Mad House
Episode #2
“Weapons of Mass Hallucination”

Screenplay for an animated series by David Caffee (approximately 22 minutes)

Mad House
Episode #2: “Weapons of Mass Hallucination”

David Caffee
328 Rice St.
Springfield, OH 45505
937-325-9641
ct_publishing@yahoo.com 

Agent Information
Currently Unrepresented

MAD HOUSE

“WEAPONS OF MASS HALLUCINATION”

TEASER

SCENE ONE

			FADE IN:

The Ma’ad family manor, very early in the morning.

(This scene features Dr. Ma’ad and El.  He is in bed 
under the covers for most of the scene.  When she first
appears she is wearing a robe and her face is completely covered by an untamed mop of red hair.)  

WE OPEN WITH A SHOT OF THE STATELY MANOR SITTING ON TOP OF A HILL.  THE HOUSE IS SURROUNDED BY WOODLANDS.

THE POV MOVES CLOSER TO THE HOUSE AS WE ZOOM IN ON A WINDOW ON THE TOP FLOOR.

CUT TO THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE.  A MAN AND A WOMAN ARE ASLEEP IN THE ELEGANTLY DECORATED BEDROOM.  

CUT TO A SHOT OF THE ALARM CLOCK.  THE TIME READS 5:30.  THE CLOCK BEGINS BEEPING LOUDLY.

EL ENTERS THE SCENE.  With a series of swift and decisive motions, El sits up in the bed and switches the alarm off. ALL WE SEE OF HER IS A ROBE AND MESSY HAIR.  HER FACE IS HIDDEN FROM VIEW.   
WE MOVE INTO A MINI-MONTAGE OF EL YAWNING, WALKING DOWNSTAIRS, MAKING COFFE, CHECKING THE ANSWERING MACHINE AND THEN WALKING BACK UP STAIRS WITH TWO CUPS.  THE MONTAGE SHOULD HELP ESTABLISH THAT THE APLIANCES AND CONVIENCES IN THE HOUSE ARE ULTRA HIGH-TECH.  WE STILL DON’T SEE EL’S FACE, JUST THE MOP OF RED HAIR.   

El walks over to the bed and places one of the cups on the nightstand.

She downs her coffee in with single long chug and drops the cup to her side.  A robotic arm moves to catch it and take it away. 

She turns and walks toward the bathroom.  As she approaches the door, she suddenly drops her robe.  

THE POV CUTS FROM ONE ANGLE TO ANOTHER AS SHE WALKS.  AS THE CAMERA MOVES WE CATCH GLIMPSES OF HER LEGS, NECK, SHOULDERS AND THE SMALL OF HER BACK.  THE POV PAUSES ON THE BACK OF HER SHOULDER AND WE SEE THE NUMBER 11-92 TATTOOED THERE.

CUT TO THE SHOWER

The bathroom is filling up with steam but we can still make out El’s silhouette as she baths in the ultra high tech shower.  Robotic arms appear to hand her the soap and wash cloth.  

CUT TO A MINI-MONTAGE OF EL BRUSHING HER TEETH, BLOW DRYING HER HAIR, PUTTING ON MAKE UP, PICKING OUT CLOTHES, ETC.  a VARIETY OF ROBOTS AND GADGETS ASSIST HER.  THE POV STILL DOESN’T ALLOW US TO SEE EL’S FACE.  

El steps back into the bedroom and into full view.

WE NOW SEE THAT EL IS AN ATTRACTIVE, PHYSICALLY FIT WOMAN IN HER MID TO LATE THIRTIES.  SHE HAS HER STRIKINGLY RED HAIR PULLED BACK IN A CONSERVATIVE BUN AND SHE IS DRESSED IN A FORM FITTING BLOUSE AND BACK SLACKS.  HER FACE IS LOCKED IN A PERPETUAL GRIN AND SHE HUMS AS SHE WALKS AS IF SHE DOESN’T HAVE A CARE IN THE WORLD.    

CUT BRIEFLY TO THE ALARM CLOCK, IT NOW READS 7:00.

El sits down on the bed next to her husband, Dr. Ma’ad, who is lying motionless.  

The Doctor moves just enough to hand El the empty coffee cup.  

EL
You have to get up, dear.

DR. MA’AD
(STILL HOLDING THE CUP OUT TO HER) You make me bacon and eggs?
EL
It’s morning.

DR. MA’AD
And toast.  Make the eggs over easy.

EL
You’re being a lazy bum.  You can’t be that tired.

DR. MA’AD 
(PEEKS OVER THE COVERS TO LOOK AT HER SLYLY) You wore me out last night.

(pause)

EL
You’re the one who said you wanted to wrestle.

(pause)

DR. MA’AD
I didn’t actually mean we should to go to the gym and wrestle Greco-Roman style for two hours. (HE FLEXES HIS STICH AND ACHING JOINTS)

EL
(APPEARS CONFUSED FOR A MOMENT) You mean you wanted to wrestle freestyle?  (SHE PERKS UP) How about a rematch then?
DR. MA’AD
Never mind honey.  I think I’ll pass on the rematch.

EL
Fine.  Now get up.

DR. MA’AD
Give me one good reason why I should.

EL
You have to go to work.  Someone has to pay the bills around here.

DR. MA’AD 
(BURIES HIMSELF UNDER THE COVERS) I don’t gotta work, I’m rich. 

EL
All these oscillators and thermo-majigs don’t pay for themselves, mister.

DR. MA’AD
My lab will be there when I get to it.

EL
(POUTY) You’re being lazy.  If you don’t get moving then all the other scientists are going have a head start on you.  They’ll get to invent the good stuff first.  You’ll be stuck inventing another robotic pooper-scooper.

DR. MA’AD
You don’t mind letting it clean up all the poop do ya?

EL
(VERY STERNLY) Doctor Luther Cornelius Ma’ad, PhD!!  

DR. MA’AD
(MUFFLED) God that’s a mouthful.

EL
Get up this minute!

DR. MA’AD
Make me bacon and eggs, WOMAN!  

EL
(SWEETLY) Get up and make it yourself.    

DR. MA’AD
(WHINY) please honey..

EL
I’ll cook breakfast if you go wake up the kids.

DR. MA’AD
No problem.

EL
That means getting the twins ready too.

DR. MA’AD
(GRUNTS) No way, that’s a deal breaker.

EL
You promised that you’d spend time with the kids today.

DR. MA’AD
What?  You meant our kids?  Forget it, I don’t even think the kids like me that much.

EL 
They don’t like you, but you’re their father, they have to deal with it. 

DR. MA’AD
Thanks, El.  I feel a lot better now.  

EL
You get the kids or you don’t get fed, got it?

DR. MA’AD
(GRUMBLING) ahhh…man…dammit..okay…

EL
(SWEETLY) I love you honey.
DR MA’AD
(STILL GRUMBLING) Yeah, love you too.

