Scribblers: Unleashed

Scribblers
"Unleashed"
by Steffan Alun

1.    EXT.  GLACIER STADIUM - Day 7.  0900

A small ice-themed stadium.  Lots of stalls around selling food.  A very small number of FANS around the place, all wearing red scarves.  A single fan wearing a blue scarf.

He approaches a MOTHER and TWO CHILDREN wearing red scarves.

BLUE FAN
Excuse me.  Have the blue fans gone in already?

MOTHER
I think there’s just you, sorry love.

BLUE FAN
I can’t be the only one supporting him!

MOTHER
Who are you supporting, exactly?

CUT TO:

2.    INT.  GLACIER ARENA – Day 7.  0905

COOL BOX is standing in an indoor arena, in a morning suit and ice-themed mask.  The arena is surrounded by a seating area, and has two large closed entrances to the central arena itself.

COOL BOX
What a wonderful morning for a battle.

Zoom out to reveal he’s talking to the BLUE RAINBOW SOLDIER (female, indifferent, proud).  Also in the arena are FIFTY GOONS in generic outfits.

BLUE SOLDIER
Yes, great.  Who are we fighting, did you say?

COOL BOX
Only the Flaming Three!  Oh, yes, Blue.  Today, the flames will be frozen, and ice shall defeat fire.

BLUE SOLDIER
Right, yeah.  Weren’t they the Flaming Five?

COOL BOX
McFireball went to join Scotland’s national team, and Ashes is dead at the moment.

BLUE SOLDIER
That’s good.  Ashes is solid.

COOL BOX
Oh, I think I’m more than a match for Ashes.

BLUE SOLDIER (sarcastically)
Ha!
(beat)
Sorry.

The FANS start entering, taking their seats around the arena.

COOL BOX
Welcome, everyone!  If you could just let me know when you’re all in.

MOTHER
I think this is it, love.

COOL BOX
Aw, really?  Fine.

BLUE SOLDIER
You should’ve promoted it a bit more.

COOL BOX
Yes, okay.

BLUE SOLDIER
Really, though.  The poster didn’t even mention who was fighting.  I bet these guys are only here because the Flaming Three put it on their website.

Cool Box spots the BLUE FAN taking his seat.

COOL BOX
At least my brother made it.  My sister couldn’t get the time off work.

BLUE SOLDIER
It is an awkward time for people ...

COOL BOX
Yes, all right!  Let’s just –

The lights die down.

COOL BOX
Heh.  Here they come.

A drum roll –

The opposite entrance opens –

And AMITY and LYRIC enter.

COOL BOX
What?  Who are you?

LYRIC
Sorry about this.  Change of plans.  We’re letting the Flaming Three off the hook.

AMITY
Yeah.  We’ve been meaning to get around to nabbing you, and this seems as good a time as any.

COOL BOX
Who are you people?

SHIFT and WRAITH enter.

SHIFT
Oh, that’s right.  You never met, did you?

WRAITH
We told them all about you.  I think.  Everything important, anyway.

LYRIC
Didn’t take long.

SHIFT
Yeah.  We got your diadem, so ...

COOL BOX
The diadem – you’re ...

CHRONAL enters.

CHRONAL
I can’t believe you don’t remember us.  We’re big trouble, you know.

COOL BOX
Oh, I remember you.  Leader of the Scribblers.  This is the whole team.

CHRONAL
Former leader.

COOL BOX
Hang on.  So that means –

FINESSE enters.

COOL BOX
No no no!  Not you!  Blue, get them!

And he runs for the door –

Chronal lifts his hand –

SHIFT
Don’t bother.  You sort these guys out.  I want to show him my party piece.

And she becomes a WASP.

Cool Box gets through the door –

Which closes –

The wasp reaches the door –

Becomes a FLEA –

Which slides through a tiny gap below the door.

The Blue Soldier attacks Wraith –

And freezes in place.

CHRONAL
Couldn’t he afford more than one Rainbow Soldier?

WRAITH
Yeah.  They’re not pricy.

FINESSE
And Cool Box is old money.

CHRONAL
So old it’s expired.

AMITY
Good one.

Amity suddenly turns –

Facing GOON ONE holding a brick.

Amity holds up her hand.

AMITY
Hate yourself.

GOON ONE
I don’t ...

AMITY
We do not brick people, young goon.

GOON ONE
I know.  I just ... I don’t know why I do these things.

He falls into a sitting position.

And the remaining goons attack.

We jump around the arena from fight to fight.

GOON TWO, facing Lyric, reaches with his right hand for a truncheon on the left side of his belt.

LYRIC
Handcuffs.

The goon’s hands are handcuffed together –

He swings the truncheon towards Lyric –

Pulling his left hand along –

And falling comically to the side.

LYRIC
Blindfold.

Reveal GOON THREE behind him, about to attack –

Now blindfolded –

Falls on top of Goon Two.

