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MUTINEER
By
Ian Kovac
FADE IN:
EXT. COUNTY COUNCIL OFFICES - TWILIGHT
A BLACK CAR pulls up outside. Out steps a swagger Charles Gordon, a
businessman in his early 40ss. He is framed with a TIGHT CU.
PULL UP SLOWLY, until we can see the rooftop of the building. A
MEDIUM SHOT of a barely lit figure lingers
CLOSE IN on the figure. He is wearing some sort of superhero costume.
HOLD a TIGHT CU.
SUPERHERO
So it has come to this. Where it began, it will
end.
He walks off. The TIGHT CUT switches to a WIDE AERIAL SHOT of the
concrete. Illuminated in blue letters is the name MUTINEER.
CUT TO:
INT. CREDIT SEQUENCE
Each title appears on the computer screen. A search of some sort is
in progress.
When they end we hear...
MR KOVAC VO
Come on Adam, you're gonna be late for school.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROOFTOP - TWILIGHT
Adam Kovac sits on his roof. In his hands is a picture of his family.
Him, and his parents, in happier times.
Adam looks suitably distraught,
MRS KOVAC VO
Breakfast Adam.
Adam clenches his fist. He drops the picture onto the concrete. He
gets up. He begins to walk off.
ADAM VO
People who say you can't escape the past...
CUT TO:
ADAM VO
...Never really tried.
EXT. ROOFTOP - MOMENTS LATER
Adam stands on the edge of the rooftop. On closer inspection, he is
wearing the same costume as the guy from the beginning.
It clicks. Adam is that guy. Adam pops on the mask.
ADAM VO
They call me Mutineer.
Mutineer takes a running leap. He dives off the rooftop. As he
plummets down, he shows steel-eyed determination.
He approaches ever closer to his destination
A pipe hangs out of the wall. Adam closes in. He zooms past it. With
one hand, Mutineer latches on.
We can practically hear the bone snap out of proportion.
Mutineer offers only a muffled groan. He swings round, latching onto
the building.
Mutineer swings back and forth, then throws himself through a boarded
up window.
CUT TO:
INT. OLD APARTMENT
Adam rolls into position. We can see that his arm is severely
damaged.
Adam pops it back into shape.
He walks across the room. He takes the mask off.
A family used to live here. On the wall is a burnt out old portrait.
On the floor are scattered fragments of letters.
A couple of old film posters are on the wall.
ADAM VO
This was my home.
CUT TO:
INT. FLASHBACK
Adam, late teens, walks into a corridor. He sees his house on fire.
He is held back by a neighbour.
Adam cries. Firemen struggle to break through. They fail.
CUT TO:
INT. DILAPIDATED APARTMENT
Adam sighs deeply. He picks up an old match, one that has decayed
over the last 12 years.
It has the slightest hint on it. Adam takes a good smell.
ADAM VO
Whoever left this match, killed my parents.
Adam sits down, and stares the wall.
ADAM VO
(continuing)
I am two people. By night I am Mutineer,
protector of those the law neglects. By day I am
Adam Kovac. Private Investigator who does things
mostly by the book. I don't know whether I'm a
hero. I'm sure some people might see me as one.
Me, I see myself as a conflicted man. The medical
profession probably sees me as a paranoid insomniac.
And they are right. But I know what I have to do.
I have to avenge my parents death. After that, I'll
have nothing left.
CUT TO:
EXT. OFFICE OF ADAM KOVAC, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR - DUSK
A beat up old car pulls up outside.
ADAM VO
I earn some money, but I'll never give up my
heritage.
CUT TO:
INT. OFFICE OF ADAM KOVAC, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
Adam sits behind his desk, drinking a coffee. He reads the morning
paper.
Typical stories about Mutineer feature. Including one with 'pictures'
of his battle with Brimstone.
The pictures are of dubious quality. Adam gets a real kick out of
seeing himself in print.
Shame that he always feels like he's sidestepping too much.
CARL OC
Morning partner.
Carl , early 30s, walks in. He's Adam's best mate. Ever since they
both failed to flirt with this girl, and chatted each other up
instead.
