's it, we're just - hey, where are you going?

DISCHORD
Home. I finished them, I don't need to be here.

BLOCK
But - hey! We're supposed to both get them loaded up! You can't just - !

DISCHORD
Oh, shut up, Block.

He pulls open the door.

BLOCK (shouty)
No! I'm not doing all the work again! Stop ignoring me! Stop - !

Dischord gives him a look of pure condescension, and leaves. Block looks pouty and sulky.

BLOCK (muttering)
Can't believe he's done it again...

He turns to the control panel, and sniffs.

BLOCK (still muttering)
That's the last time... He won't get away with it again... I'll show him... Commencing empowerment...

The lights dim, except for over the costumed fellows on the tables.The tannoy flickers to life, and a robo-voice speaks.

COMPUTER
Empowerment Programme commencing. Please lie still.

The machines with the syringes in move and lower over the chest of each goon, and inject them smoothly and swiftly before lifting up and away and becoming inanimate once again. Block sniffs again as the goons all shift uncomfortably, some grunting in pain, and picks up the microphone to the tannoy himself.

BLOCK (importantly)
Alright, you goons. You have ten minutes to get into the transports in the yard, and then -

He is cut off by a scream from the far end of the hall; as he pauses, the other goons all start screaming too, suddenly bucking and writhing on the tables. Block looks alarmed.

BLOCK
Er... there may be some side-effects if you aren't... aren't used to the serum -

Machinery starts crashing as the thrashing goons knock it down; at the far end of the hall a few have started sounding less like they're screaming and more like roaring, more primal. At this end two start sprouting horns and barbs over their limbs, nails becoming claws; another flings out an arm and breaks a table in two. Block backs away a few steps, clutching the microphone.

BLOCK
Er... everyone... everyone, stay -

A goon in the middle climbs to his feet on lizardy legs, his face contorted with fangs, and breathes a stream of fire clean across the room to the wall, where it melts a hole. Another stands with a misshapen, clay-like body and roars; in the corner, four or five start fighting each other, one melting the others by touch and another seizing and ripping them apart.

BLOCK (whispered)
Please stay calm.

And finally, they all finish transforming; most no longer look human, some with rocky or scaly skin, some with skin that looks diseased; some have fangs or claws, and some have mutated eyes; some are already covered in blood, and some blatantly have powers that they aren't themselves immune to, meaning their own limbs and skin are being corroded as they stand; and as one, they look to the ceiling and howl, a long, unending sound.

Block throws the microphone down and sprints for the nearest empty exam table, where a full phial of the serum injected into the others is waiting; he grabs it -

And the howling stops.He turns.

They're all looking at him.

CUT TO:

3. INT. THE PIT. Day 1 - 0930

The Scribblers are chillin' in Da Pit although in a break from the norm this is not happening in the first scene, because I am a writer of variety and professionalism. The Scribblers are sitting around in the living room - CHRONAL is playing the Minute Waltz in an actual minute on the piano, as he so often does, while LYRIC is sketching idly by just speaking the pencil lines into being on the page. AMITY and FINESSE are building a house of cards with Uno cards, following a complicated system of rules for which colours go where. SHIFT is huddled under a quilt on the sofa, unseen.

WRAITH enters. Finesse looks up. On seeing each other they freeze and stare at each other for a moment, like weird wild animals, before Finesse sniffs disdainfully and goes back to her cards.

FINESSE
Oh god, it's you again.

WRAITH
Yeah, well, I have a theory. You like to be disappointed really, which is why you keep me around.

LYRIC
Surely that's why she keeps - ?

CHRONAL
Hey, I know where that mean comment is going!

LYRIC
Heh.

FINESSE
Amity, confirm that what Wraith said is untrue.

AMITY (absently)
Hmm? Oh, yes - she doesn't crave disappointment.

WRAITH
Ehhhhh...

AMITY
She loves you really.

WRAITH
Ah ha!

FINESSE
God damn it, Amity.

WRAITH
No, too late. I am your favourite member of this team, even beating Chronal.

LYRIC
That's because he's disapp-

CHRONAL
Hey!

FINESSE
Now, you know that's not true.

CHRONAL
Excellent.

FINESSE
My favourite is Shift.

SHIFT (muffled)
In your faces.

CHRONAL
Awwwwwww.

FINESSE (mock-sternly)
Don't whine. This is why.

CHRONAL (slightly mopey)
Yeah, I suppose...

WRAITH
So Shift, you know your action-name?

There is a pause.

Shift emerges.

SHIFT
My what?

WRAITH (mock-sincerely)
So, I think you need a new action-name, because -

SHIFT
I suspect I'm going to be offended by this.

AMITY
Yes, I think this is a premise you're going to struggle to save, Wraith.

FINESSE
Plus, her what name?

CHRONAL
No no, that part I approve of.

WRAITH (in the fake tones of an idiot trying gently explain an erroneous fact)
No, because you need a new action-name, right, because 'Shift' is... it's a bit... keyboard, you know? Might as well be "Windows key", or "capslock".

SHIFT
For the record, you haven't saved it yet.

WRAITH
Plus... you know... when Finesse shouts your name, I think she's telling me to move.

SHIFT
Oh, good.

FINESSE
Silver linings.

LYRIC
I'm going to regret asking this, but... what's your new suggestion?

WRAITH
Well, you see... you can fly, can't you? And see in the dark? And you really like light. You're always turning lights on at night.

SHIFT
Er...

WRAITH
So I just thought: Moth Child.

Chronal bursts out laughing. Amity grins at him.

FINESSE and LYRIC and SHIFT (together)
Moth Child?!?

AMITY (sincere tone)
Yes, and the best thing about that is, it's not at all a really stupid name.

CHRONAL (breathlessly)
I love it!

FINESSE
And you are forbidden from having it.

The front doorbell rings, sounding like the 60s Iron Man theme tune.

FINESSE
Wraith, your penance is answering that.

WRAITH
All this, just for a suggestion...

SHIFT
A truly disquieting suggestion. And you never did save that premise before offending me. Begone.

WRAITH
Ehhhhhh...

He goes.

LYRIC
That's telling him.

Suddenly, the TARDIS sound happens. The police phone! Lyric gets up.

LYRIC
Don't even pretend, guys. I'll get it.

FINESSE
Good - o.

He goes to the police comm.

SHIFT
You know, I think I might become Moth Child.

CHRONAL
Do it!

FINESSE
Don't.

AMITY
Well, as the one with the deciding vote, I -

She stops, and suddenly leaps to her feet.

AMITY
Something's wrong with Wraith -

LYRIC (from the vid screen)
Guys, over here, quick! There's an emergency!