GOON FOUR is facing Wraith.

WRAITH
Check out my invisible knife.

GOON FOUR
What?

Wraith mimes slashing horizontally at waist level.

WRAITH
No more hands.

GOON FOUR
Argh!

He holds up his arms so that his hands would be at face level, but the hands are missing.

Wraith hits Goon Four in the face with Goon Four’s invisible hands –

Which become visible again.

WRAITH
Lol.

FINESSE is facing GOON FIVE.

FINESSE
Tell me, Goon.  Are you afraid of me?

GOON FIVE
I can take you.

FINESSE
Wrong answer.  Your employer’s scared of me.  He had no idea I was coming, but he’s hired forty-nine goons with no powers.  I think he wanted to be able to take me.

GOON FIVE
Come on.  Hit me.  I dare you.

FINESSE
No, no.  That’s not how I work.  You have powers, so I’m going to let you embarrass yourself by trying to beat me first –

GOON FIVE
I don’t have powers.

FINESSE
Oh.  Oh!  You didn’t know?

She grins menacingly.

FINESSE
Shall we discover them together?

She holds out a hand –

And SPIKES explode out of Goon Five’s body.

Goon Five SCREAMS.

Fifteen goons surround Chronal, including GOON SIX.

GOON SIX
Even you aren’t fast enough to defeat us all.

All fifteen of the goons are unconscious on the ground.

CHRONAL
I think I just beat my personal best.

CUT TO:

3.    INT.  STADIUM STAIRCASE – Day 7.  0910

A narrow metal staircase.  COOL BOX half-running, half-tripping towards the top.

A SPANIEL chasing and barking.

COOL BOX
Go away!

He gets to the top –

Enters a door –

CUT TO:

4.    INT.  STADIUM OFFICE – Day 7.  0911

A tiny office – just a desk, a swivel chair and some filing cabinets.  On the desk is a large black device – a lash-up that looks like it’s made of bits of bicycle frame and wires.  In the centre is an orange crystal, attached to the wires.

COOL BOX falls in.

The SPANIEL jumps towards him –

And becomes SHIFT.

SHIFT
Fighting some superheroes to prove ice beats fire?  Dream bigger, for God’s sake, Cool Box.

COOL BOX
You’ve ruined my plan.

SHIFT
And you really need a new name.

Cool Box spins suddenly –

And blasts Shift with an ice beam.

The beam fades.

Shift is fine – but has grey rhino skin.

SHIFT
I’ve been practicing this one.  Rhinos are immune to your ice.  Did you know that?

COOL BOX
No!

He pulls up the sleeve of his jacket –

And places his forearm on Shift’s face.

SHIFT
Oh, yes, that won’t help either.

She hits him hard –

And he’s down.

Shift approaches the black device.

SHIFT
Brilliant, you brought the crystal.  What have you done to it, you weirdo?

COOL BOX
The teleportation ... it needed refining ...

SHIFT
You’re joking!  Where did you end up?

COOL BOX
... Indonesia.

SHIFT
Funny.  What does this wire do?

She removes a wire from the left side of the device.

COOL BOX
You fool!  That’s for sending me away!

SHIFT
What about this one?

COOL BOX
Don’t touch anything else!

Shift hands him a small switch.

COOL BOX
Get off it.

He dives for the device –

SHIFT
Oh, if you’re escaping, I’m –

Shift grabs hold of the device –

As Cool Box grabs the other side –

And presses a button.

The crystal glows.

They’re both engulfed by an orange light.

The light fades.

Shift and Cool Box are still in the office –

But the device is missing.

SHIFT
Um.  Coming with you?

Cool Box faints.

Ice spreads across his entire body, as in Cool Box Scene 13.

SHIFT
Useless.

FINESSE and LYRIC enter.

LYRIC
Hello.  Do you need any help saving the day?

FINESSE
Ooh, look what you’ve done!  That’s what I did to him.

SHIFT
There’s a problem.

FINESSE
You’re not Shift.

SHIFT
You always knew her so well.

FINESSE
What have you done with her?

SHIFT
The ice man’s crystal.  It teleported us away.  And it left us here.

FINESSE
Hang on.  You’re Fauna.

SHIFT
I’m afraid so.

FINESSE
And that means –

CUT TO:

5.    EXT.  HELIPAD – Day 7.  0915

Top of a skyscraper.  A small helicopter waiting.

SHIFT and COOL BOX appear with a flash of orange.  They’re holding the device.

SHIFT
Oh.
(sing-song)
I’ve got a helicopter.

She becomes a GORILLA, but this is not the usual Shift-Gorilla.  This is a larger, vicious, fanged variety.

She knocks out Cool Box with a punch to the head.

He ices over.

The gorilla becomes Shift again.

SHIFT
I am unleashed.  I can finally walk upon the ground.

