This is part five—the second to last!—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: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.
You can view it as PDF, or read it inline after the break.
EXT. HOTEL - MORNING
Peter GRIMACES as he touches his side gingerly.
He glances up. The hotel stretches up above him.
PETER
(to self; disgust)
Tedium…
He considers for a moment.
He shrugs–wincing again as the movement stretches his wound–and then–
WHOOSH! He hurls a blue fireball at the hotel entrance.
INT. PRESIDENTIAL SUITE - CONTINUOUS
The President watches security monitors as Peter attacks the hotel.
Blue fire swarms around Peter, lancing out to destroy… to kill. Person after person–hotel patron, employee, police, military, secret service–are immolated.
SECRET SERVICE AGENT
Sir… He’s cut off all the escape routes. A helicopter’s on its way, we need to–
PRESIDENT
Do you really think he’d let us escape?
SECRET SERVICE AGENT
Sir, I need–URK!
A flaming hand JUTS from his stomach.
The agent collapses as Peter removes his hand.
PRESIDENT
If you want me dead, why the show, Mage?
PETER
This show is not for you.
He takes a seat.
He motions The President to his seat behind the desk.
He puts a box in front of The President.
PETER (CONT’D)
Eat.
The President does not move to open the box.
PETER (CONT’D)
My mom says you need to eat at least three times a day, and that dessert is the best.
The President still makes no move.
PETER (CONT’D)
EAT!
Shakily, The President reaches for the box. He opens it.
He removes the fork and plate of cheesecake.
Slowly, shakily, he slices a bite, and lifts it to his mouth.
He CHEWS.
PETER (CONT’D)
It’s a pity, but Mom says you’d never do what needed doing. Too cool of a head on you. Not like your Vice President.
The President’s eyes widen, but it’s too late.
The fork CLATTERS to the ground.
The flakes of white chocolate on the cheesecake begin to grow in the President’s mouth.
He tries to grab at the food, to pull it out of his mouth, but tentacles of cheesecake grow out, CRYSTALIZING until they are as hard as ICE, shoving his arms away.
The intricate carvings on the desk before him COME TO LIFE, the leaf-like shapes on the spindly legs GROW and SNAKE around The President. They PULL him and his chair closer to the desk…
He STRUGGLES against the vines and icy tentacles.
His arm reaches for the desk drawer. He GRASPS the tear-shaped PENDANT…
The President tries to scream, but chokes as the cheesecake grows in his mouth and stuffs itself down his throat.
The crystalized cheesecake snakes down his throat and into his stomach. It punctures through his rib cage, the white crystalline structure COVERED WITH BLOOD.
He jerks around helplessly as the flakes-turned-spears of white chocolate topping pierce through his the roof of his mouth and up through his eyeballs.
Peter grabs the pendant from The President’s hands. A few more spasms, and then–
EXT. RESIDENTIAL AREA - DAY
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Several houses explode in blue flame.
EXT. APARTMENT BUILDINGS - DAY
BOOM!
One tall apartment building falls into another. They both topple to the ground.
EXT. CITY STREET - DAY
The King blows up several cars.
But she’s not alone. Around her, people riot, setting fires to cars.
A few are unwise enough to attack her.
The puddles of goo that remain are enough to dissuade any others.
MONTAGE OF RIOTS AROUND THE GLOBE.
INT. HANNAH’S BEDROOM - EARLY AFTERNOON
Hannah’s eyes slowly open. They shut again against the afternoon light.
She gets up. Looks around. She’s disoriented.
Dazedly she walks out of the room.
INT. HANNAH’S LAB - OUTSIDE LIZ’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Hannah looks at Liz’s room, not quite seeing it.
ANNA
The shit’s about to hit the fan.
Hannah spins around.
Anna sits at a desk.
HANNAH
What–
She thinks back–her eyes dart this way and that–she remembers.
HANNAH
Liz…
She focuses on Anna.
HANNAH (CONT’D)
(accusing)
Did you know?
(beat)
Anna. Did. You. Know.
She grabs an energy weapon from a table.