FINESSE
Chronal, get Wraith. Everyone else...

They hurry to the vid-screen, Shift morphing into a robin to fly the distance faster. COMMISSIONER MORGAN (50s, stern, alignment: lawful-good) is looking even sterner that usual, while panicked-looking people in police uniforms race around behind her like headless chickeny types.

COMMISSIONER MORGAN
Silence. There's no time for pleasantries.

FINESSE
I hadn't -

COMMISSIONER MORGAN
Nor corrections. Seven minutes ago, a wave of what the public, press and police are somewhat hysterically calling 'mutates' attacked the Paul Ball Mall in downtown Dinas. We don't know where they came from, but they're wearing this costume.

A photo of a man with muscles on his muscles, Image comics-style, half an arm, a series of fang-laden mouths running down his chest and stomach and sort-of melty skin appears on screen. The Scribblers recoil, and react simultaneously.

FINESSE
Jesus god!

AMITY
Argh!

SHIFT
Oooohh, that's not nice...

LYRIC
That is right 'angin', like.

COMISSIONER MORGAN
We also have no time for horrified reactions. Know the uniform?

FINESSE
Well, as far as I can tell under the - skin... slime, it looks like Ringtone's.

AMITY
Oh, surely not? He's a closetted mid-life crisis, not... this.

COMMISSIONER MORGAN
His name is a start. We can question him now under the Supervillain Clause, and he might give us leads. Meanwhile we need you all downtown.

SHIFT
How many of them are there, and what powers do - ?

CHRONAL (v/o)
Guys, quick!

They turn. Chronal and Wraith are entering the room, sagging slightly under the weight of BLOCK. He's in a bad way -most of his chest and one arm are covered in a bad burn, but the skin looks slightly frozen over it. Claw and talon marks cover most of him, meaning any part not covered by his extremely ripped designer-cool costume is all blood and that. He's unconscious. There's a lump on his skull,with a trickle of blood coming from it making its way down the side of his face.

Amity sprints to his side. The others also approach, except Shift, who stays to be briefed by Commissioner Morgan.

FINESSE
What the - ?

AMITY (authoritatively)
Lie him down, I need to see him.

CHRONAL
Well, it seems Block here came calling, and then Wraith opened the door, and then Wraith panicked and brained him with a pipe, and now he's unconscious.

WRAITH
Player got all nemesis-y in my face and that.

CHRONAL
He said "Help me, they're after me." Or tried to.

They get Block onto the sofa.

LYRIC
Please tell me you didn't do the rest.

WRAITH
Of course not! I don't have fire powers. I'm not Fire Child.

LYRIC
He came like that?

FINESSE
We should send him back to seller. Amity?

AMITY
Well, he's suffering from enormous mental trauma and is now also concussed, but I think I can bring him round for a moment or two. I doubt we'll get much sense out of him, though. And he needs a hospital fast - specifically a burns ward.

FINESSE
Let's listen to whatever he wants first.

WRAITH
Really? He's your nemesis! You want to give him any of your time?

FINESSE (pained)
No, I'm his nemesis. There is a distinct difference.

LYRIC
And that's telling him.
(beat)
Or would be if he weren't unconscious.

AMITY
Also, mutates attack and a villain arrives looking mauled. Hang on... I think...

CHRONAL
Mutates?

AMITY
There!

Nothing happens for a second, and then Block awakens, his eyes glassy and unfocused; he whimpers, writhing slightly in obvious pain. Finesse crouches next to him.

FINESSE
Alright, what did you do, you absolute tool?

AMITY (in token mild reproach)
Finesse. We don't know he did anything yet.

LYRIC
He's a known criminal.

AMITY
Yes, I know. I just had to say it to clear my conscience. Carry on.

BLOCK (hoarse whisper)
He's... they're... please...

He grabs Finesse, who doesn't fight him off but gives him the most displeased look she can muster.

BLOCK
Please... it went wrong, something... something...

FINESSE
Tell me what and stop wasting my time.

AMITY
Oh, he can't. He's very unfocused; he's not even sure if you're real.

FINESSE
Tool.

BLOCK
It changed... it shouldn't have... the serum -

FINESSE
What?

She freezes, staring at him; looks at the vid-screen; looks back at him.

FINESSE
XGH? Is it XGH, you absolute sodding moron?

BLOCK
It shouldn't have done that... it was safe...

Finesse closes her eyes. Amity lays a hand on her arm.

FINESSE (evenly)
Knock him out again before I do.

AMITY (doing so)
Er... right. Well, that wasn't the answer you wanted.

Shift arrives.

WRAITH
Is that what Pricktaro used on the nemeses?

LYRIC
Yes. On a scale of one to ten, how bad is this?

FINESSE
I don't have words. It's supposed to be practically impossible to get hold of, so if he's found a way to - how many mutates, Shift?

CHRONAL
Mutates?

SHIFT
Ah, bad news. A few hundred.

AMITY
A few hundred?

FINESSE
So he can manufacture XGH for hundreds, now. He can synthesise it, albeit apparently badly. That is already terrible. But it's made mutates.

CHRONAL
I think I was out of the room when the mutates were -

AMITY
Is there a cure, though? I mean -

LYRIC
It changes genetics, doesn't it? That's not the sort of thing you can just cure.

FINESSE
No, it's not. And this looks like, just... random mutation.

SHIFT
Well... Kayleigh can help... and I have a friend I went to university with who does bioinformatics.

WRAITH
Bio-what?

SHIFT
It's a bit complicated. But relevantly he was heavily involved with mapping out super-genes, and then creating inhibitor technology. It's made amazing strides towards curing genetic disorders, though. They're in the final trial stages for curing Huntingtons at the moment.

AMITY
Really? You have a friend who cured Huntingtons?

LYRIC
And inhibitor tech?

CHRONAL
And might explain the mutates?

SHIFT
Yes to all three. Among other things. The inhibitor was to help contain criminals - he worked on a psychic disruptor for similar reasons, but then realised just how badly that technology could be abused when all he wanted was to help humanity, and so burned the research for noble reasons.

AMITY
... Wow.

SHIFT (thoughtfully)
He once told me, though, that in an alternate universe he'd probably want to be a starship captain or a time traveller.

AMITY
...

SHIFT
Anyway. The estimate is around three hundred mutates, and a full range of powers. And they seem to be very rampagey and unreasonable and attempting much property damage and death. The police have managed to get a cordon around it, but they can't contain them, and they've no idea how many civilians are still in there.

