This is part three of Supervillain Lover, my screenplay about a young woman who once loved a superhero, but is now forced to become the hero herself, when all she wants is to fly away.
See also: Supervillain Lover: Part 1 and Supervillain Lover: Part 2
You can view it as PDF, or read it inline after the break.
INT. HOTEL - PRESIDENTIAL SUITE - MORNING
Peter appears in a blast of blue flame.
PRESIDENT
You are not welcome.
The Secret Service raise their weapons with trepidation.
PETER
I’m sorry. I did what I had to. But I’m still sorry.
He appears legitimately contrite.
PRESIDENT
You killed a lot of people.
Peter shuffles his feet.
PETER
I, uh, brought you…
He puts a paper box in front of the President.
The President sighs.
He peeks in the box.
PRESIDENT
In the morning?
He opens the box, extracts a fork.
He lifts a bite of cheesecake to his mouth.
PETER
Look, magic is a threat, and you _do _need Hannah’s weapons to fight it.
An aide enters.
He gulps nervously at seeing Peter.
AIDE
Sir… She’s on the phone.
The President signals “Go ahead.”
Static shows on the screen, then Hannah’s face.
PRESIDENT
Hannah.
Hannah sees Peter. She frowns.
HANNAH
I’m surprised you’re working with him.
PRESIDENT
I don’t have much choice.
HANNAH
The King attacked The Complex.
PRESIDENT
The King?
HANNAH
That’s what she calls herself.
She cuts off the connection.
PRESIDENT
This “King” destroyed the weapons, Peter. And I don’t think Hannah is going to give us more.
(beat)
We couldn’t even figure out how they worked. They’re…
PETER
Amazing.
(smiles softly to self)
Like her.
The President smiles softly.
He glances at the desk drawer.
They sit quietly for a moment as The President chews a bite of cheesecake.
PRESIDENT
(to self)
Why chefs?
PETER
Chefs?
The President licks his fork.
PRESIDENT (CONT’D)
This “King” person… For some reason, it would seem she also kidnapped a few dozen chefs last night.
INT. INDUSTRIAL KITCHEN - EARLY MORNING
Many chefs look at their plates of food nervously.
KING
Come now, my subjects… You know I didn’t poison your meal…
She grins.
KING (CONT’D)
You prepared them yourselves, after all.
She loses the smile.
KING (CONT’D)
Eat!
No-one moves.
She glares.
She picks one randomly and snaps her fingers at him.
His eyes widen.
Then, he SCREAMS!
His screams turn to gurgles as he chokes on boiling blood as it begins to pour from his mouth.
KING (CONT’D)
You still have enough of your last meal in you for me to do whatever I want with you. Now EAT!
She smiles as they rush to dig in.
KING (CONT’D)
When you’ve finished, you’ll find a stockpile of explosives in the next room. Grab a bag each.
She turns to leave.
KING (CONT’D)
We’re going to have a little fun.
INT. HANNAH’S LAB - EARLY MORNING
Hannah gazes out at the city below.
Her hand presses against the glass.
HANNAH
I want to drop it all. I want to fly away.
LIZ
What about me?
Hannah turns to Liz.
HANNAH
You could come with me.
LIZ
I would.
HANNAH
You would fly away with me? The two of us, to forget and be forgotten together…
Hannah smiles sadly.
She looks back out at the city.
LIZ
Are we…
Hannah shakes her head.
HANNAH
If we’re going to run away from everything and into the world, we’ll need a world to run in to.
Hannah turns to Anna.
HANNAH (CONT’D)
Show us.
INT. HANNAH’S LAB - OUTSIDE ELEVATOR - EARLY MORNING
Silently, they enter the gigantic glass elevator.
Anna walks over to the control panel.
She opens a secret panel.
Inside: a red lever, labelled “DO NOT PULL.”
She smiles.
She pulls the lever.
The elevator drops.
INT. GLASS ELEVATOR - CONTINUOUS
They drop at breakneck speed.
Floors pass by, and then, they’re underground.
Down, down, down, and then–
INT. ANNA’S LAB - OUTSIDE ELEVATOR - CONTINUOUS
Anna’s lab is a demonic version of Hannah’s Lab. Fewer gizmos or gadgets, more murderous weapons.
Spider-like crawling vehicles, giant guns, high-tech throwing spears, exoskeleton armor…
Spotlights illuminate the creations in the otherwise dark, expansive room.
ANNA
Now obviously you can’t fight.
HANNAH
We don’t have time to learn.