She aims–
HANNAH (CONT’D)
DID YOU KNOW? DID–
SMASH! A wall of Liz’s bedroom explodes. She swings the weapon–
HANNAH (CONT’D)
YOU–
BANG! More wall. A fire has started–
HANNAH (CONT’D)
KNOW–
BANG! The bed erupts…
HANNAH (CONT’D)
SHE– she was–
Anna stares down the barrel of the weapon.
INT. REMAINS OF LIZ’S ROOM - LATER
Hannah sits on the singed remains of a fluffy chair. Behind her, the energy weapon leans up against what’s left of the wall.
Robots scuttle around cleaning things up.
HANNAH
(whisper)
Why?
(beat)
Why do you–do you have–magic…
The remains of the flying carpet lays on the ground in front of her.
Hannah slides off the chair.
Tentatively, she approaches the carpet. She unfurls it.
A lighter falls out.
It looks very much like Liz’s…
But, scorches aside, it’s newer, made from better materials.
Hesitantly, Hannah reaches for the lighter.
Etched into it: HANNAH.
She flicks it. It lights a small flame.
She lets it go out. She lights it again.
Anna approaches behind Hannah. After a moment, she sits down.
They watch the flame together.
INT. REMAINS OF LIZ’S ROOM - EVENING
Hannah lays on the remains of Liz’s bed.
She flicks the lighter again.
Staring at the flame, she sits up. The bed CREAKS. It does not seem structurally sound.
Anna watches calmly from the corner.
HANNAH
I’m sorry.
ANNA
I’m sure Liz knows.
HANNAH
When I saw her using… That…
(beat)
I hated her. I had told myself… That she couldn’t. That she wasn’t. That she was good… And now…
(beat)
But I still…
ANNA
You want to fight. You want to save her.
(considering)
You _could _win.
HANNAH
I have to try.
(beat)
I know where The King is going to be.
ANNA
Oh, things are much worse than that.
Hannah looks to Anna questioningly.
ANNA (CONT’D)
The President is dead. And…
Three… Two… One…
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The building shakes.
ANNA (CONT’D)
They want your weapons.
Hannah is shaken. Everything’s falling apart…
HANNAH
Peter could…
ANNA (CONT’D)
Peter caused this. I’m betting he _wanted _it. _He _killed the President. And he certainly didn’t try to hide it.
Through the window, a MISSILE APPROACHES!
BANG!
The fiery explosion against the glass-like windows BACKLIGHTS Hannah as the windows RATTLE against the explosion–but are not damaged.
She turns to look at the explosion.
She doesn’t know what to do…
Anna gazes at the explosion–it’s so beautiful.
Hannah shakes her head. Again. Again!
She slams her palm into her forehead. She slaps herself!
BREATHE! Deep breath, deep breath…
Another missile hits at the other end of the lab. The orange light of the explosion shines through the lab’s many glass walls.
HANNAH
I’m going.
ANNA
Please say I can–
HANNAH
Deal with them.
Anna grins scarily.
EXT. FLY, INC. SKYSCRAPER - LATE AFTERNOON
Helicopters HOVER around the building. Tanks SURROUND it.
They fire missile after missile. Glass on the lower floors SHATTERS. Inside, computers and machinery FLIES EVERYWHERE.
Then…
Windows SHATTER–but not from explosions.
Giant robot spiders force their way out of the building.
They crawl across; down; up; everywhere!
Some jump off and hover above the tanks below. Others fly at the helicopters.
Their energy weapons HUM to life.
BANG! BANG!
Tanks and helicopters EXPLODE.
One spider grabs a helicopter with its legs. A short BURST of speed and it LETS GO–the helicopter flies into a building.
One giant spider jumps off the top floor and flies away. Several smaller spiders follow in formation.
INT. DINING HALL - NIGHT
The dining hall is palatial. Ceilings reach easily fifty feet into the air, supported by large stone columns.
Hannah’s armored feet CLANK against the marble floor.
Heads of states and their entourages EAT and YELL–but mostly yell.
The VICE PRESIDENT of the United States speaks, an overly large plaque in front of him announcing his title.
VICE PRESIDENT
We will get the weapons–
PRIME MINISTER, U.K.
Why don’t you have them already? Why do you put up with–
VICE PRESIDENT
It’s not so simple–
An AIDE whispers in his ear.