FINESSE
Then we've no time for this tool. Stretcher please, Lyric. Amity, get him to a hospital. We'll call Kayleigh and Shift's noble scientist friend on the way, so the second Block is in someone else's hands go and liaise with them, make sure they're up to date. We'll try and catch one of these mutates alive for them to examine.

AMITY
Will I be any use to them? I'm no scientist.

FINESSE
You can read body chemistry better than a machine. Of course you will. Let's go.

They all get up and file out, carrying Block on Lyric's freshly made stretcher toward the Trans-Jet bay. Chronal and Wraith hang back as the others go through.

CHRONAL
So... you were out of the room for longer than I was. Why aren't you asking what's going on with these mutates?

WRAITH
What, you mean, I haven't been told yet?

CHRONAL
What?

WRAITH
Dude, I never know what's going on.

CHRONAL
Oh yeah.

CUT TO:

4. EXT. PAUL BALL MALL. Day 1 - 0934

Big, sprawling mall, big like Cribbs Causeway, sort of thing. The Trans-Jet flies overhead.

CUT TO:

5. INT. PAUL BALL MALL - FLOOR 3. Day 1 - 0934

Modern mall interior, all swish chrome and soft brown-and-beige colour scheme and artfully-positioned escalators. Walkways overlook the floors below, where there is a fountain, and the floors above, where a glass dome forms the ceiling. Shops about. Normally prettiness abounds.

Currently, mentalness abounds. Mutates are everywhere, destroying everything. A pair of teenagers are sheltering beneath a back-to-back pair of benches, as a mutate with three-and-a-half arms covered in bristle rips up the floor plan and swings it violently towards the benches; the teenagers scream -

And a Rhino gallops in from the side, charging the mutate clean out of the way.WRAITH appears out of nowhere, and sidles up to the bench.

WRAITH
Hey. Uh... I'm Wraith.

TEEN#1
Oh my god, was... was that a rhino?

WRAITH
Yeah, no, that's my friend Shift. She's like that some times.

TEEN#2
You're the Scribblers! You'll save us!

WRAITH
Um, that's the plan. So, I'm going to turn you invisible now, and we're going to get out, agreed?

TEEN#1
Definitely...

WRAITH
Yeah. Good. Go.

They all become invisible. The eye of the beholder draws away to a few metres away, where the mutate is swiping at a rapidly-transforming SHIFT, who keeps changing between small-and-mobile and large-and-punchy animals to avoid/punch him.

CUT TO:

6. INT. PAUL BALL MALL - FLOOR 1. Day 1 - 0935

FINESSE and LYRIC are fighting mutates through ninja techniques and occasionally shouting fire extinguishers, nets and the like into being. CHRONAL knocks out a scaly mutate beside the fountain, and approaches a gaggle of ADORABLE CHILDREN crouched in a ruined shop doorway.

CHRONAL
Hey -

ADORABLE CHILDREN
Argh!!!!

CHRONAL
No no, it's okay, they can't get you, look -

He freezes time.

CHRONAL (beaming)
There, you see - ?

ADORABLE CHILDREN
Argh!!!!

CHRONAL
Oh. Er... it's okay! I am a Scribbler, and I shall now save you! From the mutates I still don't understand!

ADORABLE CHILDREN
Argh!!!!

CHRONAL
Hmm. This is a lot harder than comics would have you believe.

Meanwhile in Real Time, Finesse and Lyric are fighting three angry mutates. One breathes fire at them.

FINESSE
Shield!

A shimmering in the air indicates the shield, which deflects the fire.

LYRIC
Cheers! But there are hundreds of - darts! - them, think we can keep this up?

FINESSE
Well, they - chains! - aren't clever, so I reckon so. They - shield! - don't have a sense of reason, or strategy.

LYRIC
Like Wraith?

FINESSE
Ha!

A mutate rears to the left, and she directs his energy blast clean into the flamey one, knocking him out.

FINESSE
Awesome. Let's take that one home.

LYRIC
Chains, gag, hood.

They appear on the now-prone flamey one.

LYRIC
Hate to ask, but why can't you do that to all of them?

FINESSE
Well -

She leaps onto the fountain plinth and spreads her hands; the energy bolts tear out of the mutate in question, and deck the twenty nearest that were approaching. Lyric hastily binds them all; but as he does, the mutate seems to overload, and collapses with a gurgled yell.

FINESSE
Dammit. That's why. They're still mutating, Lyric.

LYRIC
What?!

FINESSE
I know. Whatever that bloody serum did, it's still doing it. Their powers keep changing.

LYRIC
I'll tell Amity. The scientists will need to know.

CUT TO:

7. EXT. THE SWINGING BLUE GENES PLC OFFICES. Day 1 - 0938

Big, sleek, glass-fronted building, with a multi-coloured sign over a set of doors. There is an intercom thingy. AMITY is also there, talking on the comm.

AMITY
They're still mutating?

LYRIC('s voice)
Yeah. 'Tis mingin' beyond, like. We've got you one, though, so you'll be able to experiment soon. In, you know, a totally humane way.

AMITY
I really love it when we remember that part.

She reaches the intercom and presses the button.

AMITY
Anyway, I'm here, and Kayleigh's en route. I'd better go and meet this scientist of Shift's.

The intercom crackles into life, sounding static-y for a second.

LYRIC
Ah, yes, the one you clearly fanc -

AMITY
Shut up, Lyric...

INTERCOM VOICE
Er... sorry? I'm not Lyric.

AMITY
What? Oh god, no, I didn't mean - Hello! I'm Amity! I'm here to meet a Professor Amalgam?

AMALGAM('s voice)
Oh good! I am that one.

AMITY
Excellent!

AMALGAM('s voice)
I think so too! I'm coming out to let you in now, don't worry. Sorry, we used to be able to buzz people in, but -

A DOG appears inside the building, visible through the glass, wearing a waistcoat. It trots happily to the doors. Amity grins at it, and then blinks.

AMALGAM('s voice)
- after I invented the terrible psychic disruption technology that could have so harmed humanity and had to burn it we've been stronger on security. And, er, sometimes I can be a bit... territorial, anyway, because... oh...

The dog jumps up at the glass for a second, pawing at the keypad beside the door, before pausing and looking mournfully at Amity. She stares at it, mesmerised.

AMALGAM('s voice)
Oh dear. Wrong one. Sorry, let me try again.

AMITY (in wonder)
I'm very sorry if this is a sensitive question, but... are you this dog?

Inside the building a GOAT appears, also in a waistcoat.

AMALGAM('s voice)
Didn't I - ? Damn. In fact, I... am, in a manner of speaking. Partly. Well -

AMITY (delightedly)
Oh my god, are you this goat, too?

