Hyperion Force Pilot (draft 1)

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

The sound of an alarm clock stirs the individual in the bed
from slumber. He resists for a moment but gives into the
siren call of the clock. Sitting up, SAIGE WINTERS, slaps
the clock near his bed to turn the alarm off and stretches a
bit.

Saige swings his legs over the side of the bed and remains
there a moment.

SAIGE (V.O.)
I often wonder every time I wake
up, how I am going to set myself
apart from the rest today. What can
I do to be counted among the
special people in this world, hell,
in this city alone?

We see Saige get ready for work, putting on a dress shirt
and buttoning it up, finding his black loafers.

SAIGE (V.O.)
It’s not as easy as you would
think. Not living here. Not in
Paragon.

EXT. HOUSE - DAY

Saige exits the house to retrieve the newspaper sitting on
the sidewalk in front of his townhome.

SAIGE (V.O.)
What makes it so hard you ask?
Well-

Saige takes a step forward as two masked thugs bolt in front
of him and down the sidewalk. Saige pauses for a moment,
then continues walking. He stoops down to retrieve the paper
when he another person collides with him, both of them
hitting the ground. Recovering, Saige sees the person who
slammed into him is dressed in a rather garish costume and
mask.

HERO
Come on man, watch out when I am
doing my hero thing. Now they’re
getting away!

The "hero" doesn’t wait for Saige to reply. He jumps back to
his feet and rushes down the sidewalk after the thugs.



(CONTINUED)


CONTINUED: 2.



SAIGE (V.O.)
Well for one thing, you can’t spit
for hitting a so-called superhero
in this city. I mean it seems like
everyone and their mother is a
cape. You see them dashing through
the streets, flying overhead,
jumping on rooftops, or-

Saige spies another "hero" riding on a motorized wheelchair.

SAIGE (V.O.)
Yeah, or that too...

Saige shakes his head as he heads back inside.


INT. KITCHEN - DAY

Saige takes a seat at the table with a plate of toast and a
cup of coffee. He opens the paper and sees the front page
headline screams something about the Statesman.

SAIGE (V.O.)
While there are a ton of bargain
basement heroes there are guys like
him. The Statesman, the best of the
best of the best. Guys like him are
real and they have pulled the world
out of the fire a thousand times
over. People of all ages idolize
him and his team, the Freedom
Phalanx. There are close seconds,
like the Hyperion Force, Justice
Guys, Sisters of Justice, but the
Phalanx is tops. I have never found
myself too enamored with hero
types. I am just trying to make it
as a journalist in this age where
papers are dying left and right.
Some people just love them, obsess
on them.

Saige glances at a picture of his parents on a shelf in his
front room.

SAIGE (V.O.)
Sadly, I know people like that.

Saige checks his watch and realizes he should have left 15
minutes ago. He leaves the food on the table and grabs his
keys and heads out the door.





3.



INT. PARAGON TIMES - DAY

Saige is seated at his desk.

SAIGE (V.O.)
I work at the Paragon Times. Now we
are nowhere near the caliber of a
Paragon Post, but we try. A big
focus of our reporting is of
course, superheroes. We’re trying
to increase our variety of
coverage, audio, video, some
creative online ideas I think will
get people to think of us as more
than a Post-wannabe. I pitched them
to my boss a week ago. I am hoping
to hear a response.

The call of Saige’s boss stirs him from his thoughts.

MR. CARLTON
Saige, you have a minute?

SAIGE
Uh, yeah, yeah, sure Mr. Carlton.

Saige quickly hops to his feet, smoothing out his shirt and
pants as he makes his way to his editor’s office.

MR. CARLTON
Saige for the tenth time, no need
to be formal with me here. It’s
Jim.

SAIGE
Uh, right Mr. Car--Jim.

MR. CARLTON
Right then...about this idea you
have to, what did you say, put us
on an even playing field with our
coverage.

SAIGE
Yes sir, to capitalize on the
changing ways people are getting
their news. I think if we do that
it will go a long way toward
establishing credibility for us.

MR. CARLTON
I like it. I like the initiative
and the forward thinking. I think
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)


CONTINUED: 4.


MR. CARLTON (cont’d)
you would do well in the roll as
our first Multimedia Content
Editor.