She turns to the helicopter.

SHIFT
But first I will fly.

CUT TO:

6.    INT.  THE PIT – Day 7.  1000

FINESSE, CHRONAL and FAUNA are sitting on the sofas.  COOL BOX is tied to a wooden chair, soaking wet.

FINESSE
Okay, guys.  We’re fighting Bestia.

CHRONAL
I really don’t want to fight Bestia.

FAUNA
She is evil.

CHRONAL
No, hang on – I don’t like the word evil.  Nobody’s beyond redemption.  There’s a good side to everyone.

FAUNA
I am the good side.

FINESSE
Good point.

CHRONAL
Okay, so she’s not a full human being.  So we get you two reunited as soon as possible, and then we recover the glory that is Shift of the Scribblers.

FAUNA
She won’t come willingly.

FINESSE
I’ll make her.

FAUNA
Remember that she knows you as well as Shift does.

FINESSE
Oh, yes – a very good and terrifying point.

COOL BOX
You have to stop him.

CHRONAL
Him?  Cool Box, if you’re not going to listen, you don’t get to talk.

COOL BOX
No, listen to me – I’m in constant battle to try and keep mys- to keep Cool Box good.

FINESSE
What an awful job you do.

COOL BOX
Okay, fine, but right now, the other side of him is on the loose.  He has no remorse, no empathy.  Nothing to hold him back.

CHRONAL
Yeah, that’s chilling, I’m sure, but I’m going to focus on taking down the EVIL SCRIBBLER if that’s alright by you.

AMITY enters.

AMITY
Okay, we’ve contacted everyone we can.  Cool Box ... um, the other Cool Box was found by the police, so he’s in his cell.  Apparently, he gave them no trouble at all.

Cool Box looks disappointed.

AMITY
No sign of Bestia, and I’m not picking her up.  So I think we’re going to have to do something drastic.

FINESSE
Alright.  Any ideas?

AMITY
You’re not going to like it.

FINESSE
What is it?

AMITY
No, really.  You’re going to hate it.  You’ll say no.  Feel free to say no.  If you really –

FINESSE
Amity!

AMITY
Oh, right.  Well – have you heard of a man named Peter Copland?

CUT TO:

7.  INT.  LA BATTE’S – Day 7.  1015

The restaurant is nearly empty – just LA BATTE himself cleaning glasses behind the bar.

BESTIA swaggers in.

LA BATTE
Ah, Shift!  My goodness me, what an honour!

BESTIA
Bring me the food.

LA BATTE
Ah, but madame!  I do not start serving until eleven.  If you would like a drink while you wait ...

BESTIA
I want the soup and the steak and ice cream and cake.

LA BATTE
Well.  For one of the Scribblers, I can make an exception, of course.

CUT TO:

8.    EXT.  THE SIDE-STOREYS – Day 7.  1200

A large block of offices – orange bricks with faded green painted panels.  Dirty windows, patches of grass overgrowing with weeds, a car park full of old, battered cars.  FINESSE, LYRIC, FAUNA and COOL BOX standing outside.

FAUNA
They call these the side-storeys.  I used to – Shift used to go there.

FINESSE
What on earth for?

FAUNA
These are the forgotten departments of governance.  There are some social work groups here.

FINESSE
This is the social work place?  God, Shift said the place was run down.

COOL BOX
And they dare to say the public sector is efficient.

FINESSE
One more comment like that, and I’m telling Chronal.

Cool Box looks scared.

FINESSE (to Lyric)
Chronal overheard him saying the trains were more reliable since they were privatised.

LYRIC
Ye gods.  I’m surprised you still have your eyebrows, Boxy.

COOL BOX
He wouldn’t let me talk.

FINESSE
He looked up charts.

FAUNA
Chronal’s Bestia must be terrifying.

LYRIC
Not everyone has a Bestia, you know.

COOL BOX
I have a Bestia.

FINESSE
You have a Worstia.  Well!  Shall we meet our Mr Copland?

CUT TO:

9.    INT.  BARBARA’S ROOM – Day 7.  1205

As seen in The Final Flight of Damien the Impossible, PETER COPLAND is at the bank of computers, gently adjusting switches and dials.

FINESSE, LYRIC, FAUNA and COOL BOX enter.

FINESSE
Hello – Mr Copland?

Copland turns around.

COPLAND
Oh, hello Miss Finesse –

FINESSE
No, don’t do that.

COPLAND
Sorry.  Ms Finesse?

Finesse walks towards the computers.

FINESSE
Now, this is quite a thing ...

COPLAND
Oh ho ho, hang on now – don’t get too close, if you don’t mind.

FINESSE
What’s this?

She lifts a small sliding panel on the computer bank –

Copland looks horrified –

And Finesse reaches a hand inside –

Removing a small ruby, like the one seen in The Crater.

FINESSE
Oh, I don’t like you having this.