EL 
They’re just babies, hun.  Don’t make it sound like such a big deal. 
 
CUT TO A SHOT OF THE TWINS IN THEIR ROOM.  THEY ARE USING TOYS AND BLOCKS TO SILENTLY PLAN OUT AN ESCAPE.  THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME DISSENT BETWEEN LUCAS AND PAUL, THEY SCUFFLE WITH EACH OTHER OVER WHERE TO PLACE A CERTAIN PIECE.  

FADE OUT

ACT ONE

SCENE ONE

			FADE IN:

The main hallway of the family home.

(This scene features DR. MA‘AD, JOE, ALLISON, and STACI)

WE OPEN ON DR. MA’AD AS HE GROGGILY MAKES HIS WAY DOWN THE HALL. 

Dr. Ma’ad turns to the door of his son’s room and knocks.  

The door unlocks and opens of its own accord.  

The Dr. walks inside, but stops as soon as his head pokes into the doorway. 

DR. MA’AD
Uh…son?  Joey?  (PAUSES) Wake up!  Rise and shine and all that..

THE POV MOVES TO LET US SEE INSIDE THE ROOM. 

Joe rises straight up from his bed as if moved by an unseen force.  He rolls over slowly.  The covers slip away from him.  JOE IS A GREASY, OVERWEIGHT 17-YEAR-OLD SQUEEZED INTO A PAIR OF WHITIE-TIGHTIES.

CLOSE UP ON JOE’S FACE.

Joe’s eyes crack open with a torturously slow motion.  

JOE
(GRUMBLING) What?  What do you want?!

DR. MA’AD
Time to get up son.  C’mon Joey, time for breakfast.  You like eating…right?

JOE
(GRUNTS) Go!  Sleep!  More! 

Joe turns back over and drops back down on the bed.  The blankets fly up to cover him.  

The door slams shut suddenly.  Dr. Ma’ad barely has enough time to jump back out of the way.  

DR. MA’AD
(STARTLED)  Jesus! Freakin kid!  Lazy ass…little…oooo…(FADES INTO INCOHERENT MUTTERING)

Dr. Ma’ad goes down a few steps and walks up to the door of the room occupied by his oldest daughter.  

He knocks.

DR. MA’AD
Allison!  Time to get up sugar plumb!

ALLISON
(VOICE FROM BEHIND THE DOOR) Go away Dad!!  I’m not leaving my room today.

CUT TO A SHOT OF ALLISON INSIDE THE ROOM.  SHE IS BURIED IN HER COVERS. 

DR. MA’AD
(SIGHS) Whatever you’re upset about this time, I’m sure its not that bad.  C’mon, we’ll have some breakfast and talk about..

ALLISON
I have nothing to change into.  I’ve gone through every fashion magazine and internet site I can think of!  I don’t have anything new.  I never have anything new.  

CUT BACK TO DR. MA’AD OUTSIDE HER ROOM

DR. MA’AD
(IMPATIENTLY) So change into one of your old ones and come downstairs. 

ALLISON
(VOICE FROM BEHIND THE DOOR) What?  Am I supposed to change into the same old thing every day.  Just look the same all the time?  Like, what am I supposed to do?  Take a poll at school and ask people what I should look like?  Should I just become what other people want me to be?  You want me to surrender my identity, is that it?  Give up the things that make me unique.  What, like, just become some image that people want?!!

DR. MA’AD
No…I…I…uhh…I didn’t say that….just…I’m just saying it doesn’t matter what you look like when you‘re here at the house.  Just change into anything and get downstairs.  

ALLISON
Anything?

The door swings open.  An exact replica of the Doctor comes out of Allison’s room.  The duplicate doc is wearing a private-school type of uniform: tie, white shirt and pleated skirt.

ALLISON
(AS THE REPLICA) Is this okay?  This make you happy?  You want me to be just like you?

DR. MA’AD
Cute.  

The replica walks off down the hall.

ALLISON
(OVER DRAMATIC) Fine, don’t take me seriously.  I hope you know that you are constantly ruining my life.

DR. MA’AD
(TALKING UNDER HIS BREATH) I hope your mother don‘t think  I‘ve become a transvestite.  She’s kinky enough to like it.

Dr. Ma’ad shudders visibly.  

Next the Doctor walks up to his youngest daughter’s door.  This door is pink and decorated with fluffy clouds, unicorns, etc.

The Doctor approaches the door very cautiously.  He knocks and the door comes open, revealing an industrial workshop inside.  

Staci is In her room working on something.  THE 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IS WEARING A PINK T-SHIRT AND WORN OUT JEANS.  SHE ALSO HAS ON A WELDING MASK AND SHE APPEARS TO BE WORKING WITH HEAVY TOOLS.

LOUD INDUSTRIAL SOUNDS

DR. MA’AD
(YELLING OVER THE NOISE) Staci!!

CUT TO A SHOT OF STACI WORKING

DR. MA’AD
Staci!!!!!  Come to breakfast!!!!

STACI
What?!!

THE NOISE SUDDENLY GIVES OUT.

DR. MA’AD
I!!! Said!!!

(pauses)

He hesitantly pokes his head inside the room, he looks around nervously.

DR. MA’AD
Hey Stace, honey…um…

STACI
Do not be alarmed father, there are no security devices of which you are not aware, nor are any of my experiments currently “running amok“ (SHE MAKES QUOTE SIGNS IN THE AIR).  I know that was your initial concern.  As for what you were about to ask me, yes, I would be delighted to join the family for breakfast.

DR. MA’AD
Stace, remember that talk we had about using your inventions to scan daddy‘s brain?

STACI
Oh no, I didn’t read your mind, you’re just VERY predictable.  I figured mom must’ve conned you into getting us kids up and wrangling the twins, even though you are horribly inept with children.    

DR. MA’AD
Thanks.  Good morning to you too, sugar.

Dr. Ma’ad turns and walks off down the hall.  

STACI
(YELLING AFTER HIM) By the way, Danny might be stopping by today.  You know, that boy from next door who “accidently” saw me half-naked yesterday?

Dr. Ma’ad twists his face into a mean snarl and for a second it looks like he’s about to say something but then he simply storms off.  

ACT ONE

SCENE TWO

			FADE IN:

The hallway outside the twins‘ room.

(This scene features DR. Ma’ad and the twins, Lucas and Paul)

WE OPEN ON A DOOR THAT IS SEALED OFF BY ULTRA HIGH-TECH CHILD GATES.   

The  gates are covered by padding and plastic but underneath that is a serious security barrier.  The room is also surrounded by laser grids and other sensors.  

Inside the room, we see the twins.  THE IDENTICAL 18-MONTH OLDS ARE WEARING PAJAMAS WITH OPPOSITE COLOR SCHEMES.  THEY ARE ACTING NONCHALANT.  ONE TOSSES A BALL UP AND DOWN WHILE THE OTHER SUCKS ON A PACIFIER.  THEY BOTH LOOK AROUND NERVOUSLY.  