AMALGAM('s voice)
The goat? Shit, did I send the goat? Wait, let me use the mirror this time...

There is a pause, during which Amity beams happily at the faintly awkward-looking dog and goat, while the dog looks back at her, slowly wagging its tail.

AMALGAM('s voice)
Oh, bugger. Of course. I'm still using the intercom, which means the human mouth is still here. Sorry. I'm on my way...

AMITY (cheerfully)
Thank you!

She crouches down to the dog and goat. The dog wags its tail harder and takes a small step forward before apparently remembering itself, and looking slightly embarrassed.

AMITY
Your mind is amazing, you know! I can feel it from both parts of you. Same mind, two - three - bodies. But different instincts live in your different heads, don't they? I've never felt anything like it. Oh, sorry - can you still hear me through the glass?

The goat nods, and makes a series of strange bleats, as though trying to talk. Amity giggles.

AMITY
Sorry. That was your goat mouth.

A HUMAN appears at the door, and she stands.It is AMALGAM (eccentric, witty, playful), wearing a costume including a matching waistcoat and a Victorian frock-coat and hunting boots combination. This one is a white frock-coat, for working in the lab. He opens the door, and shakes her hand.

AMALGAM
Hello! Again. Sorry - I meant to say, I actually have five bodies, but one's on the roof and the other is in my tank. I feel I should stress that I'm not normally this bad.

AMITY
Bad?

AMALGAM
Mixing myself up like some benzadrine loon. I've just been working quite hard this morning...

AMITY
That's okay! I'm extremely clumsy too! And that's just with one body to pilot. It probably borders on farcical that one of my favourite hobbies is dancing, therefore.

Dog actually jumps into the air in its excitement and barks before suddenly fleeing to the lab. Amalgam looks at her, apparently delighted.

AMALGAM
You dance? Me too!

AMITY
Really? Hooray! Ooh, what types -

Her communicator beeps, and she sighs.

AMITY
Yes?

FINESSE('s voice)
We have a serious problem.

CUT TO:

8. INT. PAUL BALL MALL - FLOOR 1. Day 1 - 0940

FINESSE and SHIFT are fighting MANY MUTATES around CHRONAL, who is kneeling over the BOUND MUTATE from earlier, keeping him frozen. LYRIC is fighting a few metres away.WRAITH may also be there, but if so he's invisible, and besides, no one cares.

FINESSE
The transformations aren't just ongoing - they're definitely random!

AMITY('s voice)
Really? What does - ?

FINESSE
They're incomplete! One'll get the gene to throw fire, but won't be fire-proof!

SHIFT (mildly)
It's true. It's really disgusting.

FINESSE
And I don't know how much - shit...

A mutate rears up in front of her, his flesh glistening and red, and throws his hands towards her; liquid shoots out of them that Finesse deflects to either side where it scorches the floor and fountain -

And the mutate screams, suddenly clawing at his own body wildly, his fingers digging in and tearing without blood -

His flesh bubbles, moving like molten wax -

And it runs off his skeleton, leaving him to melt to the floor until the screaming finally stops.

The Scribblers stare at the puddle in shock for a moment, until a sound like thunder jerks them back to attention, and they look up numbly. The mutates are hurling themselves against an invisible dome around them.

AMITY('s voice)
Guys? Guys, what happened? Can anyone hear me?

FINESSE (without emotion)
One just melted in front of us. Their DNA is coming apart. Tell Amalgam.

SHIFT
Well, that was displeasingly horrific.

LYRIC
What's protecting us?

FINESSE
Me. The one at the back. It's already slipping away, though.

There is another pause.

CHRONAL (voice low)
Are any of them going to survive this?

FINESSE
No.

CHRONAL
Will it be that painful?

FINESSE
Yes.

They watch for a second more as the dome slowly disintegrates around them, one mutate glowing like a candle and screaming, another rapidly deforming.

LYRIC (quietly)
Okay then.

The dome vanishes, and the mutates rush in.

LYRIC
Ystradebol.

The Scribblers attack.

CUT TO:

9. INT. THE SWINGING BLUE GENES PLC LAB. Day 1 - 0952

AMITY is standing at a work bench, staring blankly through illustrated notes on a holo-screen. AMALGAM comes in with a tray bearing a teapot and two tea cups. One has a small piece of foil next to it.

AMALGAM (gently)
Any better?

AMITY (sadly)
Okay. Well, they're all incredibly traumatised, but they've pushed it aside to focus on being totally livid instead.

(beat)

Especially Finesse and Lyric, but they're sort of like that anyway.

AMALGAM
I meant you. I know a bit about psionic bonding.

AMITY (smiling)
Yeah. I'll be fine. Tragically we've all seen worse. Although this is the first time we've had to do the put-out-of-misery thing on this kind of scale.

AMALGAM (glumly)
Yes. Well, they were right to do it. I suspect the pain levels for the goons were comparable to radiation poisoning.

AMITY
Oh no! Like the tenth Doctor?

AMALGAM (brightening)
Yes! Wasn't that a brilliant episode?!

AMITY
I know!! And everyone was so good in it, and it was just the perfect start for Matt Smith!!

AMALGAM
Who, by the way, is excellent!

AMITY
Yes he is!

(beat)

Oh. Off-topic. Sorry. Um... the XGH. What the hell is going on?

AMALGAM
Oh yes. Well, it's impossible to say for certain given that I don't have a sample or a patient, but... XGH works by creating the right mutations in the DNA to produce a super power. In the case of those fellows calling themselves your nemeses it seems to have been straightforward, relatively speaking. They've never changed have they?

(beat)

Powers, that is. I assume they change clothes.

AMITY (giggling)
Yes, me too, and one might argue in any case that it would be an irrelevant question.

AMALGAM (grinning)
It would be fairly irrelevant, yes.

AMITY
No. Their powers have always been stable. Deliberately engineered, too.

AMALGAM
Here... the XGH caused random mutations. For safe superpowers you need several mutated genes, not just one - like Finesse said -

AMITY
You need to be fire-proof if you can throw fire.

AMALGAM
Pretty much. The problem is the nature of DNA, though. Mutations occur essentially when the DNA chain splits in half, and replicates wrongly. It sounds like it was split too many times, too fast for these people. It couldn't keep fixing. They literally fell apart.

AMITY
Right.

She looks up at the holographic DNA chain splitting.

AMITY
Gosh. I'm very cross now, you know.

AMALGAM
Yes, me too. Genetic science is meant to help humankind, not destroy it!

AMITY
I agree! Let's have tea.

AMALGAM
Ooh, lets. The milk's in the tank.