COPLAND (scared)
Put that back!  Barbara needs it!

FINESSE
Barbara?

FAUNA
It’s what he calls his machine.

FINESSE
And you called it Barbara?  Rubbish name.

COPLAND
It was the name of my wife, I’ll have you know.

FINESSE
Oh, dear me, Mr Copland – you haven’t built yourself a wife machine, have you?  That never ends well.

LYRIC
Hang on – how do you know about the machine, Shi- Fauna?

FAUNA
Shift was involved in the testing process.

COPLAND
Yes.  Turned the entire building into a giant lizard monster.  Look, if you could just give me the gem now ...

FINESSE
I remember that.  She never said.  How much stuff does Shift not bother reporting, exactly?

FAUNA
Trust me, my friend – I am wise.  I know when not to bother you.

FINESSE
Maybe.  But this isn’t right.

She holds up the ruby.

FINESSE
It channels people’s powers, right?  You enter the machine, the ruby converts your abilities, the machine amplifies it.  Which is ... how Dreamwave kept the population entranced during the Overload incident.

COPLAND
Yes, so you understand how vital it is that I get that gem back ...

FINESSE
But it does more than that.  It stores the powers.  It keeps them.

She closes her eyes –

Lifts the ruby to her right eye –

Inhales deeply.

COPLAND
No, no, it doesn’t do anything like that.

FINESSE
I can feel them, you idiot.  Oh, hello.  You’ve been busy, haven’t you?  Yep, there’s Shift, and there’s ... that must be Dreamwave.  And, oh, there’s Wildfire ... Post-Man ... Lawyer Girl ... Toxic?  Villains too, that’s not good.  Urania, Peggington, Dark Hand, Dreadful Greta ...

COPLAND
I didn’t know.

FAUNA
He tells the truth.

FINESSE
I’m sure he does.  You don’t know what you’re doing here, do you Copland?

She opens her eyes.

Holds her hand open flat, palm up, with the ruby in the middle.

The sound of rushing air.

FINESSE
Empty now.

COPLAND
Barbara!

FINESSE
Think of it as cleaning the hard drive before PC World find your dirty secrets.

LYRIC
By “PC World”, she means us.  And by “find your dirty secrets”, she means ...

FAUNA
Give you such a ding about the ear.

Finesse grins fondly at Fauna.

Fauna smiles weakly.

FINESSE
Right.  Move over, Copland – I’m getting my best friend back.

CUT TO:

9.    EXT/INT.  TRANS-JET – Day 7.  1210

AMITY at the steering wheel, with WRAITH and CHRONAL present.

CHRONAL
What’s next on the List Of Dangerous Places Shift’s Allowed Into?

AMITY
Don’t call it that.  It should have a cool codename.

WRAITH
Metal Gear.

AMITY
No, that’s what you called our last secret thing.  Anyway, the only place left is Gaolhouse Rock, and I’ve sent them early warning to look out for Cool Box’s helicopter.

WRAITH
Then we can take a break for lunch!

AMITY
No we can not.  Now we’re waiting to hear back from Finesse.

WRAITH
Lunch.  The first casualty of superhero missions.

CUT TO:

11.    INT.  BARBARA’S ROOM – Day 7.  1215

Continued from Scene 9.  Close-up on a green glass sphere in Finesse’s hand, the same size as the ruby.  It wibbles as Lyric whispers softly to it.

Lyric stops talking –

And the sphere becomes stable.

FINESSE
Alright.  This’ll be good for one use in Barbara, and it won’t do any creepy power stealing.

She turns towards the computers –

Lifts the small hatch –

And inserts the sphere.

FINESSE
Alright, Fauna, you guard Copland.

COPLAND
I beg your pardon?

FINESSE
I’m not having you anywhere near me.

COPLAND
I wouldn’t dream of interfering with the Scribblers!

FINESSE
Yeah, but you’re weird.  Remind me to tell you about the creepy wife mushroom story I read once.

Finesse climbs into Barbara –

Lyric straps her arms in –

And her legs –

And flips a switch.

Sudden zoom out –

CUT TO:

12.    EXT.  DINAS – Day 7.  1216

An aerial view of the city.

It fades to monochrome –

And around the side-storeys, small lights appear in different colours –

And then in a wider radius –

Spreading outwards –

Until the city’s covered in lights.

One turquoise light glows stronger than the others –

Sudden zoom towards it –

Zooming in –

CUT TO:

13.    EXT.  OUTSIDE LA BATTE’S – Day 7.  1216

Monochrome shot of La Batte’s, its windows lit in turquoise.

CUT TO:

14.    INT.  BARBARA’S ROOM – Day 7.  1216

Continued from Scene 11.  Crash-zoom on Finesse’s face.

FINESSE
She’s in La Batte’s.

Lyric on the communicator.

LYRIC
Get to La Batte’s, guys.  We’re on our way.