CUT TO THE DOCTOR WALKING SLOWLY DOWN THE HALL.

CUT BACK TO THE TWINS’ ROOM.

One of the twins turns to take note of the Doctor’s shadow moving across the wall.  

The Doctor walks up and types a security code into the control panel.  The lasers deactivate and the doors slide away.  

CUT TO INSIDE THE ROOM.

The ball bounces up and down on the ground as if it has just been dropped.  The pacifier is on the ground spinning in place.

Hesitantly, Dr. Ma’ad steps inside.
DR. MA’AD
(TALKING SILLY) Paul-Paul!  Luke-Luke!  How’re daddy’s wittle bubbas today? 

CUT TO AN UP ANGLE SHOT

The identical toddlers are hiding up in the corners of the room, bracing themselves between the walls.  

CLOSE UP SHOTS OF THE TWINS AS THEY FLIP OFF OF THE WALLS, ONE AFTER THE OTHER. 

The twins rebound off of the beds and other furniture while doing flips and handsprings.  They then make a dive for the open door.  

The Doctor jumps up and catches them both with an easy motion.  

DR. MA’AD
Morn’n lil pumpkins!  Are you going to take it easy on daddy today?  Huh?  Are you gonna be good?

The Doctor walks off carrying the twins against his chest, one on each side.  

The two boys look at each other knowingly, as if silently plotting together.

CUT TO A MINI-MONTAGE OF THE DOCTOR TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF THE TWINS.  THEY WRESTLE AND BITE HIM AS HE CHANGES THEIR DIAPERS.  ONE LEAPS NAKED FROM THE CHANGING TABLE AND BEGINS CLIMBING THE WALLS OF THE NURSERY.  HE CHASES THEM FROM ROOM TO ROOM TRYING TO GET THEM DRESSED BUT THEY ELUDE HIM BY COVERING THEMSELVES IN BABY POWDER AND STANDING NEXT TO A WHITE WALL.  NEXT THE DOCTOR TRIES TO GIVE THEM A BATH BUT THEY PULL HIM INTO THE WATER AND SWING OFF OF THE SHOWER CURTAINS.  

CUT TO A SHOT OF THE DOCTOR COLLAPSING TO THE FLOOR EXHAUSTED.  HIS CLOTHING IS DIRTY AND MISHEVELED AND HE HAS BEEN SPLATTERED WITH WATER AND BABY POWDER.

CUT TO A SHOT OF THE TWINS.  THEY ARE NOW DRESSED IN REGULAR CLOTHES AND THEY ARE PERFECTLY CLEAN.

DR. MA’AD
I don’t know about you but I’m ready to go have breakfast. 

ACT ONE

SCENE THREE

			FADE IN:

The kitchen.  The family is sitting at the table eating together.

(This scene features Dr. Ma’ad, El, Joe, Allison, Staci, the twins)

WE OPEN ON THE FAMILY AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE.

CUT TO A SHOT OF THE DOCTOR EATING HIS BACON AND EGGS.

DR. MA’AD
Thanks for breakfast, dear.

CUT TO A SHOT OF JOE.

Joe is sitting in his chair with his arms to his sides.  In front of him a spoon is moving on its own while it shovels food into his mouth.  

CUT TO A CLOSE UP OF JOE’S MOUTH AS HE SLUPRS THE CERAL DOWN.

The spoon suddenly drops to the table as the last of the milk and cereal Forms into a stream and jumps into Joe’s mouth.  He greedily sucks it down.

CUT TO A SHOT OF ALLISON AT THE TABLE.

ALLISON NOW APPEARS IN THE FORM OF A PUNK ROCK GIRL WITH SHORT CUT PINK HAIR.  HER CLOTHES REMAIN THE SAME (A PRIVATE SCHOOL OUTFIT).

Allison nibbles from a fruit plate.  

ALLISON
You’re disgusting.
CUT BACK TO JOE.

Joe belches loudly. 

CUT TO STACI

Staci tears into a pile of pancakes, slopping syrup and stray bits of food everywhere.  She pauses in her feeding frenzy for a moment.

STACI
(MOUTH FULL) She‘s right Joeseph. Stop being such a pig.   

CUT BACK TO THE DOCTOR 

DR. MA’AD
This is all great hun, but you really didn’t have to fix six separate meals for everybody.
  
CUT TO EL

El is shoving an eclectic assortment of foods (including fruits, vegetables and raw meat) into a blender and pureeing them.

EL
Seven meals actually, Tommy got scrambled eggs and Lucas wanted fresh baked cinnamon rolls. But it really is no problem dear, honestly.

El guzzles down her liquid concoction.

DR. MA’AD
Hey El, Did I have any messages on the machine?

EL
(WIPING HER MOUTH) Actually you did hun, somebody called saying that they want you to hand over some gizmo of yours or you were gonna face utter destruction or something like that.

DR. MA’AD
What?  Let me guess, you already erased it?  See this is why I hate it when you take my messages.  How am I supposed to know who this is or what they want?

EL
It doesn’t matter who it is.  You’re not giving anything to anybody mister.  There’s principles involved here.

DR. MA’AD
Principles?

EL
Yes.  For one the man who left the message sounded very rude.  

DR. MA’AD
He sounded rude.

EL
It wasn’t a polite message at all.  He had a tone in his voice.  I don’t like it when people leave messages like that.  

DR. MA’AD
I have to face utter destruction because you don’t like the message this guy left on the machine?!

EL
It’s your invention!  If this whoever-it-is wants one he can go invent his own.  Sweetie, you’ve got to stand up to people sometimes or they’ll just walk all over you.    

DR. MA’AD
I bet that’s what Saddam’s wife told him.(HEAD IN HANDS) Is that all?

EL
No, the Eldiki High Chancellor called from their home world.  He said…

DR. MA’AD
(CUTS HER OFF) Hold on!  Let me take a wild guess!  They’ve pissed off the Argolians again and now they’re faced with an unstoppable doomsday device that they want me to stop.  

EL
It was something like that.

DR. MA’AD
(INDIGNANT) Eh, I say screw’em this time.  If they have to figure this out on their own maybe they’ll learn to stop ticking off the Argolians in the first place.

EL
The Argolians are notoriously touchy, dear.

DR. MA’AD
So leave them the hell alone!  Stay away from their home planet.  It’s not a hard concept here people!  It’s like, “Hey here’s a savage and warlike species that gets offended at the drop of a hat, I think I’ll go interfere with their internal politics or something.”

EL
If I understand your file on the sector, isn’t the Argolian home world the only place the Eldiki can obtain the byrilium they need for their FTL jump engines?

DR. MA’AD
(ANGRY) So what?  The economics of it make it okay?  It‘s all about big business, is that it?  Who gets this and who needs what?  Well (BLEEP) that!!  That’s bull(BLEEP).  No blood for byrilium!  That’s bull(BLEEP)!!   