He puts the cup, with its piece of foil, in front of her. Amity turns, and takes the carton of milk from the octopus tentacle that holds it out to her.

AMALGAM (musing)
Hmm. I wonder how tea-based superpowers would work?

Amity stops dead, and looks up at him.

AMITY (not daring to hope)
... Did you just ask me a hypothetical question...?

CUT TO:

10. INT. DINAS CENTRAL HOSPITAL - BLOCK'S ROOM, SECURE WING. Day 1 - 1005.

A private hospital room with two doors, one leading out to the main hospital corridor, the other to the storage rooms. The room contains one bed, a sod-load of medical equipment beeping away and a chair containing a SECURITY GUARD (40s, humourless, kind). His name is Norman. Hello, Norman. BLOCK is in the bed, heavily bandaged, unconscious and handcuffed to the bedrails. A DOCTOR (30s, tall, very long dreadlocks) is talking quietly to the security guard, holding Block's notes. Her name is Dr Osoba. Hello, Dr Osoba.

DR OSOBA
It's actually not as bad as it looks. We've cleaned the burns, but either he was very lucky or very good with his powers - he managed to get them frozen almost immediately after getting them, so it's saved the flesh and most of the skin. Hopefully he won't even need a skin graft.

NORMAN
Looks like agony, mind.

DR OSOBA
That's more of an issue. We've got him on Orimorph at the moment, which hopefully will help, but until he wakes up we won't know if we need to increase the dose or not. And he's in shock.

NORMAN
Not too surprised. I hear it's been carnage downtown.

DR OSOBA (heavily)
Yes. We've got 56 patients either here or en route to us, and more were -

She stops as Block suddenly whimpers and then screams, rushing to his side and scanning the monitors efficiently.

DR OSOBA
Mr Block, my name is Dr Osoba, and you're in Dinas Central. Can you - ?

BLOCK (hoarsely)
The - where is it? I had - I had it -

DR OSOBA
Your possessions are here.

She indicates a tray beside the bed, containing a cracked pocket mirror, a crumpled packet of polos and a small cannister; Block goes to throw a hand towards it, but is halted by the handcuffs.He stares down at them.

DR OSOBA
Also you're under arrest, but try not to worry about that right now.

BLOCK
But... I can't be.

DR OSOBA
You really are. Try not to worry.

NORMAN
A lot of people died today, mate. We're still getting the reports in -

BLOCK (urgently)
What time is it? Quick! How long was I out?

DR OSOBA
Just gone ten, I believe, so not long. About half an hour.

BLOCK
Finesse. I need to see Finesse of the Scribblers.

NORMAN
She's just been cleaning up your mess, mate. I doubt she'll want to see you -

BLOCK (almost screaming)
It doesn't matter! We're all going to die if she doesn't! She'll understand that! Please, please you have to get her here!

Norman stands, alarmed, and hurries out to call his superiors.

BLOCK (still mentals)
We'll die! We're all going to die!! She has to come, she -

DR OSOBA (calmly)
Do you want any more morphine?

(beat)

BLOCK (meekly)
... yes, please.

CUT TO:

11. INT. THE SWINGING BLUE GENES PLC. Day 1 - 1015

In the lab, AMITY and AMALGAM are dancing the lindy hop to music. OCTOPUS is doing very similar movements in its tank. The buzzer goes for the front door and they both stop, guiltily. Octopus keeps going.

AMITY
Oh. Er, that'll probably be the rest of the team.

AMALGAM
Oh yeah. I'll be back in a jiffy!

DOG runs out.

AMITY
That was Dog.

AMALGAM
I'll be back in a jiffy!

He runs out. Amity grins to herself, and goes about making more tea and two hot chocolates.

After a moment, the SCRIBBLERS PLUS KAYLEIGH file in, carrying MUTATE MAN on a stretcher. CHRONAL is carrying a glowy device. Amity stops and hugs LYRIC; Amalgam is talking to SHIFT, apparently trying very hard not to bounce up and down. Dog is running excitedly around the lab. Octopus continues to lindy hop. FINESSE watches Dog in apparent fascination.

AMALGAM
Amity, look! People! And Shift, whom I already know!

SHIFT
This is why we're friends, you see. He doesn't see me as 'people'.

AMALGAM
It's so exciting!

KAYLEIGH
Would we class 'outbreak of mutates' as exciting?

WRAITH
It was pretty boss. Well, except for the end.

LYRIC (wry)
Yeah. You can tell you've being doing a job too long when this sort of thing is just a 'bad day at work'.

Amity smiles sadly, but doesn't push it.

AMITY
I prescribe tea for all.

KAYLEIGH
Hooray!

AMALGAM
Hooray!

CHRONAL
No! I've suffered enough!

AMITY
I made you and Finesse hot chocolate!

CHRONAL
Hooray!

AMALGAM
Hooray!

FINESSE (fascinated)
So... one mind, four bodies?

AMALGAM
Yes! Well... five, actually. The other is on the roof.

FINESSE
Wow.

(Her communicator beeps)

Urgh. Hang on.

She leaves. Lyric and Shift have placed Mutate Man on a table, and Chronal is attaching the glowy device to his chest.

WRAITH
I vote we call him Goon Boy.

SHIFT
I vote no. He's already dying. He doesn't need the additional pain of being named by you.

WRAITH
Hey! What's wrong with Moth Child?

LYRIC
So once Chronal lets him go... is he going to die?

AMALGAM (peering at Goon Boy intently)
If we can't find a cure. What's the device?

CHRONAL
My latest toy! I invented it after Time Wang. This is a Freeze Frame!

KAYLEIGH
Good name.

CHRONAL
Thank you. What I do is, look, I freeze something - in this case Goon Boy - in time -

SHIFT
Oh dear. That seems to be sticking.

WRAITH
Because it's boss.

CHRONAL
- and then, right, then, I calibrate the Freeze Frame, and it holds the time bubble stable for me! So I don't have to!

AMITY
Wow! That's so clever!

AMALGAM
That's amazing!

CHRONAL
I know! I'm so clever. Honestly. You've no idea.

LYRIC
Yes, you really are. So how are we curing Goon Boy?

CHRONAL
Awww. You ruined my narcissism.

Finesse enters.

FINESSE
Hey guys. Block's woken up and is demanding to see me, apparently, or else, and I quote, "We'll all die." Tool.

LYRIC
Eh, don't bother. That doesn't sound serious.

SHIFT
You just don't like anyone on that team because your nemesis is a crazy who wants to psycho-marry you.

AMALGAM
Gosh, really? That sounds frightful.

WRAITH (morosely)
Mine's a sociopath who knows my life and keeps plaigiarising my artwork.