ANNA
This suit will do it for you.
The armor is made of many sharp metal plates.
A piece made to fit the upper arm has a circular hole where some missing piece should fit…
ANNA (CONT’D)
With… Certain help…
She glances at Hannah.
ANNA (CONT’D)
It can know what you want it to do–what you _need _it to do. This bit…
She holds up the angular helmet.
ANNA (CONT’D)
Can talk with your brain. It will let you know what it can do, and what it cannot do.
LIZ
Could… could I try?
Anna pauses for a moment.
She glance at the hole in the armpiece.
ANNA (CONT’D)
(uncomfortable; pointedly to Hannah)
They need cores.
Hannah nods.
HANNAH
I’ll get them.
LIZ
Cores?
HANNAH
We’ll both need a suit.
Anna hefts an energy weapon off the table.
LIZ
That’s… It looks like…
Hannah nods.
LIZ (CONT’D)
It didn’t feel very good.
ANNA
It’s not supposed to. It will kill, after enough hits, and until then hurt like heck. Seems to attack their magic _and _body.
(lovingly)
This energy weapon is slightly more advanced than the one that shot you, though. For example…
She lets it go. It continues floating in mid-air.
ANNA (CONT’D)
It should communicate with your helmet, and like the suit, just know what you need it to do.
LIZ
Why not a gun?
HANNAH
Did you notice the effectiveness of your flamethrower against her?
LIZ
But there has to be something–
HANNAH
Magic is squirrelly. Nothing non-magical can hurt them.
Liz looks at the energy weapon.
LIZ
And that?
HANNAH (CONT’D)
Except that. A variant of the energy used to make all of my devices fly happens to be an energy that can hurt the beasts.
LIZ
Beasts?
HANNAH
Clearly you’ve never dated one.
Liz blinks.
HANNAH (CONT’D)
Transportation?
Anna grins.
She points to a giant, twenty foot tall metal spider.
An angular cockpit nests inside a spherical metal framework, to which long, sharp, metal legs are attached.
ANNA
The legs rotate freely around the body. It can crawl on a ceiling, down a wall, and across the floor, and you in the cockpit can stay upright the whole time.
HANNAH
I don’t think it would fit in a room, much less on a ceiling…
Anna snaps her fingers.
The legs collapse, lowering the cockpit in its spherical framework until it is inches from the ground.
It is now not much larger than an SUV.
ANNA
The framework rotates around the cockpit too…
She smiles widely.
ANNA
Also, it can fly.
EXT. BROOKLYN BRIDGE - MORNING
The cars roll along. Traffic is not at its best, but at least it isn’t rush hour.
The King appears in the middle of the road!
SCREECH! The fast approaching car tries to stop, but–
BOOM!
One shot from The King’s shoulder cannon stops it dead in its tracks!
CRASH! CRUNCH! It’s a pileup!
BOOM!
Another shot, another car crashes up through the pedestrian walkway.
It tumbles over into the Manhattan-bound lanes.
EXT. TOWER BRIDGE - AFTERNOON
It’s a rare bright and sunny day in London.
BOOM! CRASH! BOOM! CRUNCH!
Blasts of blue fire crash cars into each other. Traffic is stopped.
The King stalks through the carnage.
EXT. BIXBY BRIDGE, BIG SUR, C.A. - EARLY MORNING
It’s a disaster. Torn-up cars everywhere.
The King signals with her hand.
BANG! BANG!
An explosion at each end of the bridge severs it from the land on either side.
EXT. SYDNEY HARBOR BRIDGE - AFTER MIDNIGHT
Each end of the bridge has been destroyed.
The King claps her hands together.
It’s already dark, but somehow, it’s getting darker.
The lights on the bridge flicker out; the lights from land grow dim…
EXT. BROOKLYN BRIDGE - MORNING
Shadow envelops the bridge.
The sky, the land, and the East River all darken.
EXT. TOWER BRIDGE - AFTERNOON
It’s as dark as night.
Car lights come on.
The King turns in place.
Car lights flicker off and on as she turns. Wherever she faces, they flicker out.
She is illuminated only from behind.
FLASH!
The shadow flickers–the bright, outside world of London shows through for a split-second.
It’s not a ray of hope. It’s disorienting.
Her voice carries as a whisper into every ear.
KING
My subjects…
She blows a car off the bridge.
FLASH!
EXT. BIXBY BRIDGE, BIG SUR, C.A. - EARLY MORNING
Dark, then… BOOM! FLASH! A car flies off the bridge, clear out to the ocean!