EL
Calm down Luther, darling.  

DR. MA’AD
Calm nothing!  I’m already agitated!  Bastards expect me to travel hundreds of light years and risk my ass so they can build their little space ships and play their little money games!  This is bull(BLEEP)!  

EL
The Chancellor did say that this doomsday device was so powerful that it might wipe out half the sector, destroying Earth as well.

DR. MA’AD
They always say that.  (PAUSES) This time I’m calling their bluff.  (Gets up to leave) I’m going to my lab now.  I need to go do something constructive.

ALLISON
That’ll help, go expose your nut sack to a couple million  rads so you and mom can pop out some more mutant babies.

EL 
Allison!  Don’t talk about your father’s nut sack like that.

DR. MA’AD
Allison, you kids are not mutants.  So maybe like in a really technical sense your not entirely human, okay?  I‘ll grant you that.  And it is true that you have some funky stuff going on in your genetic makeup, but I’m convinced it comes from your mom’s side of the family.  

ALLISON
So what are you saying?  Maybe it’s just a coincidence that we’re all freaks and oh look, our dad’s toyed around with every kind of weird beam and field and wavelength ever invented?  Our screwed up DNA couldn’t possibly have to do with words like “unknown radiation” and “insufficient shielding.”

DR. MA’AD
Sure, believe what you want.  If you want to take an official government report at face value, go ahead.  Buy into the conspiracy.

CUT TO A SHOT OF ALLISON, SHE NOW APPEARS AS A “GOTH CHICK” WITH BLACK HAIR AND HEAVY MAKEUP.
ALLISON
(DISGUSTED) Living with you is like the worst case of child abuse ever.  No wonder we’re all weirdos.

DR. MA’AD
What about Staci?  She’s as ordinary and unremarkable as they come.

STACI 
Thanks dad.

DR. MA’AD
Plain Jane, run of the mill, like vanilla ice cream…

STACI
Thanks dad, really.

DR. MA’AD
Even the boy who saw her naked didn’t seem that impressed.

STACI
Alright dad!  Thanks a friggin million. 

DR. MA’AD
Oh, you’re welcome Stace.

THE DOORBELL RINGS
      
Everyone at the table continues eating.

DR. MA’AD
(SIGHS) Fine, I’ll get it.

Dr. Ma’ad gets up and puts his plate away.  As he passes by the twins high chair, one of them snatches a fork of the Doctor’s plate and tosses it to his brother.

CUT TO A CLOSE UP SHOT OF THE OTHER TWIN AS HE CATCHES THE FORK AND QUICKLY MOVES IT OUT OF SIGHT.  

BOTH TWINS LOOK AROUND NERVOUSLY.  

CUT TO A SHOT BELOW THE TRAY OF THE HIGH CHAIR AS THE TODDLER USES THE FORK TO PRY OPEN THE ELECTRONIC LATCH OF THE HIGH TECH-RESTRAINTS.

FADE OUT

ACT TWO

SCENE ONE

			FADE IN:

The front of the house.  A deliveryman is standing at the door.

(This scene features Dr. Ma’ad, A delivery person, Danny the neighbor kid, El)

WE OPEN THE FRONT DOOR AS DR. MA’AD OPENS IT.

DELIVERY GUY
Dr. uh…Mad?  I’ve got a package for a…

DR. MA’AD
It’s Ma’ad.  With an “ah” sound.  

DELIVERY GUY
Yeah, well I got a delivery here for ya.  You want me to haul it in on the dolly?

DR. MA’AD
Bring it around back please.

The Doctor slams the door.

CUT TO THE BACK OF THE MANOR HOUSE.

The delivery van in backing in toward the house and stopping.

CUT TO A SHOT OF THE BACK OF THE TRUCK.
The Doctor is watching the delivery person move a large box out of the truck with a furniture dolly. 

DELIVERY GUY
So what do you do with a quantum fluxuator anyway?  Something to do with the internet?

DR. MA’AD
It has a lot of uses.  Stuff to do with particles.  

DELIVERY GUY
So what do you do again?

DR. MA’AD
Some people say that I’m an eccentric genius, though I’m not sure if they got the eccentric part right.  I call what I do “extreme inventing.”  

DELIVERY GUY
You make good money?  This house must have cost a fortune.

DR. MA’AD
(SHRUGS) I’m rich.  Family money.

DELIVERY GUY
Oh yeah?  How’d your family make its money?  Stocks, oil, defense contracts?

DR. MA’AD
Oh, hell.  I don’t know.

DELIVERY GUY
Huh? What do you mean you don’t know?

DR. MA’AD
(CRAZY RANT) I don’t know okay?  The money’s just always been there.  My dad was rich, his dad was rich, it just keeps going back like that.  None of us have ever worked, we’ve never contributed to society, yet here we are in the lap of luxury.  Does it make sense? No!  Is it fair? No!  But what am I supposed to do about it?  Huh?  You think I should renounce my possessions and start handing out millions of dollars to random people?  You think if I gave you a whole trunk load of cash, you think that’s going to solve all the social injustice in the world?  No, I don’t think so!  I don’t think so!

DELIVERY GUY
(UNDER HIS BREATH) I dunno, could help a little.

DR. MA’AD
Just put it over there somewhere.  

The deliveryman rolls the dolly away from the truck.

DELIVERYMAN
Isn’t it kinda weird that your name is spelled like “Dr. Mad” and you’re a, you know…

DR. MA’AD
A what?  I’m a what?  What we’re you going to say?

DELIVERY GUY
Uh, nothing, just forget it.  

DR. MA’AD
A mad scientist?  You were going to say, “Dr. Mad, the mad scientist!”  Never heard that one before! 

DELIVERY GUY
I didn’t mean anything by it, just…

DR. MA’AD
Is that what you think?  You think I’m crazy?  Just another nut job cooking up crimes against nature in my basement? Huh?

DELIVERY GUY 
Look I’ll just get out of your hair here…

DR. MA’AD
(CRAZY RANT) Maybe I’m not crazy, ever think of that?  Maybe you’re the one who’s crazy.  You’re the one who lives in this safe little dream world where time moves one way, there’s only four dimensions and cats don’t come from outer space.  You’re the one with the delusion, the one who can’t recognize that the entire psychic/quantum structure of the universe could be unraveled at any minute by one little brain fart in the collective unconscious.  But no, it’s just easier to think I’m a lunatic. 

DELIVERY GUY
Uhhh…sign here and I’ll just leave, okay?

CUT TO AN “AERIAL” SHOT OF THE DELIVERY VAN SPEEDING AWAY. IN THE SAME SHOT, WE SEE DANNY WALKING UP TO THE HOUSE. 