FINESSE
Mine's a tool. Anyway, I'd better go. We still need to interview him anyway. Laters.

She leaves. Amalgam and Kayleigh start setting up equipment, as Chronal fiddles with the Freeze Frame.

AMALGAM (to Amity)
So what's your nemesis like?

AMITY
Oh, you know. A sadistic and malicious telepath who forced at least one of the others into becoming what they are.

SHIFT
Mine is Metal Man. He didn't know they weren't going for ironic nicknames until they'd handed their forms in.

Everyone laughs at Metal Man.

CUT TO:

12. INT. DINAS CENTRAL HOSPITAL - BLOCK'S ROOM, SECURE WING. Day 1 - 1032

FINESSE is sitting in the chair beside BLOCK's bed, looking bored and disgruntled, reading a crappy hospital-waiting-room magazine with 'The 100 Hottest Superheroes of the Year!!!' splashed across the front.Block is just stirring; slowly, he turns his head and tries to focus on her.

FINESSE
Huh. Chronal at number one again. No surprise there.

BLOCK (groggily)
Nng... Finesse...?

FINESSE (not looking up)
Oh, you aren't listed. This list is exclusively for people who aren't total losers.

BLOCK
Ugh. This is you people through and through, isn't it?

FINESSE (bored)
I am, of course, desperate for your clarification of that statement.

BLOCK
You people, people with powers. Always. The arrogance.

FINESSE
My irony meter just exploded.

BLOCK
I'm serious!

FINESSE
So am I, moron. You just played God with the genetics of three hundred people and melted them.

BLOCK
That - it shouldn't have - that wasn't our fault! It couldn't be! And that's not the point! It's the entitlement, listen to you! You get these powers naturally, just gifted them, and you don't appreciate them.

FINESSE
Ah.

She puts down the magazine, sits up and leans forward over his bed, resting her forearms on the bed frame, watching her intently.

FINESSE
That's Medium I hear, yes?

BLOCK (defiantly)
She's right, though.

FINESSE
Of course she's not, you halfwit, try actually thinking about it. When Amity was thirteen years old her powers began to activate. An empath. At thirteen. And they don't kick in all at once like I imagine yours did, did you know that? It happens slowly. You get symptoms first - hints of what your power will be, and you haven't a prayer of being able to control it at that stage. So do you know what she went through?

BLOCK (sulkily)
No.

FINESSE (quietly)
At thirteen years old, when she was starting to develop as a human being, at the most formative and emotionally intense stage of her life, she realised she was able to influence other people's decisions. If she wanted something, she just... pushed a bit of seratonin here and there when she suggested it. Or lowered a dopemine level or two, so they couldn't link a bad experience with what she was asking, and so wouldn't think to object. She didn't know that was precisely what she was doing, of course - but she did. Can you imagine that, for a moment? At thirteen, at her most emotionally insecure, she could completely rob people of their humanity and choice to please herself; make people go out with her, break up friendships and relationships, force new ones, make teachers do what she wanted... the list goes on. Which meant, as time went by, that the people she came into contact with started to develop mental illnesses. Bi-polar was the big one. And she came to realise what she was doing. So, at fifteen, now with more powers at her command and a better understanding of how they worked, and full of a brand new set of good intentions - do you know what she did?

BLOCK (still sulking like a bitch)
Became a hero?

FINESSE
I think that was the basic idea. More specifically, she decided to use her powers for good. So can you guess what she did? She tried to make people happy.

Block stares at her blankly.

BLOCK
I don't get it.

FINESSE
Nor did she at first. But the fact is, you earn happiness for yourself. That's how it has to be. You can't force it on someone unnaturally, or they can't learn and develop. Both the mind and the brain make links, emotional and physical, where they programme themselves to respond to specific input. She had a friend, a good friend. She wanted him to be happy. And his brain learned that "normal" was to make seratonin all the time. His mind learned that everything in the world, every input, would make him happy - to this day, he has the emotional intelligence of a fifteen-year-old, because he could never learn the basic lessons the rest of us do. If you get burned, you don't touch fire again. He couldn't get that. And when he eventually did, it nearly drove him insane.

There is silence for a few seconds as they both watch each other.

BLOCK (really listening now)
So what happened?

FINESSE
She realised how dangerous she was. How dangerous she could be. She came to the realisation that there are no easy answers, and her powers were a double-edged sword that she was going to have to learn to wield properly before she killed someone. So she decided that, firstly, if she wanted to help people in this world, she was going to learn how to do that as anyone else can, powers or not. A real hero. She became a medic.

BLOCK
And then?

FINESSE
Then she learned how brain chemistry works. Every nuance of it that we understand, before joining scientific teams across the country doing studies into the areas we don't understand. She can confirm and deny things, see. By this point her powers had developed their psionic edge, so she could read an emotion as easily as you or I can see if someone is smiling or not. Humanity's knowledge of mental illness, emotion and several areas of psychology advanced phenomenally in that time, because of her, and all along she drank in every bit of information she could get, to make herself safer to everyone around her. And then, once she'd done that, she went back and cured everyone she'd ever given bi-polar disorder. And then - and only then - did she become a superhero.

There is another pause as they look at each other again. A bird sings cheerfully outside the window.

FINESSE
That is a truncated version of the story of just one of my team members. She struggles every day - every single bloody day - with the knowledge of what she could so easily be. So do we all. And you think we don't appreciate our powers? You think they're just a gift?

(beat)

Well, here's what I think. I think you, and Medium, and Dischord, and all of the rest of you, are a sad little group of tiny, pathetic people who never amounted to anything or achieved anything for a single day in your entire god damned lives.

BLOCK
Hey!

FINESSE
You dreamed big, but totally lacked the grit, determination or effort to ever actually achieve. You wanted fame and power for their own sakes. You wanted to be big, but not if it involved actually putting in any hard work. You were, and remain, a pack of losers with pretentions to grandeur, as long as working for it means just doing whatever you want. And so you talked yourselves into believing that it's because the world is so unfair. Life would be so much simpler with powers! Powers are so cool! How come you don't get to have powers? That's the only reason you aren't succeeding... because all those powered-up people are instead!

BLOCK
That's not - !

FINESSE
And so, along comes a supervillain with a special formula, and offers you everything you ever wanted. Money, fame, the chance to be defined by someone of reknown - and, best of all, that set of superpowers you always wanted! At last! And here you are, believing you've hit the big time. Let me ask you this, Block - you've got those powers now, but what have you actually achieved with them?