ADAM
For the last time. We are not partners. Hell, you
don't even work here.
Carl puts his coffee down.
CARL
Where's the clients?
ADAM
I'm not open for three hours. Which reminds me.
How the hell did you get in?
Carl puts down a spare key.
CARL
Never leave home without it. [beat] Wait a
minute. What are you doing up at this time of the
morning?
ADAM
Insomnia.
CARL
Oh yeah. How's that going for you?
ADAM
Save for the sleepless nights and the general
insanity... it's pretty good.
Carl flicks through his own tabloid paper. Adam looks up in mock
disdain.
ADAM
(continuing)
Carl , the tabloids.
CARL
What's wrong with them?
ADAM
They are sleazy and manipulative.
CARL
So sue me.
ADAM
I don't know any lawyers.
CARL
I'm a lawyer.
ADAM
Last time you sued yourself you were found to be
incontempt of court.
CARL
I've learnt my lesson. Never slide the judge your
phone number, no matter how cute she happens to
be.
ADAM
Or how old.
CARL
That hurts man. Besides, she wasn't that old.
ADAM
She's twice our age. Old enough to be our mothers
for Christ sake.
CARL
That wasn't what I was going for.
Long beat.
ADAM
So why are you here?
CARL
I need a favour.
ADAM
What?
CARL
Actually, its one of my clients.
ADAM
Couldn't this have waited until lunch?
CARL
It's Charles Gordon.
ADAM
Why are you dealing with assholes like him?
CARL
Well ordinary schmucks don't pay the bills.
ADAM
Least they are honest.
CARL
[sarcastically]
Like the hobo who comes in saying he's been unfairly
dismissed from his job with Sandsworth Inc.
Adam puts the paper down.
ADAM
So what does he need?
CARL
He wants to find out an address.
ADAM
Who for?
CARL
Mr Sandsworth.
ADAM
[surprised]
Is that it?
CARL
Yeah.
Beat. Adam ponders.
ADAM
Why does he want the address?
CARL
I don't ask Mr Gordon things like that.
ADAM
Tell him you'll know by the end of the day.
Carl works out the best way to tell Adam.
CARL
Here's the catch, he wants to meet you.
ADAM
What did I tell you? I am not going to meet your
clients. I am a Private Investigator. My job is
to round up the dirt so you can convict these
lowlifes. That is as far as my involvement goes.
CARL
Yet you are helping me now.
ADAM
God-damn you.
CARL
So you'll do it?
ADAM
[conceding defeat]
Yeah.
CARL
Great.
Carl gets up to leave. Adam grabs his arm. Carl stops.
ADAM
But I want something from you in return.
CARL
You name it you got it.
ADAM
I want tickets to the Gordon Ball.
CARL
[unconvinced]
Man, I don't know.
ADAM
[persuasively]
An eye for an eye Carl .
CARL
I'll see what I can do.
They shake.
ADAM
Call me later. We'll go and buy some comics.
CARL
You bet.
He leaves.
CUT TO:
COMPUTER SCREEN - LATER THAT DAY
Search completed. The address for Mr Sandsworth flashes on the
screen.
Adam's finger contemplates pressing print.
After a while he does press it.
ADAM VO
Getting this address, would prove to be the start
of a dominos Effect'.
CUT TO:
INT. LIMO, MOVING
Stretch. Big enough to fit a bowling alley. A phone rings. It's
picked up.
CHARLES GORDON OC
Yes.
ICERO OC
Vale Park. Ten minutes. Come alone.
CHARLES OC
I'll be there with bells on.
CUT TO:
EXT. VALE PARK - WINTER'S DAY
WIDE on a figure [Icero] clad in acid jeans and a black overcoat. He
paces back and forth.
SWING ROUND to show Charles Gordon and three heavies walk over.
FAST ZOOM into an ECU of Icero. Finishes pacing, he snarls.
ICERO
I said come alone.
CHARLES OC
You know a man like me has 24/7 protection.
ICERO
Guys like you need life insurance cause your
trophy wives and brat kids shouldn't grow up in
the poverty they deserve.