CUT TO A CLOSER SHOT OF DANNY WALKING UP TO THE DOOR.  HE IS A 14 YEAR OLD BOY, DRESSED IN PLAIN, BUMMY CLOTHES.  HE HAS A BIT OF AN ACNE PROBLEM.  DANNY’S HAIR IS LONG AND SHAGGY, COVERING MOST OF HIS FACE AROUND THE EYES.  

He rings the doorbell.

The door opens and we see El on the other side.  

DANNY
(PRACTICALLY DROOLING) Uh…hi, Mrs. Ma’ad.  Uh…you look uh…nice…  Is Staci here?

EL
Staci!  Its that new neighbor boy, you know, the one that saw you naked!  The one you said was cute but Allison said his face looked like an explosion at a pepperoni factory and you laughed so hard you snorted that big line of snot out of your nose?  That one! 

Staci walks into view.

STACI 
Thank you mother, why don’t you go somewhere now? 

EL
Oh, I thought I’d stay and chapperone, maybe make snacks, what do you think?

STACI
Or you could go and maybe find out where the twins got off to.
EL
The twins?

CUT TO A SHOT OF THE EMPTY HI-CHAIRS.   
 
EL
Its been very nice seeing you again, Danny. (SHE TAKES OFF RUNNING).

DANNY
N-Nice to see you Mrs. Hot, I mean Mrs. Ma’ad.

Danny turns to Staci.

DANNY
So…uh…hi. 

STACI
You actually came back here a second time?  You must like freak shows.  Are you one of those sick people who slows down when you see a bloody wreck on the highway?

DANNY
I don’t drive.  I can’t even get a learners permit yet.  

STACI
I was speaking metaphorically.

DANNY
Oh, uh…I see your dad’s been terrorizing another delivery man.  I hear that pizza guy’s still in the mental health unit. 

THE PHONE RINGS IN THE BACKGROUND

STACI
He’s really not so bad once you learn how to take him.  

As they talk, we see Dr. Ma’ad in the background answering the phone.

DANNY
Yeah, I guess he could be okay.

DR. MA’AD
(IN THE BACKGROUND) What!?  That’s bull(bleep)!  You expect me to be the policeman of the damn galaxy…(bleep) that! 

(pauses) 

DR. MA’AD
Well maybe the Earth will be destroyed or maybe it won’t jackass.  I’m calling your bluff.  (SHORT PAUSE) What?  (bleep) you too buddy!  No blood for byrilium! (SLAMS THE PHONE)

 STACI
Yeah, you just got to get to know him a little more.  He doesn’t mean to be so, you know…like he is, all the time.   

ACT TWO

SCENE TWO

			FADE IN:

The back of the house.  The Doctor is storming out the back door.)

(This scene features Dr. Ma’ad, the general)

WE OPEN ON THE BACKYARD AS THE DR. STUMBLES OVER TO A SECTION OF FAKE-LOOKING GRASS.

The grassy patch lifts away to reveal a massive metallic platform.  

The Doctor steps on the platform and it begins lowering down.  

CUT TO A SIDE VIEW OF THE DOCTOR AS THE LIFT GOES DOWN.  AS THE ELEVATOR MOVES, WE CATCH GLIMPSES OF VARIOUS LEVELS OF THE LAB, FROM AUTOMATED FACTORY LEVELS TO AN INDOOR AQUARIUM FILLED WITH UNEARTHLY FISH. 

The elevator stops on a level that is dominated by row after row of confined spaces, like a high tech prison or a holding facility for experiments gone wrong.

CUT TO A ROAMING SHOT OF THE DOCTOR AS WE WALKS THROUGH THE CONFINEMENT AREA.  HE PASSES BY EACH OF THE GUARD STATIONS THAT ARE MANNED BY THE C.O.D.E. ROBOTS.

DR. MA’AD
Hey CODE Blue, how’s it going?
CODE BLUE
(DEPRESSED) Oh, hey boss. Sorry, didn’t notice ya there.  You’ll have to forgive me.  Been feeling kinda blah today.

DR. MA’AD
Hey CODE Red, how’re you feeling?

CODE RED
(INDIGNANT) What’s that supposed to mean?!

DR. MA’AD
Nothing.  

DR. MA’AD
How’s it hanging CODE Black?

CODE BLACK
(TAKES A DRAG OFF OF HIS CIGARETTE) Yeah, like you really care.

The Doctor walks over to a central computer area occupied by CODE Yellow, who is holding a clipboard.

DR. MA’AD
Hey CODE Yellow.

CODE YELLOW
(JUMPS AND SCREAMS) Ah!  Don’t sneak up on me like that, please!

DR. MA’AD
Sorry, how’d the night watch go?

CODE YELLOW
Same as always, one heart wrenching, panic filled moment after another.  Living with the constant, creeping fear of being shanked, eaten, or sexually assaulted by one of the freaks in here.  Hour after hour choking on the bitter knowledge that there are aliens, monsters and mutants  just waiting to violate my robot cherry.   Suicide is constantly on my mind.

DR. MA’AD
Glad I asked.  I’ll take it from here, Yellow.  Why don’t you…I don’t know, take a break or something.

The Doctor sits in his chair and turns away from the POV so that we can only see the back of his chair.  

DR. MA’AD
Another day, another dollar.

We see the Doctor reach under his chair and pull out a box.  A few moments later we see the area around his chair briefly lit by a the flicker of a lighter.

LOUD GURGLING SOUND 
A large cloud of smoke erupts from the top of the chair.  

DR. MA’AD
(COUGHS VIOLENTLY) Yep.  ‘nother day, ‘nother dollar.

The screen in front of the Doctor suddenly comes on.  It displays a close up image of General Sternbrow.

GENERAL STERNBROW IS AN OLDER MAN WEARING FULL MILITARY DRESS UNIFORM. 

GENERAL
Dr. Mad!

CUT TO A SHOT OF THE DOCTOR IN HIS CHAIR.  

The doctor is hastily stuffing something beneath his chair.

DR. MA’AD
What?  Who’s there?  Hey, are you a cop?

GENERAL
No I’m not a cop!  You can call me General Sternbrow!  I’ve been authorized by the president to enforce your non-voluntary cooperation in matters regarding the removal of all materials related to, or essential for, internationally prohibited proliferation activities.
DR. MA’AD
(SPACEY AND CONFUSED) Ummm…that’s…what?

GENERAL
Dr. Mad!  Are you listening to me?!  You will not be permitted to threaten us with your weapons.  

DR. MA’AD
(GOOFY) Its Ma’ad.  With an “ah” sound.  Say it with me, Dr. Ma-ahh-ah-ad.  

GENERAL
Dr. Ma’ad, we know that you are developing a boronic implosion beam.

DR. MA’AD
Well I don’t know what that is but sounds wicked cool.  

GENERAL
Do you hear me?  You will not be permitted to proliferate!

DR. MA’AD
Hey, if I used protection would I have like a dozen kids here?  I don‘t think so.

GENERAL 
This isn’t a game Doc.  We have evidence that suggests you have in your possession a devastating weapon of mass destruction.