VICE PRESIDENT (CONT’D)
Shit.
AIDES to other heads of state are on phone calls.
Some hang up; they approach…
AIDE
(to U.K. PM)
Excuse me…
AIDE TO FRENCH PRIME MINISTER
(to French P.M.)
Excusez-moi…
They whisper in their bosses’ ears.
Immediately everyone looks troubled.
They look around at each other. They know everyone has the same message…
The Vice President folds his napkin.
VICE PRESIDENT
(shaky)
As I was saying, it is not so simple. My predecessor was concerned about the power Miss Grayson commands.
PRIME MINISTER, U.K
And for good reason, it seems! How can you let a private citizen–
VICE PRESIDENT
Just a minute ago you were all for charging in guns a-blazing.
PRIME MINISTER, FRANCE
What other choice do we have?
Hannah steps into the room.
HANNAH
(voice amplified)
You have no choice.
Immediately, many soldiers train their weapons on her.
They don’t ask questions: bullets fly.
Hananh leaps out of the way, towards two soldiers.
She rolls, stands, and rips the weapons from their arms.
BANG BANG! She fires. Both fall to the ground.
The heads of state SCREAM and DUCK behind their tables as more soldiers swarm in.
The oddly familiar CATERING STAFF runs for cover.
Hannah jumps high into the air as more bullets fly past her.
One hits. It doesn’t pierce her armor, but it spins her around. She goes with the momentum, and lands in a crouch next to another soldier.
She GRABS their grenade and tosses it at another group.
HANNAH (CONT’D)
(voice amplified)
You are all already dead. It’s starting…
A grenade flies at her. She catches it.
She crushes it in her hand. The explosion is muffled by her armored fist.
HANNAH (CONT’D)
(amplified)
I know you are here, King.
The lights flicker.
The soldiers look around uncertainly.
Then, the SCREAMS start again.
The Vice President is first. His eyes widen as he chokes on something.
VINES force their way out of his mouth. They begin to encase his head–
More STAB their way out of his chest. They begin entangling his whole body.
The soldiers look on in shock.
More and more heads of state fall to their food. They panic.
BOOM!
A blast of blue fire incinerates a group of soldiers.
The remaining soldiers snap out of their shock.
BOOM!
They run.
The lights flicker out.
The SCREAMS continue.
Periodically, the lights FLICKER on to reveal food eating their people.
KING
In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is King! And you are oh, so very blind.
Her blue eyes flash in the darkness.
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
The lights flicker on briefly.
Giant metal spider after giant metal spider CRASH into the room.
They all train their weapons on The King, who stands in the middle of the room, laughing at the carnage.
BOOM! BOOM!
Two fireballs each hit a spider.
They have little effect, but the smile on The King’s face does not falter.
The spiders FIRE their energy weapons, bolts of orange, yellow, and green LANCING at The King.
She SPINS through the air, dodging the blasts.
She stretches out her arm at one, and grabs something invisible. She crushes the imaginary object, and the spider begins to crumple as well.
A couple blasts hit her, but barely shake her.
Several spiders begin charging their weapons for a stronger blast.
The charging energy dimly lights the room.
The King jerks her hand, tossing the crushed spider in her grip into several others.
A DYING HEAD OF STATE’s SCREAMS are silenced as a GIANT METAL CHAIN erupts from his mouth. It and similar chains from his aides ensnare and crush another spider.
BOOM!
KING
ARGH!
The King flies through the air from a supercharged blast.
She is no longer smiling.
She jumps thirty feet into the air, landing on one of the spiders, the light of blast after blast of energy illuminating her.
Then, the room LIGHTS UP as she IGNITES herself in blue flame.
The flame eats into the giant robot. She sinks inside.
Then–
BANG!
Shards of the robot fly every which way, each alight in blue flame.
Many of the flaming shards puncture the hulls of other spiders.
The King crashes into the ground in a crouch–marble floor SHATTERS around her.
She motions upwards with her hands. Chunks of marble lift into the air.
She prepares to send them flying at several spiders, but then–
BANG!
KING
AHHHH!
The King SLAMS against a wall in a BLAST of orange light.