Beat.
He half turns to heavy 1, snarling.
ICERO
What are you looking at?
HEAVY 1
A big slab of nothing.
Icero snarls. PULL BACK slightly to reveal his palms rubbing
together.
He throws an object. POV object as it slams into the heavies chest.
ECU of Icero, snarling at his work.
TWO SHOT of heavies 2 and 3. Pulling out pieces, they fire at Icero.
CU of Icero. The bullets hit his stomach, yet slump to the floor.
It's
like they hit iron or... ICE.
ICERO
Lets play.
ECU of Icero. He has a playfully dangerous look in his eyes.
3RD PERSON VIEW behind heavies 2 and 3. They are still. A second
later they slump back. Dead.
CU of Charles. He laughs. Kneeling by heavy 1, he pulls out an
Icicle...
CU ICICLE
...Covered in dry blood.
CHARLES OC
You are good. I'll give you that.
He crushes the icicle in his hand.
TWO SHOT as Icero edges closer. The tension should be equal to that
of Hogan/Rock.
ICERO
What do you want?
CHARLES
I have a job for you.
ICERO
Who?
CHARLES
The Sandsworths.
ICERO
All of them?
CHARLES
I don't even want to hear the dog barking.
ICERO
The price.
CHARLES
£10,000 for each killed. A bonus £100,000 if the
job is successfully completed.
PAN AROUND to a SIDE CU of Charles. The figure starts to walk off.
CHARLES
On second thoughts Icero...
CU of figure [now identified as Icero]
CHARLES OC
Bring me Warren, the father, before he dies, and
you can name your price.
Icero sneers and leaves.
CU on Charles. He lights a cigar, and blows a screen of smoke. A sick
smiled etches on his face.
CUT TO:
INT. GORDON EDGE INC, CHARLES GORDON'S OFFICE - DAY
WIDE SHOT from far side, almost a POV. Charles sits at his desk. He
nonchalantly smokes a cigar.
KNOCK... KNOCK... comes the knocking at the door.
CHARLES
Come in.
Adam Kovac, 30-year-old Private Investigator, enters. He shakes hands
with Charles.
CHARLES
Sit.
They both sit.
CHARLES
To what do I owe this pleasure?
ADAM
Sorry to bother you Mr Gordon...
CHARLES
Please. Call me Charles.
ADAM
Right, Charles. Sorry to Bother you, but I have a
lead on the whereabouts of Mr Sandsworth.
CHARLES
So where is he?
ADAM
His country house, on the outskirts of Wendover.
FAST ZOOM into an ECU of Adam's arm. Blood seeps through the suits
fabric.
CHARLES
Thank you Adam. You will be duly compensated.
They shake. Adam leaves. The WIDE SHOT switches to a POV as we move
forward.
We stop just short of Charles. Not facing us, he is a few inches from
a full SIDE CU.
ICERO OC
He will die.
Charles laughs.
CHARLES
You need a hobby.
ICERO OC
I have one. Its called Global Warming.
Charles roars.
ICERO OC
When's my deadline?
CHARLES
The 21st of January.
ICERO OC
My brothers b-day...
PAN AROUND to a CU of Icero. He sneers.
ICERO
...will be the Sandsworths D-day.
CUT TO:
EXT. SANDSWORTH RESIDENCE - TWILIGHT
The family are asleep.
A black car pulls up. Icero steps out.
He holds a large sports bag. He walks over to the house, slowly,
methodically.
CUT TO:
INT. SANDSWORTH RESIDENCE, HALLWAY
Icero slides an icicle through the keyhole. He picks the lock with
it. Icero slowly creeps in.
He quietly shuts the door. Icero pulls out a couple of mics.
Icero sorts them out in various places. When he's finished, he
reappears.
Icero is about to walk out, when he stops.
ICERO
Night, night Sandsworth. I'll be here when you
wake up.
CUT TO:
EXT. SANDSWORTH RESIDENCE - DUSK
A big country house. Icero watches it through a pair of binoculars.
ICERO
Say your prayers.
He taps the microphone in his ear twice. Icero has bugged the house.