DR. MA’AD
Sure, and you guys never get that one wrong.

GENERAL
Hey, shut the hell up!  Now are you going to turn over the boronic imploder or not?  We can’t allow it to fall into the wrong hands.

DR. MA’AD
Look chief, even if I had one of those burrito implosion things, it’s not like I’d get rid of it.  Even when I was a kid I never liked to share my toys.  

GENERAL
What’s the scheme here doc?  World domination?  You got some political cause?  Maybe just sell the thing to terrorists and make a quick buck.

DR. MA’AD
What?  You’re crazy.  I’m already pretty rich here, guy.  And as for holding the world hostage with a city-wrecking doomsday device, yeah, I’ve thought about it.  Hasn‘t everbody?  But in the end, all you’re buying yourself is a lot of headaches.

GENERAL
I’m going to tell you this one more time.  Either hand over the boronic implosion beam or you’re history doc.

DR. MA’AD
Work with me here Sheriff, I can’t hand over what I don’t have.  You want me to invent one of these things just so I can turn it in, make it so you can be sure I don’t have it?  That’s ridiculous.  

GENERAL
I’m starting to lose…

DR. MA’AD
Besides, my wife already said that I have to stand up for myself and not let you push me around.  I usually just do what she tells me to. 
   
GENERAL
(LAUGHS) You…your wife said you couldn’t cooperate?

DR. MA’AD
I wouldn’t laugh about it.  I wouldn’t leave any more rude messages on the machine, either, if I were you.

GENERAL
I didn’t leave any rude message on your machine.

DR. MA’AD
El seemed to think it was pretty rude, and I wouldn’t get her going if I were you.  

GENERAL
How did she think it was rude?  Rude how?

DR. MA’AD
I didn’t get to hear the message, she just said that you had a tone and she thought you sounded rude.

GENERAL
I feel that I made my point in a very professional manner.  What did she say I said?

DR. MA’AD
I don’t know what you said or didn’t say!  Alright!  My wife said you were being rude and that means you were rude, okay?  I’m not going to tell her she’s wrong so there’s no sense arguing about it.

GENERAL
I made my demands very clear and I used a forceful yet respectful tone of voice.  I don’t see how she thought it was rude.

DR. MA’AD
Look, I don’t see this conversation going anywhere productive.  Adios Captain.

Dr. Ma’ad turns off the computer screen.

The screen flashes back on.  The viewer is filled with an image of El.

EL
Hi hun, you got a minute?

DR. MA’AD
Actually I was in the middle of some very heavy psycho-chemical, kinda really important experiments…

EL
Oh, I won’t keep you then.  I was just thinking that since you had work to do in the lab and you promised to spend time with the kids today…maybe you’d consider killing two birds with one stone?

DR. MA’AD
El?  What’re you talking about?

EL
Oh, I was just thinking that…

Staci jumps in between her mom and the camera.

STACI
Can I come down and show Danny your lab today?  Pleeasse daddy?  I promise that I won’t…

DR. MA’AD
Absolutely out of the question!

EL
Luther, darling aren’t you being a bit harsh on her?

DR. MA’AD
Need I remind you that this is same the little girl whose 5th grade science project was a fission warhead?!

EL 
You have to admit that it was an ambitious project for a child her age. 

DR. MA’AD
She set it on a timer and dropped it down an abandoned mine shaft!  The government made me go in and dismantle it.  I almost died.

EL 
Aren’t you being a bit dramatic?

DR. MA’AD
I took that bomb apart with three seconds left on the timer and believe me, it would have worked.

STACI
It was only a fractional kiloton yield.

DR. MA’AD
I was standing five feet from it!
  
EL
Give her a chance dear.

DR. MA’AD
Are we talking about the same girl who used my solar reflector satellites to carve her initials in the Gobi desert?

STACI
Are you the same genius who decided since his daughter is afraid of bugs, he should keep insects out of her room using an army of mutant spiders?

CUT TO A SCENE INSIDE STACI’S ROOM.  WE SEE A LARGE SPIDERWEB IN THE CORNER. 

A monstrous spider the size of a softball walks out to the center of the web, growls and snaps in the direction of the camera.

CUT BACK TO DR. MA’AD IN HIS LAB.

DR. MA’AD
I defy you to show me one insect in that room.

EL
Luther, darling, you did promise.

DR. MA’AD
Oh okay, send the little troublemakers down. 

STACI
Thank you very much father.  I would also like to ask…

DR. MA’AD
What?

STACI
Please try not to freak Danny out to much.  

DR. MA’AD
I don’t even know why you’d say that!  You should know I’d never “freak out” any of your friends.  Especially not a boy you liked…

The Doctor pushes a button and the computer screen blanks out.
The Doctor turns around in his chair, an malicious smirk is plastered across his face. 

ACT TWO

SCENE THREE

			FADE IN:

(The lab.)

(This scene features Dr. Ma‘ad, Staci, Danny)

WE OPEN ON DR. MA’AD AS HE LEADS STACI AND DANNY ON A TOUR OF HIS LAB. 

DR. MA’AD
And this is where I sit and think of stuff.  And over there are some robots that do lots of cool stuff and make sparks fly everwhere.  

The Doctor motions to a bank of computer screens.

Dr. Ma’ad
And over here I have the monitoring stations to the house.  This is where I make sure that the house stays safe and keep an eye on you kids.

CUT TO A SHOT OF THE VIDEO MONITOR AS IT DISPLAYS AN IMAGE OF JOE SITTING IN HIS ROOM.  A VIDEO GAME REMOTE FLOATS IN FRONT OF HIM WHILE THE VIDEO GAME PLAYS OUT ON THE SCREEN.   

CUT BACK TO DR. MA’AD

DR. MA’AD
This is the place where I look after your mother while you kids are in school.  Watching her clean, watching her cook.  Watching her watch tv, watching her shower.  Thinking, “This is this only woman I’ll ever sleep with ever again.  The only one, just her.  Not even the chance of an occasional three-way…     

STACI
Jesus Christ dad!  Please!  No sex talk!  I was traumatized enough when I saw that thing you made mom for Chrismas last year.

CUT TO A SCENE OF STACI WALKING IN ON THE DOCTOR IN HIS LAB.  HE IS BUSY WORKING ON AN INVENTION THAT LOOKS SUSPICIOUSLY LIKE A LARGE METAL BANNANNA.  WHEN HE NOTICES STACI HE JUMPS AND QUICKLY COVERS HIS WORK AREA WITH A TARP.

CUT BACK TO THE LAB.

DR. MA’AD
That device was for massaging her back.

STACI
Dad, really, just drop it. 

DR. MA’AD
Fine Stace, I’ll stop talking then.  Why don’t you be a dear and go get me a couple of mutant treats from the supply cabinets?

STACI
(WALKING OFF) Sure dad, I guess I can do that.