The LIGHTS come back on.
Hannah advances.
BANG! Another shot of the orange energy.
The King YELLS in pain again.
The remaining spiders advance behind Hannah.
KING
(in pain)
Hello, Hannah.
The King closes her eyes.
Once more, the room is in complete darkness.
Hannah fires, but The King is already gone.
KING (CONT’D)
Come, bow to your King, sweet Hannah…
HANNAH
Where is she?
The King laughs.
KING
Oh, Hannah, dear… You are blind, so blind…
Hannah fires another shot into the darkness.
HANNAH (CONT’D)
WHERE IS LIZ?
KING
In the land of the blind, Hannah, sweetie, the one-eyed man is King… And I…
The King’s shoulder canons charge up.
KING (CONT’D)
I’ve got two eyes, honey.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Three blasts of blue fire illuminate Hannah as they shoot towards her.
A giant metal shield flies in the way, blocking the blast.
Hannah is obscured from view by the flames.
Then, The King YELLS in alarm!
The shadow shatters.
The King stands up against a wall. Hannah stands over her, holding The Shadow’s knife against The King’s throat.
HANNAH
Where is she?
The King smiles.
KING
Do you not recognize me, Hannah? Do you not know who I am?
HANNAH
(sarcasm)
You’re King. I’ve heard your spiel.
The King laughs.
KING
No, Hannah… We’ve met before. Before I was called The King.
She grins malevolently.
KING (CONT’D)
I want my knife back.
The King makes a sudden movement–
Hannah SLICES–
Straight through the neck and then–
PLOP. The King shrinks to a small princess figurine.
It falls to the ground.
Hannah stares at it, confused.
Then, she LURCHES.
Falls to the ground.
WHITE.
EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAWN
Liz runs away from the house in the distance.
DASHES into a barn–
BOOM! A BLAST of blue fire IGNITES the barn in BLUE FLAMES.
Liz runs again, out the other side of the barn, but The King is waiting–
BOOM! BOOM!
Both blasts miss–
BOOM!
The blue fire heads straight at Liz. She opens her mouth to SCREAM, it’s going to hit–
POOF!
She disappears in a BLAST of PURPLE FLAME.
Blue hits purple in an EXPLOSION OF LIGHT!
EXT. SKY - CONTINUOUS
Liz SCREAMS as she plummets through the sky.
POOF! Purple flames–
EXT. RIVER - CONTINUOUS
Still SCREAMING, Liz SINKS through the water, then–
EXT. STREET - DAWN
People are rioting.
POOF!
The BLAST of purple fire SLAMS people out of the way as Liz appears.
She curls up on the ground.
She’s almost trampled as the crowd marches, throwing Molotov cocktails and upturning cars.
SCREAMS!
The crowd’s anger turns to fear.
They begin to flee from something RUMBLING down the streets.
Liz tries to get to her feet. The crowd keeps SLAMMING her back down.
Finally, she manages.
Tanks ROLL through the street. SOLDIERS with HEAVY MACHINE GUNS ride on top of the tanks.
Liz turns to run, but it’s too late. She SCREAMS as a stream of tear gas hits her right in the face.
She falls to the ground, clutching her eyes.
The stream of continues above her.
ROBOTIC SPIDERS fight the TANKS in the background.
SOLDIER
Move!
Liz can barely hear him. She looks up; she can’t open her eyes–
SOLDIER (CONT’D)
MOVE!
He points a canister of tear gas at her again.
He fires.
WHOOSH!
A sphere of purple fire surrounds Liz. The tear gas ignites!
The canister explodes in the soldier’s hands.
GUNS turn to Liz. FIRE!
The shield of fire ripples as THOUSANDS of bullets hit!
Around Liz and the soldiers, people run away!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The tanks fire on her.
POW! POW! POW!
Robotic spiders fire their energy weapons at some of the tanks, which EXPLODE!
The shield of purple fire glows brighter and brighter, until it’s not purple, but a BRIGHT WHITE–
Reality CAVES IN around Liz–
SILENCE.
BOOM!
WHITE.
EXT. STREET - SLIGHTLY LATER
Remains of guns, tanks, and soldiers litter the ground.
