Short screenplay from the Done Deal "March Madness" contest,
March 2009.
"Heroes"
FADE IN:
EXT. DARK ALLEY - NIGHT
The clip-clop of high heels. A woman wearing a leather coat,
a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses, emerges from the shadows.
She stops at a doorway. A sign overhead says: "Gatsby Theater -
FOR SALE." She grabs the handle and tugs. It's locked.
She looks up and down the alleyway. No one's around. She
WRENCHES the door open with brutal strength, pieces of metal
bounce and ping, the wooden frame is splintered. She enters.
The door creaks shut behind her.
ALLEY SECURITY CAMERA POV: watching the door slowly close.
EXT. ROOFTOP - NIGHT
Angled skylights glow, steam rises from vent pipes.
Something blobbish lands on the roof with a loud SQUELCH.
The blobbish something unfolds and stands up. It's a MAN,
wearing a long coat, a hat, and sunglasses. He brushes
himself down.
He peers down through one of the skylight windows. Then
walks to one of the vent pipes. He leans forward and POURS
himself down the pipe until he's gone.
ROOF SECURITY CAMERA POV: watching the vent pipe.
EXT. EMPTY STREET - MANHOLE COVER - NIGHT
The manhole cover unscrews clockwise and is pushed to one
side. A grinning dinosaur head rises up out of the manhole.
The head turns to look up and down the street. The head
slowly sinks out of sight.
STREET SECURITY CAMERA POV: watching the open manhole.
INT. DARK EMPTY THEATER - NIGHT
WOMAN
Hello?
A spotlight comes on, dazzling the woman with the wide-brimmed
hat on center stage.
WOMAN
Hey! Cut it out!
The spotlight shifts so it's slightly to her right.
WOMAN
Better.
MAN'S AMPLIFIED VOICE
I'm sorry, Miss Bellman. I couldn't
see you.
WOMAN
That's okay. Where the hell are
you?
MAN'S AMPLIFIED VOICE
Behind you.
The woman turns round. A steel bin on wheels sits behind
her. It has a glass window slit near the top. The woman,
curious, bends down to peer through the slit.
WOMAN
Oh my God.
MAN'S AMPLIFIED VOICE
Yes. I was once a human being, like
you. Now I must dwell inside this
vessel, since my mutated form can no
longer exist in your world.
WOMAN
What are you mutating into, a giant
penis?
MAN'S AMPLIFIED VOICE
Possibly yes. Two other persons are
about to join you. Do not be alarmed.
The spotlight swings to illuminate a blobbish shape as it
oozes onto the stage. The shape reforms into the man from
the rooftop.
WOMAN
Neat trick. Who else?
The spotlight swings to illuminate the disosaur, who emits a
low growl.
WOMAN
The hell?
MAN'S AMPLIFIED VOICE
I have invited you three here to
present a proposition. First I will
introduce you, since it is unlikely
that you are familiar with each other.
The spotlight shines on the woman.
MAN'S AMPLIFIED VOICE
Kaitlyn Bellman, dentist's
receptionist by day, fearless heroine
by night. Better known as Miss
Brutality. Your ability to wrench
open doors with the sheer brute
strength in your grossly overdeveloped
right arm, and your super punch, has
foiled the master plan of many a
hardened criminal.
NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGE: headline reads "MYSTERY GIRL WITH BIG
ARM FOILS BANK ROBBERY" -- photo of COPS standing over a
pair of ROBBERS who are both in agony, nursing their left
shoulders.
The spotlight shines on the man who was a blob.
MAN'S AMPLIFIED VOICE
Doctor Reggie Farquahar, experimental
fashion designer, whose advanced
research into atomic-powered jewelry
and accessories resulted in his own
body gaining fantastic molecular
gooey-ness. Better known as Mister
Ooze, who can sneak into secret
criminal lairs through the smallest
openings, and detain suspects until
the police arrive.
NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGE: headline reads "CRIMINAL GANG STUCK
FAST" -- photo of several CRIMINALS stuck to a brick wall by
gleaming ooze.
The spotlight shines on the dinosaur, who ROARS and swings
its paws around, enraged.
MAN'S AMPLIFIED VOICE
Frederick Meeker, paleontology
professor, whose exposure to a strange
virus contained in the thigh bone of
a dinosaur, which he gnawed as a
joke to impress a young female
student, has resulted in a bizarre
melding of human and sauron DNA.
Better known as Me-Rex, terror of
the sewers.
NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGE: headline reads "DINOSAUR EATS GANGLAND
BOSS" -- photo of sickened COPS peering into a banged-up
sedan whose roof has been peeled open.
The dinosaur calms down and nods. Raowrr.
WOMAN
Okay, so you know who we are. Who
are you?
MAN'S AMPLIFIED VOICE
I am Doctor Victor Van Der Ook.
WOMAN
The famous missing scientist! They
said you fell into a volcano.
MAN'S AMPLIFIED VOICE
Merely a subterfuge to mask my
activities. It is my intention to
create a team of super-heroes who
will combat the tidal wave of crime
that threatens to overwhelm this
dark city.
MISS BRUTALITY
Sure, I'm in.
MISTER OOZE
Very well.
ME-REX
Raowrr.
MAN'S AMPLIFIED VOICE
Excellent.
FADE OUT
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