DANNY
You have a really nice lab here, Mr. Ma…

DR. MA’AD
(GRABS DANNY IN A LESS THAN FRIENDLY EMBRACE ACROSS HIS SHOULDERS)  It’s Doctor, Danny.  Dr. Luther Ma’ad, PhD.  You ever hear of me?  I’m widely thought of as a bit of a maverick in the scientific community.  Do you know why?

DANNY	
(SCARED) No, why?

DR. MA’AD
(SQUEEZES TIGHTER) Because I’ve done things to people, Danny-boy.  Things that aren’t normal.  Things that a rational man would have a hard time even imagining.  I do things like that because I believe some things in life are really important, you know?

DANNY
Yeah, I guess…

DR. MA’AD
A man will do anything for the things he believes in.  Take science for example, or perhaps…protecting the innocence of your thirteen year old daughter!

Dr. Ma’ad releases the door on the cage.  A tiny but truly savage-looking creature springs out of the cage and jumps on Danny.

NEXT WE HAVE A MINI-MONTAGE THAT CUTS BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN STACI RUMAGING THROUGH THE CUPBOARDS, THE CREATURE CHASING DANNY AND THE DOCTOR WATCHING BEMUSEDLY.

We see Staci walking up to her father, box of treats in hand.  

STACI
Here you go dad, I found…where’s Danny?

CUT TO A SHOT OF DANNY HUDDLING ON THE LIFT PLATFORM, HIS CLOTHES HAVE BEEN SHREDDED AND HE IS TREMBLING WITH FEAR.   
 
CUT BACK TO STACI AND DR. MA’AD

DR. MA’AD
I’m not exactly sure what his problem is, just started tearing his clothes off.  The boy seems kinda strange if you ask me.

Staci shoves the box of treats hard into her father’s stomach.  She sighs in frustration and storms off.     

CUT TO A SHOT OF STACI AND DANNY ON THE LIFT PLATFORM AS IT RISES.

STACI
I’m sorry my dad totally flipped on you.  I swear I didn’t know he was going to sic one of his pet monsters on you.  Between that and the…  

DANNY
It’s okay, really.  I just need to go home and change.  I guess I really should look on the bright side, here.

STACI
What’s that?

DANNY
After this, what else could possibly happen today?

CUT TO A SHOT FROM OUTSIDE THE HOUSE.  A GROUP OF ARMED MEN ENCIRCLING THE HOUSE.  THEY ARE DRESSED IN SWAT TEAM STYLE ARMOR AND GEAR.

ACT THREE

SCENE ONE

			FADE IN:

The front of the house.  A large number of heavily armed men are standing on the front porch.  They are all wearing SWAT team style uniforms  

(This scene features a battle between El and the armed men but the rest of the family and Danny all make appearances).

WE OPEN THE FRONT DOOR AS ONE OF THE BADGUYS RINGS THE DOORBELL.

CUT TO A SHOT OF EL AS SHE ANSWERS THE DOOR.

TEAM LEADER
Mrs. Ma’ad?

EL
Yes?

TEAM LEADER
Is you husband home?

EL
No, but I’m expecting him back at any moment.  Would you care to come in and wait?

The team of armed men push their way through the door.

CUT TO A SHOT OF DANNY FREAKING OUT AND DRAGGING STACI BEHIND A POTTED PLANT.

DANNY
Eek!

STACI
You are such a girl.

CUT BACK TO A SHOT OF THE BADGUY TEAM LEADER.  HE IS AN OLDER MAN DRESSED IN A SWAT-STYLE TACTICAL UNIFORM LIKE THE REST OF THE TEAM.  
 
TEAM LEADER
We’re here for the boronic implosion beam!!  Where is it?!

EL
Now there is no reason to be rude.  I’m sure if you just talk to my husband about this moronic beam thing, the two of you can come to a reasonable agreement.  You wait right there, I’ll go get us all some coffee and maybe make some little finger sandwiches.

ARMED THUG #1 (A LARGE MAN WITH A BIT OF A GUT)
Do you have any cookies?  

The team leader smacks him.

TEAM LEADER
Listen here lady!  We have intelligence suggesting that you husband plans to sell a weapon of mass destruction to terrorists.

EL
Oh, that’s nice.  (WHISPERS TO TEAM LEADER) He doesn’t actually sell many of his inventions, most of them end up collecting dust in his lab. (GIGGLES AND TURNS TO WALK AWAY)  
    
TEAM LEADER
Lady, what the hell is wrong with you?

CUT TO A SHOT OF ALISON IN THE FORM OF A VERY CUTE ASIAN GIRL.

ALLISION
Mom, these guys are like totally lame.  (SHE WALKS FORWARD) They…

ARMED THUG #2 
Don’t move bitch!  You want to get shot?! (HE POINTS HIS RIFLE AT HER)

EL 
(FROM OFF-SCREEN) Don’t you talk to my daughter that way!

CUT TO A SHOT OF EL’S BACK, SHE’S FACING AWAY FROM THE ARMED MEN.  

CUT TO A SHOT OF ONE OF THE ARMED MEN MOVING UP TO EL WITH HIS RIFLE AIMED AT HER. 

CUT BACK TO A SHOT AT EL’S BACK AS SHE SLOWLY TURNS AROUND.

EL
How dare you come into my house and threaten my family?

El turns all the way around.  Her face is a mask, completely without expression.  She appears stoic and calm.  

El walks up to the nearest soldier and expertly kicks the rifle out of his hands, then snatches it up and shoots him with it.  Her face remains blank as she begins to casually pop shots off at the more distant bad guys.

ACTION SEGMENT NOTES: What ensues next is a massive running firefight as El (her face never once betraying a hint of emotion) defeats the group of armed men.  She uses expert marksmanship, martial arts skill and acrobatics to single-handedly route these heavily armed commandoes.  During the fight EL kicks down doors, catches hand grenades and throws them back, snatches guns from people and uses a variety of improvised weapons.  One segment might find her in the kitchen, throwing knives, dishes and pans from the pan rack.  Another segment could show her in the billiards room using pool cues and billiards balls to charge down a pair of bad guys. 
 
The commandoes will probably have reinforcements come in through the windows and skylights and the house should be nicely torn up in the process. (END FIRST ACTION SEQUENCE)

CUT TO A SHOT OF JOE IN FRONT OF THE VIDEO GAME, THE CONTROLLER STILL FLOATING IN FRONT OF HIM.  A BAD GUY WALKS UP TO HIM WITH A GUN.  

ARMED THUG #3
Don’t move punk!  Stay right there!  Now I want you to slowly…

Joe sighs heavily.

CUT TO A SHOT FROM OUTSIDE THE HOUSE, THE BAD GUY COMES FLYING OUT OF THE HOUSE WITH AN EXPLOSION OF WOOD AND GLASS.

CUT TO A SHOT OF DANNY AND STACI STILL HIDING BEHIND THE PLANT, DANNY IS SOBBING SOFTLY TO HIMSELF. 