Liz lies in the middle.
The robot spiders shakily climb to their feet.
They crawl up to Liz.
One pokes Liz with a long, spindly leg.
GROAN.
More robots surround her.
EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - MORNING
The light breeze rustles the tall yellow grass.
The forest in the West waves from side to side. The tall trees scattered across the land sway calmly.
The old barn near the forest CREAKS in the breeze.
Two houses sit next to the road–one long ago abandoned; the other–PETER’S HOUSE–small and yellow, is still as good as new, its blue accents glinting in the morning sun.
EXT. PETER’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Through the bedroom window, Hannah can be seen lying on a bed. She wears a simple white dress.
She begins to stir.
INT. BEDROOM - PETER’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Hannah blinks away the sun.
She sits up.
Peter’s mom walks in with breakfast on a tray.
She can’t quite make Hannah out, even at close distance.
She SQUINTS. Her eyes flash blue for a moment.
Hannah doesn’t notice. Her eyes trail over Peter’s Mom’s scars: the one across the eyes, and a rather fresher one across the neck.
Peter’s mom smiles.
PETER’S MOM
You’re awake! I brought breakfast!
HANNAH
What happened?
PETER’S MOM
Don’t worry about that, sweetheart.
HANNAH
Liz–
PETER’S MOM
Shh! No need for all the fuss! We both want the same things!
(smiles at some in-joke)
Eat some breakfast, dear. If you’re good, I’ve had the chefs prepare dessert!
HANNAH
But–
But Peter’s mom is already halfway out the door.
PETER’S MOM
I’ll have Peter come in to see you.
Hannah tries the door. Locked.
Window. She can’t get it open…
She sits on the bed.
Glances at the food. Scoots away from it.
Peter walks in.
PETER
Hello, sweetie!
HANNAH
What happened? The King–
PETER
Don’t worry about The King.
HANNAH
But The King; She’s The Shadow–
PETER
I know. I said don’t worry.
HANNAH
Did you–did you kill her?
He shakes his head and laughs.
PETER
No, Hannah! I don’t want to kill her. I couldn’t live without her. She’s my pillar. My guiding light…
He smiles.
PETER (CONT’D)
She’s great. It was her idea. It was the only way to get you to use those weapons. The only way we could be safe.
HANNAH
Safe? The world’s at WAR, Peter!
PETER
If a shoe can go to war with an ant.
HANNAH
The army attacked my–
PETER
Thanks to me. Thanks to her. She showed me how much danger you were in…
INSERT FLASH: The Shadow holding the knife against Hannah’s throat.
PETER (CONT’D)
And she knew just what to do.. We had to build me up–build up _hope–_then tear it down…
(sigh)
We knew she had to be the bad one. No-one expects someone like her to be a supervillain. I had to do a lot of the heavy lifting for her, of course, as is natural…
INSERT FLASH: Peter attacking the military building.
Hannah stares at him in horror.
He shakes himself out of his reverie.
PETER (CONT’D)
Now your robots can go kill everything magical, and… And we’ll be together, finally…
He smiles at her with hope and happiness.
HANNAH
They’re not fighting magic.
PETER
They’re taking over the world. YOU are taking over the world_. _And after all the things Magic has done to you…
He traces the scar across Hannah’s neck.
PETER (CONT’D)
Are you _really _going to let it live? “You magicals all the same,” you told me, “All evil.” Your little girlfriend didn’t even tell you she was magical–
HANNAH
_You _are magical.
PETER
I’m sure you’ll make exceptions, of course. Think, Hannah, we can be together at last!
Hannah can’t even muster a response to his insanity.
PETER (CONT’D)
It’ll be happily ever after. Come on, darling! It’s a happy day! Smile!
Hannah looks at him incredulously.
PETER (CONT’D)
Smile!
Peter motions upwards with a finger.
Hannah’s eyes widen as the corners of her lips curl upwards on their own accord. It’s not a natural smile, but Peter doesn’t notice–or doesn’t care.
He smiles.
He stabs some of her egg on a fork. Lifts it to her mouth–
PETER (CONT’D)
Now, open up… You know you want to…
She tries to resist… But her mouth opens.