CUT TO:

15.    EXT/INT.  TRANS-JET – Day 7.  1217

Continued from Scene 9.

AMITY
Okay, we’re going to La Batte’s.

WRAITH
Yay!

AMITY
Not to eat.

CUT TO:

16.  INT.  LA BATTE’S – Day 7.  1225

BESTIA on a table by herself, surrounded by a mountain of food and a pile of empty plates.  She’s currently dipping chips in ice-cream.

BESTIA
We like this a lot.  The food I’ve been denied.  Maybe my wolf would like some.

She transforms into a ferocious-looking WOLF with glowing red eyes.

The wolf knocks some of the food aside with its snout –

Hunting through the dishes –

Finds a huge rump steak –

And starts eating ravenously.

It looks up.

Long shot: AMITY and WRAITH have arrived.

The wolf jumps –

Over the table –

Runs towards them –

Jumps for Amity –

And freezes in mid-air.

CHRONAL fades into view.

CHRONAL
My, haven’t we gone soft?  Shift would’ve seen right through that ploy.

AMITY
Would we call that a ploy?

CHRONAL
I think it was rather ploy-esque, yes.

WRAITH
Okay, I’ll call Finesse.  I don’t like this wolf.

AMITY
It is not a good wolf.

BANG!  Chronal is hit from behind –

The wolf becomes an enormous black HORSE, over twenty hands, with iron hooves –

And gallops out of the restaurant.

Chronal looks around.

Behind him is LA BATTE.

LA BATTE
She said you’d come.  I know you are not the real Scribblers.

AMITY
Hey, hang on, surely –

La Batte shoots Amity with a dart.

AMITY
Wh-  La Batte!  Honestly!

WRAITH
Yeah, dude.  We’re fo’ reals.  She was the one being strange.

La Batte kicks out –

Winding Wraith –

As Chronal aims his hands towards La Batte –

Who super-jumps into the air –

Avoiding Chronal’s time-blast.

AMITY
I feel weird.

Amity’s POV: the world out of focus and swaying.

Amity’s POV: La Batte clinging to the ceiling.

Amity tries to aim at La Batte –

But is swaying too much from dizziness.

La Batte lands behind Chronal –

Chronal vanishes –

La Batte ducks –

Then hops –

Then springs back towards the ceiling.

CHRONAL
Good reflexes.  Um, but we’re just going to leave.

He’s kicked in the head by La Batte’s leg –

Which freezes.

CHRONAL
Gotcha.
(to Amity)
Are you alright?

AMITY
Yeah.  Chemicals affecting my mind?  I’m totally on it.

CHRONAL
Then I’m super-speeding away.

He becomes a blur through the door.

La Batte lands gracefully –

And Amity grabs his hand.

LA BATTE
Ahh ...  Oh, what am I doing?  I beg your forgiveness.

WRAITH
Vouchers!

CUT TO:

17.    INT.  BARBARA’S ROOM – Day 7.  1245

LYRIC, FAUNA and COOL BOX present.  FINESSE is now out of Barbara.  COPLAND is examining the green sphere – it now looks as though it contains black smoke.

COPLAND
Your understanding of the ruby must be phenomenal.

FINESSE
Yes, I’m quite clever.

LYRIC
Getting a message from Chronal.  He’s tracked Bestia down.

FINESSE
Isn’t that what I just did?

LYRIC
Oh, sorry, you were in the machine when it happened – she got away.

FAUNA
She would.

LYRIC
And then La Batte attacked the others, and –

FINESSE
The other what?

LYRIC
The other Scribblers.

FINESSE
What?!

LYRIC
Anyway, Chronal found her.

FINESSE
And where is she?

CUT TO:

18.    EXT.  THE MONASTERY – Day 7.  1246

The Monastery, frozen in time.  CHRONAL walking towards it.  Speaking on communicator.

CHRONAL
She’s in the Monastery.
(beat)
She became an evil magpie.
(beat)
Because it had an evil face.
(beat)
Red eyes and sharp teeth and frowny eyebrows.
(beat)
I’m on my way – slowly, because I’m trying to keep the whole place frozen at once.

CUT TO:

19.    INT.  BARBARA’S ROOM – Day 7.  1247

Continued from Scene 17.

FINESSE
Good boy.  See you soon!

She disconnects the communicator.

Turns to Copland.

FINESSE
Now.  I’m giving you the ruby back, because government property et cetera, but the second I’m done fixing my friend, I’m coming straight back here and finding out exactly who decided to copy people’s powers without permission.

COPLAND
I don’t know ...

FINESSE
I know you don’t know.  But whoever signs your pay cheques, you’d better warn them.  The Scribblers are coming.  And they’re extremely annoyed.

She turns –

And marches out of the room.

Lyric prods Cool Box –

And they follow, with Fauna.

Copland returns to Barbara.