SAIGE
E-editor?

MR. CARLTON
It’s a fairly big jump with some
big responsibilities on your
shoulders especially with meeting
the goals you set in your proposal
but I have confidence you are up to
the challenge.

SAIGE
Yes sir. I will not let you down,
you will so not regret this.

Saige tries his best to keep from jumping out of his socks
as he heads back into the newsroom.


EXT. PARAGON TIMES - DAY

Saige exits the building as he hits a speedial number on his
cell phone.

SAIGE
Hey Dad, it’s Saige. I know you and
mom are probably busy...like
always. But I have great news about
work. I mean, phenominal news. I’d
like to tell you two over dinner.
Tonight. I’ll make reservations at
the Blue Moon in King’s Row. 8
tonight. See you then.

Saige ends the call and jumps up with an audible "whoop."


INT. CAFE. - DAY

We join a blond gentlemen sitting at a table by himself
sipping on a cup of coffee. DETECTIVE MARK THOMPSON doesn’t
stand out much at first glance outside of the gold Paragon
Police Deparment shield on his belt and he is fine with
that. Thompson eyes the crowd of college kids, baby-boomers
and of course, the hero-enthusiasts.

Another man enters the cafe and zeroes in on Thompson. The
man, DETECTIVE DERRICK EVERS wears a shield as well. He
strides toward Thompson.

(CONTINUED)


CONTINUED: 5.



DET. EVERS
Well, it looks like even in this
city, life can still hold some
surprises.

Thompson smiles and extends his hand toward his former
partner.

THOMPSON
Derrick, how have you been?

DET. EVERS
Me? Peachy. The question is how and
where you have been. I thought you
forgot about our little Monday
afternoon lunches. I mean you’re
still on the force, but I haven’t
seen hide nor hair of you.

Thompson shrugs.

THOMPSON
I have been handling some-

He glances at the watch on his wrist, closer inspection
shows this is far from any regular watch.

THOMPSON
Special cases.

DET. EVERS
Right. I guess they all are these
days. What with this power freaks
running around taking over from
hardworking cops.

THOMPSON
I don’t think they are taking over
exactly Derrick, just lending a
hand. You have to admit the
criminals are stepping up their
game as well.

DET. EVERS
Yeah well how do you know it’s not
just because of these so-called
heroes? We didn’t see any of this
until the showed up in force you
know.

THOMPSON
I suppose it’s a matter of opinion.
But I didn’t come here to argue
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)


CONTINUED: 6.



THOMPSON (cont’d)
with you Derrick, I wanted to catch
up.

DET. EVERS
Catch up right.

THOMPSON
How’s Linda?

DET. EVERS
Comatose.

THOMPSON
What? What happened?

DET. EVERS
Capes happened and she got caught
in the middle.

THOMPSON
I’m sorry Derrick I-

Thompson’s wrist device beeps.

THOMPSON
Ah, Derrick, something’s come up.

DET. EVERS
Special cases.

THOMPSON
Uh, right. I will call you, I’d
like to come visit Linda.

Thompson hurries past Evers and out the front of the cafe.

EXT. CAFE - DAY

Thompson heads around the side of the building. He scans the
area for spectators before holding his wrist device up to
his face.

THOMPSON
Talk to me.

GEM
You have a waiting distress signal
from fellow Hyperion Force member
Captain Ion.




(CONTINUED)


CONTINUED: 7.



THOMPSON
Go ahead Captain.

CAPTAIN ION (O.S.)
Could use a hand in the Port
Stellar. Me, Diamondskin and a
whole lot of Crey would really love
your company.

Thompson looks back toward the cafe. He steps back a bit
seeing Det. Evers exit.

THOMPSON
*sighs* I’m on my way.

Thompson pushes a button on the device and turns and bolts
down the alley behind him. As he does blue armor begins to
wash over him.


INT. BLUE MOON RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Saige sits at a table alone. Two places are prepared in
front of him. By the length of the candles at the table,
Saige has been sitting there a while.

Saige takes out his phone and speed dials the same number as
earlier.

DR. WINTERS (O.S.)
You’ve reached Dr. Albert Winters.
Leave a message and I will get back
to you at my earliest convenience.