BOOM! Dark again, Another flies into darkness!
BOOM! Another!
KING (CONT’D)
There is something I want, and you are going to give it to me.
The King glances through a car window.
The headlights of the cars behind her dimly illuminate the driver. He tries not to look at her.
KING (CONT’D)
Do you know why?
BLACK.
KING (O.S.)
Because I am your King.
INT. HANNAH’S BEDROOM - MORNING
The hidden door closes behind Hannah.
She breathes heavily, leaning against the wall.
The infinity symbol GLOWS.
She holds a large black metal box in her arms.
BRIANNA, a robot, knocks on the the entryway.
It takes her a moment, but Hannah looks up.
HANNAH
Yes, Brianna?
BRIANNA
There’s been a… Thing.
INT. HANNAH’S LAB - COMMAND CENTER - DAY
The President’s face stares from the largest of the many monitors in the still-under-construction command center.
Robots scurry around everywhere building the remaining parts.
PRESIDENT
Five minutes. FIVE MINUTES! A dozen bridges… There must be dozens–hundreds–She was _literally _in multiple places at once–
(to someone off-screen)
Shut them all down!
(beat)
Especially that one!
Hannah is not in a good mood.
HANNAH
And what do you want me to do about it?
PRESIDENT
We need your weapons.
Hannah snarls and slams a button.
The connection cuts off.
The black box is on the table in front of her. She pushes it towards Anna.
INT. PRESIDENTIAL SUITE - DAY
The President slams his fist against the desk.
He takes a deep breath.
PRESIDENT
(to aide)
Get the Mage here. Now.
ALBERT
I do not–
PRESIDENT
The angel won’t answer. To who else can I turn but the devil?
INT. HANNAH’S LAB - COMMAND CENTER - MORNING
The command center is almost complete.
HANNAH
There’s one bridge she hasn’t hit yet.
Anna’s metal fingers tap on the black box.
ANNA
It’s across the country.
HANNAH
How long?
ANNA
In a Spider? Thirty minutes.
Liz’s mouth drops open.
INT. COCKPIT - MORNING
Hannah and Liz are in armor.
The missing piece has been filled: on their arms, glowing INFINITY signs are trapped in circles.
Hannah pilots.
The ship shakes as it flies at three thousand miles per hour.
EXT. GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
It’s bright out.
The King appears on the bridge.
She takes a deep breath.
ANNA (O.S.)
(through radio)
It’s beginning.
BOOM! A car flies off the bridge.
BOOM! Another! BOOM!
ANNA (O.S.) (CONT’D)
Still five minutes away. She’ll be done by then.
INT. COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Hannah smiles.
HANNAH
No… This one’s special.
EXT. SAN FRANCISCO FLY, INC. STORE - DAY
The giant, spacious store is busy, as usual.
The robots inside sell the amazing gadgets to the people.
ANNA (O.S.)
(through radio)
Bringing spiders from local store to flank you…
The robots herd the people to the sides of the building.
A rumble, then… BOOM!
The back wall explodes.
Two spider-craft, their legs swept back parallel with the ground, rocket out of the store.
EXT. GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
The King stands in the middle of the road.
Carnage surrounds her.
Cars piled up on each other burn in blazes of blue flame.
KING
Come on, Mage! Come to your King!
She blasts another car.
It flies along the bridge, landing in front of the blockade of police cars at the end.
KING (CONT’D)
Come, Mage! Come to mother!
PETER
I’m here.
The King smiles, and turns around to face Peter.
She glances at the sky, and smiles wider still.
Two smaller spider-crafts flank a gigantic one.
The King takes careful aim with her shoulder cannons.
She waits for a moment, then–
BOOM!
Aim again, and another BOOM!
Grinning, she watches as the blue fireballs hit first one, then the other flanking craft.
The crafts begin to fall.
CRASH!
The first hits one end of the bridge.
Police cars in the blockade fly through the air as the bridge’s connection to land is severed.
CRASH!
The second takes out the other end.
The King turns back to Peter, and–
KING
ARGH!
She flies through the air as a blue fireball hits her squarely in the face.
Peter stalks up to her.
He fires another fireball, then another.
INT. COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
LIZ
Just her? Or Peter…?
HANNAH
(hesitates)
Peter…
(beat)
Both. It uses magic, it dies.
Liz glances at Hannah warily.
Hannah puts her hand on a lever.
HANNAH
Ready?
LIZ
No.
Liz puts her hand over Hannah’s, and pulls the lever.