COPLAND
I’m so sorry.  What did she do to you?  I’ll make it all alright.  I just can’t do it without the powers.  Hold tight, dearest.

He pulls a phone from his suit pocket – an old-fashioned black brick.

He dials a number, eleven digits.

COPLAND
Hello?  Mr Oswald.
(beat)
It’s Peter Copland.  I need a fresh copy of my powers.
(beat)
Yes, and – you might be in trouble.

CUT TO:

20.    INT.  MONASTERY – MAIN HALL – Day 7.  1250

CHRONAL enters through the main doors.

CHRONAL
I should’ve guessed you’d be here to greet me.

Reveal RHIAN waiting with her TEDDY BEAR.

RHIAN
I am glad it is you.

CHRONAL
Remind me to teach you apostrophes later.

RHIAN
Did you get my last e-mail?

CHRONAL
Yes, damn, sorry – meant to reply, but then Laser Face attacked the Pit.  Anyway -

RHIAN
You are going to say you need to find Shift, but Mirage is keeping her distracted.

CHRONAL
You worked out she’s in evil mode, then?

RHIAN
Apex can feel her powers.  She says they are incomplete.
(beat)
Teddy will not be able to help you this time.  Please be careful, Chronal.

Chronal gives her an absent-minded hug –

Then heads deeper into the school.

CUT TO:

21.    INT.  MONASTERY – PASSAGEWAY – Day 7.  1251

BESTIA and FINESSE are staring each other down.  There are two stacks of chairs at the side.

BESTIA
You were already here?
(beat)
Why won’t you talk to me?
(beat)
Because I know you too well.  I can beat you.
(beat)
No.  You’re not here, are you?

Bestia punches Finesse –

And her hand passes straight through her.

BESTIA
I cannot be fooled for long.  Speaking of which – let’s have a word with the headmaster.

She becomes a WASP –

And flies out of the passageway.

One stack of chair fades and becomes MIRAGE.

The other transforms into HAUNTER.

MIRAGE
Mind control, do you think?

HAUNTER
If so, maybe Back-Up can restore the old Shift.

CUT TO:

22.    INT.  MONASTERY – HEADMASTER’S OFFICE – Day 7.  1255

THE MONK is sitting at his desk.

BESTIA enters.

The Monk looks up lazily.

BESTIA
I know your secret.

The Monk puts his pen down.

Stands.

BESTIA
Did she ever tell you about me?  Oh, you must know everything.  I’m her instinct.

Pause.

The Monk opens a drawer.

Removes a blank piece of card.

Writes on it.

Slides it over.

Bestia lifts it.

“SHIFT’S?  OR FINESSE’S?”

BESTIA
You disappoint me.  Both.  I know everything.  How awful for you.

The Monk retrieves another piece of card.

Writes.

Slides.

Bestia lifts it.

“TELL ME ABOUT THE TARTAROMACHY.”

Bestia raises her eyebrows.

BESTIA
Oh, you’ve noticed, have you?  The rest haven’t.  They don’t listen to instinct.
(beat)
Niobe has taken the first shot.  Sintaro is weakened.  One of them ordered the attack on the Monastery.  A statement – to prove they could.  That was probably Sintaro.  They’ll fight to the end now.

Another card.

Writes.

Slides.

Bestia lifts it.

“WHOM DO YOU FAVOUR?”

BESTIA
As if you don’t know.

She grins.

BESTIA
I favour the winner.

The Monk tilts his head.

BESTIA
I favour Niobe.

CUT TO:

23.    INT.  PRISON CELL – Day 7.  1300

COOL BOX sitting in prison.  A plate of food in front of him, which he is picking apart to tiny pieces with his hands.

The door opens.

FINESSE enters with the SECOND COOL BOX.

FINESSE
Alright, let’s see if this works.

SECOND COOL BOX
No, you can’t, don’t make me go back –

Finesse shoves the second Cool Box –

Into the original Cool Box –

And they’re both engulfed by an orange light.

The light fades –

And only one Cool Box remains.

FINESSE
Thank God for that.

She activates her communicator.

FINESSE
Lyric, it’s Finesse.  When they touch, they reunite.  I’m on my way.

COOL BOX
Scribbler!  Now that I am restored, I challenge you to –

FINESSE
Quiet.  We have no time for you.

Finesse leaves –

Slamming the cell door shut.

Cool Box looks sad.

CUT TO:

24.    INT.  MONASTERY - REFECTORY - Day 7.  1310

BACK-UP and APEX have blocked off one of the two entrances.

BESTIA enters through the other.

BESTIA
The young are in my way.  And the big bad wolf is coming.

Besita starts transforming into the WOLF –

BACK-UP holds up a hand –

And Bestia freezes midtransformation.  She is now PART-WOLF.

BACK-UP
What the -  I didn’t do that!  Who did that?

APEX
Who do you think?