BLOCK
What? Well... I -

FINESSE
Because it seems to me that for all those shiny new powers and the designer-cool costume, and the team of villains you're such an important part of; you haven't actually done anything. And if I were to give up superheroism tomorrow, you'd be out. Sintaro wouldn't need you anymore. You're only making up numbers. For all the world, you matter so little that you might as well not exist.

BLOCK (small voice)
That hurts.

FINESSE
Good. Now what the hell do you want, you tool? I haven't got all day.

CUT TO:

13. INT. THE SWINGING BLUE GENES PLC LAB. Day 1 - 1045

WRAITH is sitting cross-legged in the corner, locked in a staring contest with GOAT. CHRONAL is still calibrating the Freeze Frame, watched by an interested-looking LYRIC, while AMALGAM and KAYLEIGH take tissue samples and the like, moving about between microscopes and scanners and spectrometres and such. AMITY and SHIFT are sitting to one side, drinking tea and talking quietly.

SHIFT
So you like him, hmm?

AMITY
Oh god, is it that obvious?

SHIFT
Ah, well, it is clear as bells to one such as me. Who can read body language.

AMITY
Of course! Hey, so does he - ?

SHIFT
No idea. He has five bodies, and they all use different body languages that spill over into each other. Beyond broad emotions like "happy", "vulnerable" and "please play", I've never been able to read him that well.

AMITY
Damn.

SHIFT
Stop being inept. You're an empath. Surely you know?

AMITY (sighs)
No. Same problem. I've never seen a mind like it. I think with practice I could learn it, but...

SHIFT
But you like him, hmm?

AMITY
Oh my god, he's totally awesome! He's so... awesome! He dances! And when he stops, his octopus keeps going!

They look at the tank, where OCTOPUS is indeed still going.

AMITY
And look at his costume! And the waistcoats! And he's perfectly willing to discuss hypothetical situations about nonsense! And, right, I'm not holding out hope, but I think he might be amenable to games -

SHIFT
He is.

AMITY
Oh my god!!

SHIFT
Yes, now I come to think of it, I have no idea why I never introduced you before. He also plays musical instruments.

AMITY
Really, now, this is getting silly. He can't be real.

(beat)

Oh my god, what if he's not real?

SHIFT
Stop being crazy, you loon. Of course he is. I know him, and I'm very sane.

AMITY
Well, now I definitely think he's fake.

SHIFT (brightly and nonsensically)
Yes!

KAYLEIGH (urgently)
Hey - oh, shit - Amalgam!

Everyone looks over except Wraith, who continues attempting to out-stare Goat. Amalgam hurries over to Kayleigh, where she hastily steps aside from the microscope and all but forces his head onto it.

KAYLEIGH
Tell me that's not -

AMALGAM
Oh no.

KAYLEIGH
Shit!

AMALGAM
Also ouch.

KAYLEIGH
We've no time for me to be sorry! Where are the decontamination showers?

AMALGAM
Over there. Quick! Everyone in! I'll seal the lab!

Everyone stands immediately except Wraith, who only moves when headbutted by Goat.

AMITY
Oh goodness. Heroic and brave, too.

CHRONAL
There. The Freeze Frame is in place. What's going on?

KAYLEIGH
Has Goon Boy been frozen all that time?

CHRONAL
Yes?

AMALGAM
Then if we're quick we'll be fine. Go go go!

They race to the decontamination showers, and leap into cubicles as Amalgam sprints around the lab, gloved up and wielding tongs, throwing slides and samples into the incinerator.

CUT TO:

14. INT. THE DECONTAMINATION ROOM. Day 1 - 1047

A row of airlocked cubicles are currently in use by a SCRIBBLER each - DOG and GOAT are sitting patiently waiting for AMALGAM in the end one.The Scribblers continue to shout to each other.

WRAITH
Now my hair is wet and may swell to twice its volume. I demand to know why I've had to do this.

KAYLEIGH
Well, Goon Boy had a cold.

WRAITH
A cold? You've made me run into a shower with no conditioner for a cold?

LYRIC
Conditioner.

CHRONAL
Argh!

LYRIC
Oh, sorry, I thought Wraith was in that one. Conditioner.

WRAITH
Argh!

LYRIC
There we go.

AMITY
So what's the problem with him having a cold? Other than it meaning he is really not having a good day.

KAYLEIGH
It's a virus!

SHIFT
I knew that.

AMITY
I'm still not -

Amalgam arrives, and leaps into the cubicle with Dog and Goat, slamming the door behind him. There are some comical squashed sounds and a truncated bleat before the water starts.

AMALGAM
Okay! We should be alright, but we're going to have to suit up before we go back in.

AMITY
Er... why's a cold so bad, though? So far we've covered that it's a virus, but I'm not understanding the relevance yet.

KAYLEIGH
Viri replicate by splitting DNA and replacing strands with their own. Sort of. Bits of strands. Ish.

AMALGAM
It's why they don't really count as alive, you see, and that's why it's very difficult to kill them, so antibiotics have to just nuke all cells, and that's why they aren't good for you. Although we've been doing work with a type of gene therapy here in the case of really bad viri -

SHIFT
Ah, your octopus is making you fixate, old friend. We were in the middle of exposition.

AMALGAM
Oops. Oh yes! The cold! Well, do you see? If it absorbs mutating DNA, and then the virus spreads -

AMITY
Oh my god!

CHRONAL
I don't want that!

AMALGAM
Yes. The mutations could become viral. A virus that mutates people.

WRAITH
... how good is this shower, did you say?

CUT TO:

15. DINAS CENTRAL HOSPITAL - BLOCK'S ROOM, SECURE WING. Day 1 - 1048

FINESSE and BLOCK, back in the hospital room.Block is still handcuffed to the bed, Finesse sitting and watching him, arms crossed. All samey samey.

BLOCK
It wasn't us.

FINESSE
That strikes me as unlikely.

BLOCK
If it was us I wouldn't have been there to get burned, would I?!

FINESSE
You're not that bright.

BLOCK
But - !

FINESSE
Convince me. Come on. Tell me what you think happened. Evidence would be useful. And explain why we're all apparently going to die.

BLOCK
Finesse, I swear, there wasn't any need for us to do it intentionally! They were goons! We were shipping them out to Ringtone.

She stares at him.

FINESSE
Were you now?

BLOCK
It's one of the businesses, I - anyway, the point is, we give them minor but effective superpowers for the job, we hire them out. And it works! And we're good at it! Maybe if one or two had gone then I'd say it was us who mis-calibrated, but - all of them? And this badly? The serum was altered. Someone tampered with it, I'm telling you.

Finesse stares into the middle distance, thinking hard.