Little snippets of conversation and movement filter through static.
MR SANDSWORTH OC
Morning family.
MRS SANDSWORTH OC
Morning dear.
CUT TO:
INT. SANDSWORTH RESIDENCE, BREAKFAST SUITE
Mr Sandsworth - henceforth known as Warren - sits at the table. He
tucks into a typical English breakfast.
A portly chap in his mid 50s, he is from a dying era of English
gents.
WARREN
So, what is the plan for today?
Mrs Sandsworth enters from the kitchen. She carries toast and orange
juice.
A glamourpuss in her early 20s, she is obviously part of a mid-life
crisis for Mr S.
MRS SANDSWORTH
I thought we could go and catch a film.
They kiss. She sits down at the table, and starts tucking into her
food.
Julia Sandsworth walks in. About nine years older than her
stepmother, she looks suitably disgusted.
She mixes a shake in the blender. This drowns out Mrs Sandsworth
WARREN
How are you this morning Julia?
JULIA
[half interested]
Not bad.
WARREN
How is the job hunt going?
JULIA
Pretty good. Found a couple of places that I'm
curious about. Nothing concrete as of yet.
She pours herself a shake, and sits down. The tension between her and
her stepmum is unbearable.
MRS SANDSWORTH
[to Julia]
I thought you might like to join us later on.
Me and your dad are planning to see a film.
No response from Julia.
WARREN
Julia. Your mother asked you a question.
Julia slowly looks up. She casts the look of anger towards her dad.
JULIA
My mother died two years ago. She's just an easy
thing.
Julia storms out. Mr and Mrs Sandsworth are left reeling. Mrs
Sandsworth begins to cry. Warren hugs her.
WARREN
Hey. Don't cry.
MRS SANDSWORTH
[wiping tears away]
I can't help it. I really, want us to be friends.
Warren kisses her on the forehead in a paternal manner, then walks
out.
CUT TO:
INT. SANDSWORTH RESIDENCE, KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER
Julia stands by the wall. Her face is racked with emotional pain.
Warren walks in. He stands next to her, veins popping in anger.
WARREN
You have some explaining to do Julia. You do not
talk to your stepmum like that.
Julia turns round. She has puffy red eyes.
JULIA
I'm sorry. But I can not look at her face. She is
trying to take the place that my mother - your
wife - occupied, and I will not let her do that.
Warren rubs his eyes.
WARREN
Julia. I know what you are going through. I went
through the exact same thing. No-one can take
your mothers place, and no one can take my wives
place. But I can't mope around forever. I do have
to get on with my life. Rachel is not your
mother, but she is trying. I love her deeply, and
seeing you two mad at each other breaks me up.
I'm not saying love her. I'm not expecting you to
like her. But try and find some common ground,
because life is too fucking short.
Julia is surprised at this speech. She's never heard such empathy
from
her father.
JULIA
I can't promise I'll like her, or love her, but I
love you.
Julia takes a deep breath.
JULIA
(continuing)
I will do this for you.
Warren smiles.
WARREN
That is all I wanted to hear. Thank you Julia.
They hug.
JULIA
You know she makes really bad pancakes right.
WARREN
I accepted her flaws, as she accepted mine.
JULIA
Your Monkeys obsession.
WARREN
Of course.
They walk off together, arm in arm, the picture of a happy family
unit.
CUT TO:
EXT. SANDSWORTH RESIDENCE - SAME TIME
Icero puts down the binoculars, disgusted by this show of affection.
He snarls.
ICERO
I hate happy families.
He drives off. While the car turns round the corner, he drops some
ice on the ground.
It forms an ice radar of some sort, making a minute beeping noise.
CUT TO
INT. SANDSWORTH RESIDENCE, KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER
JULIA
Can we just clarify one thing?
WARREN
Sure.
JULIA
I don't have to see the film.
WARREN
No. Besides, I doubt you'd want to spend time
with a crusty old oaf like me.
JULIA
Its just that I've got to go and talk to some guy
about a job.
WARREN
Who?
JULIA
Name's Adam...