CHRONAL enters.

CHRONAL
Right, stop!  Back-Up, isn’t it?  Don’t use your powers on my friend.  Um, half my friend.  My, um, entire friend needs her to live, you see.

BACK-UP
Ooh, okay.  I’m sorry!  Should have thought this through.

CHRONAL
Yes, well, there’s quite a list of things you lot should be thinking through.  Mind-wiping criminals on the side?

BACK-UP
That’s rehab!

CHRONAL
That’s perverting the course of justice.  Yuk, sorry, I hate it when superheroes use the word “justice”.

APEX
Is she safe like that?

CHRONAL
Bestia?  For now.  It’s taking it out of me, though.  I hope my mates arrive soon.

APEX
I can make it easier for you.

Apex takes Chronal’s hand –

There’s a flash of green –

And Chronal jumps.

CHRONAL
Wow, what was that?

APEX
Just what I do – made it easier for you to use your powers.

CHRONAL
It’s like ... you’ve taken away the friction.  Ooh, this is like super-strength!  I’ve got the whole school frozen.

CUT TO:

24A.    INT.  MONASTERY - REFECTORY - Day 7.  1400

CHRONAL, APEX and BACK-UP have been joined by MIRAGE, ZHOU, DEATH QUOTE and RHIAN.  They’re sitting around a table chatting.  The PART-WOLF BESTIA is still frozen in the background.

CHRONAL
... and then Wraith scared the living daylights out of him by pointing out that he could sneak up on him at any time.

DEATH QUOTE
Ooh, that’s good.

CHRONAL
He can be proper sinister when he tries.

BACK-UP
Can you tell us about the time you took down the Fishers Of Men in Newcastle?

CHRONAL
God, no.  I hated the Fishers Of Men.  Best not to encourage them by mentioning them ever.  That’d just give them ideas above their station.

APEX
Okay, tell us about the time Litter Bug teamed up with Dark Hand.

CHRONAL
Haha!  That was painful.  Amity had just come back from holiday, and –

FINESSE, LYRIC and FAUNA enter.

Finesse spots Bestia.

FINESSE
Oh, brilliant.  Good work – one hundred husband points.

CHRONAL
Couldn’t have done it without the kids.

FINESSE
They can’t have husband points.

LYRIC
Alright, Fauna – touch yourself.

FAUNA
It’s funny because there are teenagers here but Lyric is being filthy.

She approaches Bestia –

Reaches out her hand –

And touches her.

Nothing happens.

LYRIC
That should have worked.  Maybe she needs to be unfrozen?

CHRONAL
Alright, but if she does any mauling, I’m refreezing her.

Bestia moves –

And turns her head slowly –

To look at Finesse.

BESTIA
Oh, hello.  You’d better not touch me.

FINESSE
I don’t need to touch you.

BESTIA
Fine, do what you like.  Hey, the Monk’s looking well, isn’t he?

Finesse frowns.

BESTIA
I had a good chat with him – he’s quite the talker when he’s scared.

Mirage and Back-Up exchange a glance.

BESTIA
He hides it well, but if there’s one thing I can always spot, it’s fear.  Stay out of this.  Old friend.

She transforms –

Becoming a monstrous HORSE with BEAR ARMS growing out of its sides.

Fauna transforms into an albino SNAKE, elegant and pretty.

The snake wraps around the horse’s hind leg –

Which grows –

Becoming an ELEPHANT’S LEG.

The snake transforms again –

Into a white MOUSE –

Which climbs along the leg –

Getting onto the horse’s back –

Aiming for the head.

A LUMP grows out of the horse’s back, ahead of the mouse –

And transforms into BESTIA’S HEAD.

BESTIA
Hey, now, little mouse.

The mouse transforms into FAUNA, now mounting the horse as though riding it.

FAUNA
I’m touching her!  Why isn’t this working?

BESTIA
Well, while I’ve got your attention – there’s something I’m dying to ask you.

FAUNA
We need to be one person.  You can’t live like this.

BESTIA
The Monk asked me something terribly intriguing.  So, Fauna, dearest.  Whom do you favour?

FAUNA
Are you resisting?  But Cool Box was resisting, and he’s back in one piece.

BESTIA
You don’t pay attention, do you?  You have no idea what I’m talking about.  Sintaro and Niobe.  The war’s started.  Whom do you favour?

FAUNA
As if you don’t know.

Bestia looks angry.

BESTIA
I never know what you think.

FAUNA
I favour the loser.

BESTIA
My opposite?

FAUNA
I favour Sintaro.

BESTIA
You favour the weak?

FAUNA
Of course I do.  I can beat the weak.

BESTIA
You are weak.

FAUNA
I was never the weak one.

Fauna transforms into a DOVE –

And digs her talons into the horse’s back.

The horse struggles –

But the tiny dove has it trapped.