STACI
Will you please stop that?       

CUT TO A SHOT OF ONE OF THE BAD GUYS RUNNING UP TO ALLISON.

ARMED THUG #4	
Hey you!  Tell me where your daddy’s lab is at little girl!

ALLISON
Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?

Allison assumes the shape of a massive, muscular woman.  She is built like a female wrestler or bodybuilder.

Allison the Bodybuilder grabs the bad guy and slams him around.   

CUT TO A CLOSE UP SHOT OF TWO BAD GUYS TRYING TO DISABLE A SOFISTICATED ELECTRONIC KEYPAD.  

THE POV PANS OUT AND WE SEE THAT THE TWO MEN ARE OUTSIDE OF THE TWINS’ ROOM.

The safety gates slide open.  As the two men rush to the doorway, each man is hit in the face with a dirty diaper that comes from inside the room.  The diapers are followed by a barrage of toys and small items of furniture.

CUT TO A SHOT OF STACI AND DANNY HIDING BEHIND THE PLANT.  

A bad guy kicks over the potted plant.  We looms over the two teenagers.  

Danny lets out a high-pityched squeal.

Staci reaches into her pocket and pulls out a strange-looking electrical device.  

Staci uses her free hand to cover her eyes as she jams the device up between the bad guy’s legs.  

The bad guy screams and cries and electricity sparks up from his groin region.

NOTES FOR THE FINAL ACTION SEQUENCE: The fight sequence ends with a one on one fight between El and the Team Leader.  Both combatants display a high level of skill.  During one exchange, the Team Leader actually lands a blow against El.  She brings her hand up to her bloodied lip, then looks down at the blood on her fingers.  For a moment, El’s blank and detached expression fades and she smiles briefly at the Leader, nods to him approvingly and commences to “whoop his ass.”  Perhaps you could cut to a quick shot of the leader with a frightened expression on his face.  “Oh crap,”  he says right before she lays into him.

ACT THREE

SCENE TWO

			FADE IN:

The back of the house.   

(Dr. Ma‘ad and El are in this scene, along with the remaining bad guys from Act 3, Scene 2).

WE OPEN ON A LARGE, HIDDEN ELEVATOR PLATFORM EMERGES FROM UNDERNEATH THE BACK LAWN.  DR. MA’AD IS STANDING ON THE PLATFORM.  

Dr. Ma’ad steps off of the platform and walks into the kitchen through a hole in the wall.  

The Doctor walks through the shot-up kitchen to the fridge and opens it.  He grabs a bottle of beer, opens it and keeps walking as if he hasn’t noticed the damage to his home.  

NEXT WE HAVE A MINI-MONTAGE OF DR. MA’AD WALKING THROUGH THE SHOT UP HOUSE WHILE SIPPING ON HIS BEER.  OCCASSIONALLY WE WILL SEE A BAD GUY BACKGROUND HASTILY MAKING HIS WAY OUT OF THE HOUSE.

CUT TO THE TOP OF THE STAIRCASE IN THE MAIN HALL.  WE SEE EL STANDING THERE WITH A MACHINE GUN.  

CUT TO A SHOT OF DR. MA’AD WALKING UP THE STAIRS.

CUT TO A SHOT OF THE FRONT DOOR.  BADGUYS ARE CLIMBING OVER EACH OTHER TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.  MANY OF THEM APPEAR TO BE INJURED.

CUT BACK TO DR. MA’AD CLIMBING THE STAIRS.

EL 
(FROM OFF-CAMERA)  You guys remember to drive safe now.  (WE HEAR A BURST OF MACHINE GUN FIRE)  Be sure to call next time before you come over, okay? (MORE SHOTS)  Bye-bye now. (MACHINE GUN FIRE)

Dr. Ma’ad reaches the top of the stairs and walks over to his wife.

DR. MA’AD
Ellie, hun, who are we shooting at?

EL
Some kind of mercenaries or terrorists or something, they said they wanted some beam of yours.  

DR. MA’AD
I take it you said no?

EL
They were being very rude.

DR. MA’AD
And I guess all this (GESTURES AT THE HOUSE) happened because something triggered your Combat Psych Program?

EL
One of them called Allison the “B-word” and pointed a gun at her.  

DR. MA’AD
Oh?  Well.  I guess the bastards had it coming then.  

CUT TO A SHOT OF DANNY TRYING TO SNEAK OUT OF THE HOUSE WITHOUT BEING NOTICED.

DR. MA’AD
(IN THE DISTANCE) Hey Danny, you’re staying for lunch, right?

Danny’s eyes go wide and his face whitens with fear.

FADE TO BLACK

MAD HOUSE: THE ANIMATED SERIES

CHARACTER LIST

The Ma’ad Family (pronounced with an “ah” sound like the word Sa’ab)

Dr. Luther Cornelius Ma’ad, PhD.: He’s the cause of the craziness that exists in this house but he’s pretty disconnected from it all.  He’s forgetful, goofy and has a tendency to head off into off-center rants but he’s not crazy like everyone thinks.  He’s usually a laid back kind of guy, very “hands off” when it comes to life.  It’s like the story revolves around him but he’s not really in it, more of an observer or reaction-guy.

El Ma’ad (Ellie): Smart and drop dead gorgeous, the missus strives to be the perfect wife and mother.  Your typical supermom.  There is more to her than meets the eye.  She is extremely ignorant of popular culture and misses the nuance of language.  Takes most things literally.  She also doesn’t seem to be aware that the going’s on around in her household are all that unusual.
    
Joseph: 17 year old son.  Slovenly, scruffy-looking  and obese.  Joe was born with a powerful ability for telekinesis and he mastered it at an early age.  He is unreasonably lazy and usually uses his mind to move himself and other objects rather than get up and move himself.  

Allison: 16 year old daughter.  She doesn‘t have a natural shape.  Rather she imitates the forms of other people.  She can mimic some primates and humanoids as well.  She hates appearing in the same human form more than once because she doesn’t want people to confuse her with the image being imitated.  She generally chooses to flip through fashion magazines, etc to find teen models and other pretty girls to emulate.

Staci: This 13 year old daughter is a chip off of the old block.  She is a genius with a knack for inventing and a passion for mass destruction.  A tomboy at heart, she is more comfortable using a plasma cutter than a makeup case.

Lucas and Tommy: 18-month old twins.  These two possess peak human physical and mental abilities and communicate with other via facial expressions and subtle hand signs.  Naturally gifted escape artists, the doc has had to invent a slew of “soft” security devices to safely apprehend the mischievous toddlers.

Supporting Cast
 
Danny: 14 year old neighbor kid who hangs out with Staci, has the hots for El).  It’s often through his normal eyes that we see the insanity of the Ma’ad family in perspective.

CODE Robots: Computer Operated Drone Enforcer.  Color-coded robots are controlled by super computer with Multiple Personality Disorder.  Each personality controls a different robot.