EXT. GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
The King gathers a fireball in her own hands as Peter does the same.
They throw them.
Two continuous streams of fire CLASH between them, locking them together.
The fire swirls around them.
Hannah and Liz LAND in crouches, one on either side of Peter and The King.
Both have an energy weapon on each arm.
As Peter and The King fire on each other, Hannah and Liz fire on Peter and The King.
The King and Peter grunt as the orange beams of energy hit the swirling fire about them.
The four are connected by light and magic: blue fire between The King and Peter, and continuous beams of orange energy from them to Hannah and Liz.
The blue flame begins fighting the orange beams of energy, pushing it back towards Hannah and Liz’s weapons.
The King grins as the weapons shake in Hannah and Liz’s hands.
Hannah and Liz take a step forward each. The energy moves back towards The King and Peter.
KING
(yelling while grunting)
MY… SUBJECTS…
The sky starts to flicker into darkness.
KING (CONT’D)
I… AM… YOUR…
It’s as dark as night, the only light comes from the energy swirling around the combatants.
She thrusts her arms upwards.
The blue fire and orange energy SWIRLS around her and then ERUPTS!
ROAR!
KING (CONT’D)
(magically amplified)
KING!
The fire and energy spreads insanely fast. In seconds, the whole bridge is alight!
The King slams her hands together, and the bridge’s support columns begin to bend and collapse.
A shot of orange energy from Liz hits The King’s arm.
KING (CONT’D)
ARGH!
The King holds the arm loosely at her side.
She glares at Liz and with her other hand, fires a blue fireball from her shoulder cannon.
The cables holding up the bridge begin to snap.
KING (CONT’D)
(catching breath)
Come to me, my subjects!
The grin is back.
Her eyes glow malevolently.
KING (CONT’D)
Come to me, or drown!
They plunge into the water.
EXT. UNDERWATER - CONTINUOUS
The water is violent as cement, cars, and people plummet into it.
Liz and Hannah are knocked around like dolls, tumbling through the water. Which way is up?
Their world is the ROAR of the water.
The water begins to calm, then a giant piece of cement SLAMS into Liz.
The King appears unaffected by the chaotic water and debris around her.
Around her, some bodies are suspended in bubbles of air.
A couple manages to escape their sinking car.
The King glances at them.
She motions at one. A bubble of air forms around her.
Her friend is not so lucky. He tries to swim for the surface, but–
A piece of rubble smashes into his head.
He falls.
The King smiles.
She turns to Liz.
The blue flames in her eyes shine on Liz like a spotlight.
She calmly reaches a hand towards Liz… Only a few yards away…
Peter swims frantically towards Hannah.
A loud, low RUMBLE overcomes the roar of the water.
The giant metal spider crawls along the surface below.
Its pincers grab Liz and Hannah.
It blasts from the water.
INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
The King stands inside the dimly-lit warehouse.
But there’s six of her!
There are at least fifty people–each stares at The King closest to them.
Then, another King steps into the warehouse.
All eyes dart to her.
The other Kings melt down towards the floor, out-of-sight. Whatever they became startles The King’s audience.
KING
Do not move. I would have to kill you.
Behind her, her army of chefs roll in carts of food.
The carts form a table.
It’s a veritable feast!
KING (CONT’D)
You may eat. Let me assure you, my subjects… the food is of the highest quality.
Chairs are brought in.
KING (CONT’D)
If you do not accept my lovely gift… If I should find that you deemed yourselves too good for some crumb of this meal…
She steps up to a twelve-year-old, and grips her by the neck.
KING (CONT’D)
Then you will find that my mercy that keeps you alive will run out early.
The King releases the twelve-year-old. The girl’s parents hug her.
KING (CONT’D)
Bon appétit!
She disappears.
INT. PRESIDENTIAL SUITE - AFTERNOON
The President is not convinced.
PRESIDENT
If they are so great and powerful, why aren’t you dead?
PETER
Much more and I would have been. The magic flowing around us saved us–
PRESIDENT
I don’t know how you propose getting us the weapons–
PETER
Take them.
The President looks at Peter and shakes his head.
PRESIDENT
You really have no idea, do you?
(beat)
Get out. GET OUT!
Peter glares.
He disappears.
The President opens the drawer. Pulls out the chain.
He holds the tears-shaped pendant in his hand. One one side is written: ALWAYS.
He flips it over. On the other: REMEMBER.
He traces his fingers over it.
The President downs some hard liquor.
PRESIDENT (CONT’D)
(to self)
He has no idea. And neither does she.