The bear arms wither –

As though the muscles are decaying.

The horse loses weight rapidly.

Bestia’s face becomes distorted.

She looks to Finesse.

BESTIA
She’s killing me.

Finesse approaches the two.

BESTIA
Save me.

FINESSE
I always will.

Finesse places one hand on the horse –

The other on the dove –

And they simultaneously transform –

Back into FAUNA and BESTIA, the latter in the former’s hands.

As soon as the transformation ends, they’re engulfed in an orange light –

And as the light fades, SHIFT remains.

CUT TO:

25.    INT.  THE PIT - Day 7.  1600

CHRONAL, AMITY, LYRIC and WRAITH are playing Dinas Monopoly.  FINESSE and SHIFT can be seen on the balcony.

WRAITH
I love hotels so much, I’m going to put a hotel on my hotel.

AMITY
You can’t do that!

LYRIC
Anyway, how much do I owe you?

CHRONAL
Um, seven hundred.  More if you want a turn-down service.

LYRIC
How much is the turn-down service?

CHRONAL
Four thousand.  I’m trying to discourage it.

Amity looks towards the balcony.

AMITY
Are they alright, do you think?

CHRONAL
They’ll be fine.  It’s a best friend thing.  Shift will feel guilty for a bit, but then she’ll save Finesse’s life next week and she’ll be back to normal.

CUT TO:

26.    EXT.  PIT BALCONY - Day 7.  1601

FINESSE and SHIFT surveying the land.

SHIFT
Thank you for saving my life.  Again.

FINESSE
It’s not one-way, is it?  Turns out you know all my secrets.

SHIFT
Really?  I can’t really remember today.  It’s like a dream.  I can remember some images, but they don’t make sense.

FINESSE
Well, Bestia broke your silence.  She said you know all about the Monk.

Shift smiles.

SHIFT
No.  Bestia knows all about the Monk.  That’s my subconscious.  I can’t do anything about that, but I’m deliberately not poking.  I respect your privacy.  I know you respect mine.

FINESSE
Okay, you get four thousand best friend points, and you don’t get to feel guilty about Bestia.

A nice moment.  They could hug, but they don’t because they is like soldiers innit.

FINESSE
Anyway!  I’ve got a loose end to tie up.  Are you going to be alright?

SHIFT
Yeah.  The Auditor’s ordering Chinese tonight, so I’m taking the rest of the day off.

FINESSE
Don’t blame you.  Enjoy!

SHIFT
I’ll try, but I don’t feel that hungry.  Any idea what that’s about?

FINESSE
Oh, we’ll probably need to apologise to La Batte at some point.

CUT TO:

27.    INT.  OSWALD’S OFFICE - Day 7.  1730

A small office, with a window offering a view of a large, grey, anonymous city.  Large desk covered in paperwork and an old-fashioned PC.  Behind this is MR OSWALD (50s, cultured, sinister).

FINESSE enters.

FINESSE
Mr Oswald.  You’re not an easy man to find.

OSWALD
I’ve been called elusive.

FINESSE
No, I mean, this is the worst office ever isn’t it?

Oswald looks angry.

FINESSE
D’you know, it’s funny.  Reception didn’t even know your name, Oswald.

OSWALD (threatening)
You are talking to a Member of Parliament.

Finesse steps towards him.  When she talks, she’s equally threatening.

FINESSE
You have set up an operation in my city, Oswald.  I am the leader of the Scribblers.  Don’t you DARE try and pull rank.

She grabs the top piece of paper from his desk.

Oswald tries to snatch it back –

Misses.

Finesse scans it.

Replaces it.

FINESSE
Tell me exactly – exactly – what you think you’re doing funding Project Barbara.

OSWALD
That machine has already saved countless lives.

FINESSE
Oswald, I don’t mind that you think I’m so busy I won’t notice you sneaking this thing into my home under my nose.  But do not think I’m stupid.  Your tiny constituency’s not seeing any benefit at all from that machine, is it?

OSWALD
Are you threatening me, Finesse?

FINESSE
Yes.  I am absolutely and completely threatening you, Mr Oswald.  You and the rest of your party.  Watch your backs.  The Scribblers are coming.

OSWALD
We won’t stand for this.

FINESSE
I’m sure you won’t.  See you soon, Mr Oswald.  Give my regards to the rest of the SPP.

CUT TO:

28.    INT.  AUDITOR’S FLAT – Night 7.  2000

A neat flat, lots of books and DVDs.  A table covered in empty takeaway boxes and empty wine bottles.  SHIFT and THE AUDITOR in a serious conversation.

AUDITOR
And it’s been happening ever since?

SHIFT
Yes.  I don’t know what to do.

AUDITOR
Show me.

Shift holds up her arm –

Which transforms into a BEAR ARM –

And splits into TWO BEAR ARMS.

SHIFT
Do you think it’s permanent ...?

THE END