CUT TO:
EXT. OFFICE OF ADAM KOVAC, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR - AFTERNOON
The quasi-expensive sign glimmers. Oncoming motorists beep their
horn.
This is because the sign is next to a billboard for Gummy Bears [held
by a bikini clad blonde].
ADAM OC
... Kovac. What can I do for you?
CUT TO:
INT. OFFICE OF ADAM KOVAC, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
Adam is on the phone. He is getting a real butt-whupping from the
other end. This continues for what seems like an eternity.
ADAM
Oh no. I'm cracking up.
Adam fakes some static noise, then hangs up. He breathes a sigh of
relief.
ADAM
(continuing)
Damn customers.
He opens up a drawer. Taking out a magazine, he flicks through. He
laughs at the back page.
JULIA OC
Hello, anyone here.
Adam puts the magazine face up on the desk. He looks up and sees
Julia.
She is the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. Remarkably, Adam
keeps his cool.
ADAM
Hi, I'm Adam Kovac.
Adam stands up. He extends his hand.
JULIA
Julia Sandsworth.
Something stirs in Adam's mind, but he quickly forsakes it. Probably
not important anyway [SUBPLOT TIME]. They shake.
ADAM
[remembering]
Right. You're here for the receptionist job.
JULIA
I'd prefer the term Administrative Assistant. Its
more professional.
Adam takes a seat. Julia - noticing her mistake - mouths the word
shit.
ADAM
It's okay. It was my fault. I shouldn't have
offered such a crass statement. This doesn't
reflect badly on you.
He gets out some paperwork. Julia smiles. This guys nice. She starts
staring at him. Through her eyes he is kind of cute.
ADAM
(continuing)
So have you any experience of being a rec...
sorry... Administrative Assistant.
JULIA
I used to do some filing and typing for my dad's
firm.
ADAM
What does he do?
JULIA
He runs Sandsworth Inc.
Adam jerks up. Why does that name sound familiar. Then it clicks.
ADAM
Not the Warren Sandsworth.
JULIA
You know him.
Adam lights up.
ADAM
Know him. I got fired from my first job at
Sandsworth Inc. Spent my eighteenth summer as a
mail boy there.
JULIA
Did you ever meet him?
ADAM
Once. I delivered a piece of mail to him
directly. It turnt out to be a subpoena. I was
gone within the hour. [sighs] Oh well, c'est la
vie.
Julia is impressed by his remarkably candid casualness. He is really
down to earth.
ADAM
(continuing)
Right. So why do you want to work for me?
JULIA
That's a very direct question.
ADAM
I don't like to waste time. Save for watching
MTV.
Beat. Julia thinks.
JULIA
Because I would really like to give something
back to the community.
ADAM
We are a Private Investigator firm Mrs
Sandsworth. We don't uphold the law to the extent
that you'd think. I have done dealings with the
Saints and Sinners in equal numbers. Sometimes we
will have to go around the law. Are you prepared
to do this?
Long beat.
JULIA
I'd like to give it a try.
Adam smiles.
ADAM
Congratulations. You're hired.
They shake.
ADAM
(continuing)
When can you start?
JULIA
Tomorrow.
She gets up to leave.
ADAM
I look forward to working with you.
JULIA
Ditto.
They stare at each other for a long beat. Then Julia walks out.
ADAM
Sweet.
He slumps back in his chair. Giddy as humanly possible. He hears a
beeping noise.
Adam switches on his computer. Scrolling down the screen, he views a
document.
It is a police record of infamous criminal 'The Wolf'. At the bottom
it reads "Escaped prisoner on the run.'
Adam sprints out of his office...
CUT TO:
EXT. VALE PARK - TWILIGHT
A couple - Sid and Nancy - sit on the hill. They stare lovingly into
each other's eyes.
SID
These last few months have been perfect.
NANCY
They sure have.
SID
I love you Nancy.
NANCY
[jubilant]
I love you too Sid.
Long beat.
Sid composes himself.
SID
Will you marry me?
He pulls out a huge rock of a diamond.
Nancy cries tears of happiness
NANCY
Yes.