FINESSE (faintly)
But why? A diversion? No reports so far of anything else amiss in Dinas, but it's early days... No clear victims, so mindless violence? The thrill of having done it?

BLOCK
I've got a sample. Of the serum.

FINESSE
What? Where?

BLOCK
In the tray. In the cannister. It's how I got burned.

(beat)

I know I'm not that bright, you know. Not compared to most. But I did know this was important, Finesse.

She stands, and moves around to the tray, where she takes the cannister.

FINESSE
Possibly more than you know. You've just described a very lucrative business, haven't you? Goon production. That must be a money earner and a half.

BLOCK (uneasily)
Yes. Although I won't tell you -

FINESSE
The more I think about it, you see, the more I think this was an attack on you people. Sintaro, the business - a 'shipment' with another villain's name on goes publically AWOL and leads to said villain's arrest? That's the worst business reputation in the world. And now you can't trust your own production until you've flushed it all of every possible trace of corruption, so you can't fulfil any other contracts to set things right... I think Mr Sintaro has a rival.

VILLAINOUS VOICE FROM THE SHADOWS
Oh, very good, darling.

Finesse spins around, as enter VILLAIN and FIVE HENCHPEOPLE -

FINESSE
You? But how - ?

She freezes, and then rounds on a terrified Block.

FINESSE
Stop blocking me, you fucking idiot!

BLOCK
Oh. Sorry.

VILLAIN
Yes, I was going to say I was surprised we caught you unawares, Finesse. He's quite foolish, though.

FINESSE (quietly)
Yes he is.

(beat)

So tell me, Great Niobe. Am I right?

Niobe laughes, and fans herself with a black fan. The Niobids around her start to fan out, dressed in black chitons; warily, Finesse edges towards the second door.

NIOBE
Oh yes, top marks! The irony is, if you had all the facts, you'd probably thank me. Well, not thank me as such. Agree. Well, not agree. But you'd favour me for the underlying principle.

BLOCK (terrified)
Are you here to kill me?

NIOBE
What? Sorry, which one are you again - ? Oh, oh no. Not now. It was that serum sample we wanted. Although it is a shame a Scribbler has it. That does complicate things.

FINESSE
Block, please could you actually block the sodding telepath yourself now?

NIOBE
Oh, if you do, I will then kill you.

Block whimpers. Niobe smiles.

NIOBE
I identified the flaw in your powers a while ago, Finesse. You have total, inescapable control over others, don't you? But only as long as you're focusing on them. Two at once, and with just a touch of effort they can start to pull away and resist. Three, and they might even have a chance of fighting you off completely if they were strong enough. But five? Try all of them at once, and you're reduced to the equivalent of gentle shoving to try to knock someone over. And when one is a telepath? You can't take the risk of not focusing on that one.

FINESSE
For the record, Block, if I get out of this I am going to line my team up specially just to punch you in the burn.

She reaches the door and grips the handle behind her; Niobe sighs.

NIOBE
Naturally; don't touch that. In addition to my telepath, we have here a pyrokinetic, a terrakinetic, one Niobid that can render herself into smog and one Niobid with super strength. Mostly because I like super strength. Gives fabulous muscles. Oh, and I am right about you, aren't I?

FINESSE (evenly)
Oh yes.

(She grins)

But you've really underestimated my speed with two.

It happens very fast - Gas Niobid has time to make a surprised noise before she explodes into a thick smog, surrounding the heads of the others - Telepathic Niobid takes a slight step forward and then halts, clutching his head again - they choke and gasp for air for a second, except for Niobe, who simply folds her arms and looks irritable -

And then Gas Niobid solidifies again, and Finesse is gone.

NIOBE
Go.

And they're off, racing for the door.

CUT TO:

16. INT. DINAS CENTRAL HOSPITAL - BACK CORRIDOR. Day 1 - 1052

Long twisting corridor, several right-angled corners, with various store rooms leading off it. FINESSE tears through the door and sprints. Just metres behind her the NIOBIDS enter, GAS NIOBID becoming gas and surging forward -

FIRE NIOBID hurls a bolt of fire at her as FINESSE reaches a corner -

She dives around the corner, the fire splashing harmlessly against the wall where it scorches, but doesn't catch. Finesse throws a hand back -

And brings Gas Niobid abruptly crashing back down to the floor in solid form, causing VIBRO NIOBID to trip over her. They climb back up and keep coming, the others in front of them; they race around the corner -

STRONG NIOBID casually rips a door out of its frame as they sprint past, and prepares to throw it -

Finesse glances back -

Mid-throw he yells and drops the door, strength gone. Gas Niobid becomes airborne again, and sweeps forward -

Fire Niobid throws another bolt -

The flame sweeps upward and ignites Gas Niobid, who drops solid again with a shriek, extinguished.

Finesse sprints around the next corner; the Niobids speeding up -

They round the corner -

The corridor ends at a single door, with no sign of Finesse.

CUT TO:

17. INT. DINAS CENTRAL HOSPITAL - DISUSED STORAGE ROOM. Day 1 - 1052

Piles of hospital supplies are everywhere, boxes, broken beds waiting to be fixed, broken bedside cabinets. The NIOBIDS enter, looking around warily. GAS NIOBID becomes gaseous again, and starts to dissipate. NIOBE strolls leisurely in.

NIOBE
I will let you live, you know. I'm not unreasonable. I just want that sample.

(beat)

I mean that. It would cause ever such a fuss if I killed a government agent. I mean, you know, I will if I must, but I'd really rather avoid it.

(beat)

And I assume you would.

FIRE NIOBID melts an old filing cabinet. Niobe sighs.

NIOBE
Then let me explain, darling. You cannot get out of this room. If you let go of my telepath, even for a fraction of a moment, he will know where you are. We will find you in minutes at most. If you try to attack, my pyrokinetic would start a fire, which is the last thing we want in a hospital, I'm sure. And my terrakinetic starting an earthquake wouldn't be much better. Super strength is quite useless to you -

STRONG NIOBID punches an old bed. It crumbles like paper.

NIOBE
- although rather useful to me. And the smog wouldn't incapacitate us quickly enough. And, crucially, darling - the telepath wouldn't work, would it? My darling Niobids - they don't have minds like you or I, do they? They can't be disrupted. And as you've no doubt spotted by now, I am not actually here. Holograms are so wonderful.

VIBRO-NIOBID reaches out and touches a box. It explodes.

NIOBE
So really; what are you going to do?

Cut to FINESSE, crouched behind a pile of broken stuff at the far end of the room, the cannister in one hand, staring evenly at the wall in front of her.

NIOBE('s voice)
What are you going to do?

END OF THE SHOW.