SAIGE
Dad...it’s Saige...again...I was
just checking to see if you and mom
got my messages. I’ve been here
four hours now. I-just call me back
please.

Saige throws the phone down.

SAIGE (V.O.)
My parents. A nobel prize winner
and a college professor. That
doesn’t automatically make you a
great parent. In their pursuits of
their goals they kind of left a
little thing named Saige behind.
There was only a few things they
managed to focus on. Their careers
and--

(CONTINUED)


CONTINUED: 8.



Saige’s phone lights up indicating a message. Saige snatches
it up quickly. Saige thumbs the phone to the picture message
he recieved. The picture is of his parents and the Backalley
Brawler.

SAIGE
Saige, sorry we missed our dinner
date. Plenty of time to tell us
about work later. Had an autograph
session we couldn’t pass up.

SAIGE (V.O.)
Yeah. The other thing was super
heroes. That was the only other
thing they seemed to give a damn
about.

Saige throws the phone down again.


EXT. BLUE MOON RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Saige stalks out the front door and down the street. He
kicks a nearby trashcan. Saige slumps against the building
behind him, taking a long slow breath to calm himself.

The moment of silence is broken by the sound of a woman
screaming. Saige looks up and sees a woman trying to fend
off attackers as she is being dragged into an alley.

SAIGE
What the hell?

Saige runs toward the alley. As he rounds the corner he
stops in his tracks mouth agape at the sight before him: A
handfull of Skulls gang members squaring off with the
MILLENIUM GUARDIAN and CARSELIS MASTRIANO.

MG is in street clothes with a leather jacket rather than
his usual armor. It doesn’t phase him as he puts the hurting
on two Skulls.

Carselis handles the other two. He seems to be just waving
his hands at the gangmembers, though a latent aura drifts
from his hands into the air at them. The Skulls on the other
hand see monstrous creatures far more terrifying than they
are causing them to drop to the street whimpering in the
fetal position.

Saige ducks down as MG scans the area for stragglers. GRACE
EMERSON joins the duo.



(CONTINUED)


CONTINUED: 9.


MG
No more? Seriously?

GRACE
That wasn’t enough for you? And you
two don’t even have your costumes
on, what if someone sees you?

MG
Well next time the Skulls try to
kidnap a woman I will make certain
I ask if they can give me a few
minutes to run home and get
properly dressed for Hyperion Force
butt-kickery.

GRACE
Not funny Millenium Guardian.

SAIGE (V.O.)
That woman, why does she look so
familiar to me?

GRACE
Let’s just get out of here.

The trio head farther into the alley. Saige is blinded by a
bright light, when the light is gone, so are the heroes.

SAIGE (V.O.)
Hyperion Force...


EXT. FARM - DAY

Saige drives his car up the long drive way and stop short of
a small house next to a sprawling field.

An older man, cane in hand, makes his way up to the car as
Saige exits.

HARPER
Ah Harper, it’s been a long time.

SAIGE
Sorry Harper. I don’t mean it to
be.

Saige shakes the hand of the older man.

SAIGE
I wish it could be under better
circumstances.


(CONTINUED)


CONTINUED: 10.



HARPER
Ah, what did your parents do this
time?

SAIGE
What didn’t they do is the
question. I wanted to tell them
about my promotion at work.

HARPER
A promotion? Congratulations, that
deserves a celebration!

SAIGE
I thought so too. I wanted to have
one, invited them and they ditched
me.

HARPER
For what?

SAIGE
For a superhero autograph signing.
It’s bad enough they ditched me for
work my whole life, but now they
found a new reason to ditch me.
It’s ridiculous.

Harper hobbles past Saige’s car. Saige follows behind him.

SAIGE
I mean what is so wrong with me
that they couldn’t stand me as a
kid and now as an adult. I am not a
druggie, I am not a thug, not a
criminal of any kind, so what’s the
problem?

HARPER
They are. Don’t you ever think
there is anything wrong with you
Saige. It’s them. They have missed
out all these years and they will
continue to.

SAIGE
Yeah you been saying that since I
was ten. From the first big brother
meeting. I thought that stuff was
crap for the longest time until it
turned out you were all I had.



(CONTINUED)