They kiss, and hug. Sid slips the rock onto Nancy's finger. She cries
with happiness.
Muffled footsteps echo a short distance behind. They are followed by
a loud growl.
Nancy and Sid tentatively turn round. They see something horrible.
They see...
WOLF
A hideous hybrid between a man and a wolf. He has the appearance of a
man - with added facial hair - but the ruthlessness of a wolf.
He hits Sid with a vicious blow. Sid is sent flying out of sight. He
crashes into a tree. Blood seeps out of his agape mouth.
Nancy screams. Wolf laughs.
WOLF
Tonight, you are my prey.
He lunges for Nancy. Grabs her blouse. Nancy swings her fist round.
She cracks Wolf full on in the face.
Her ring collides sternly with his lip.
Wolf lets Nancy go. She runs off. Wolf wipes the blood from his lip.
He growls like a man possessed.
WOLF
(continuing)
You will pay in blood.
He chases after her.
Nancy runs for her life. Looking behind frequently, she sees the
approaching Wolf.
Not looking where she is going, Nancy trips over a rock. She careers
into the floor.
Nancy has a laceration on her head. She slowly gets up. She sees Wolf
above her. He growls. Nancy's mouth is open in silent protest.
Wolf grabs her by the neck. He picks her a good 5 feet off the
ground.
THE WOLF
(continuing)
Scream for me.
Footsteps behind Wolf signal someone new entering the scuffle. We see
the briefest glimpse of a two by four.
It rests over Wolf's shoulders.
Wolf is smacked in the back with the two by four. He falls to one
knee.
A bloody Sid holds the two by four aloft. He stumbles round like a
drunk.
SID
[desperately; to Nancy]
Run.
She looks at him doefully. Then she runs. Soon as she starts running,
Sid slumps to the ground.
Wolf having bit a chunk off his leg.
Wolf grabs the two by four. He smashes it over his knee. The Wolf
grabs Sid by the neck.
He rams him hard into a vertical tree.
WOLF
You shoulda let her die.
SID
Never.
He headbutts Wolf. Wolf shakes the cobwebs free. Sid isn't so lucky.
He is damn near death.
WOLF
This ends now.
Wolf throws Sid a good twenty feet. Sid lands back first on the
floor. Wolf growls.
He begins to walk over, hoping to finish the job.
WOLF
(continuing)
Now you die.
MUTINEER OC
I don't think so.
Wolf is nailed with a solid punch. He reels back, landing on his ass.
Mutineer walks out of the darkness.
MUTINEER
It is so big of you to pick on civilians. Least
the other criminals have the balls to pick on me.
Then again, I guess your hairy ass remembers what
happened last time.
Wolf growls loudly.
WOLF
My prey have escaped because of you. You'll take
their place.
Wolf lunges wildly. Mutineer grabs his arm. He snaps it back.
Mutineer pushes Wolf away.
MUTINEER
You are going back to jail.
WOLF
No I'm not.
He charges at Mutineer. Both men are knocked to the floor. Wolf tries
to maim Mutineer.
He is countered with knees to the gut.
Mutineer kicks Wolf over his shoulders. Wolf rolls on the floor.
Mutineer gets up. He is immediately knocked back down. Wolf hits
Mutineer with a brutal forearm to the back.
Mutineer lies face down. Wolf leaps into the air. He's going to slit
Mutineer's throat.
Mutineer spins round. As Wolf plummets down, Mutineer pulls up his
feet.
Wolf lands on Mutineer's feet. Mutineer propels him across the park.
Wolf hits the same tree that Sid did. But Wolf smashes through it.
MUTINEER
Say your prayers Wolf. You're going back to jail.
Wolf gets up. He runs across the park towards Mutineer. Mutineer
casually walks forward, his back to 'The Wolf'.
Wolf is about to strike. Mutineer throws out his arm. He nails 'The
Wolf' with a lariat to the throat.
Wolf hits the floor. He is unconscious. A battered and bloody mess.
Mutineer picks up his phone.
MUTINEER
(continuing)
Police - Vale Park - Wolf - No comment.
Mutineer puts the phone down. He walks off into the darkness. Sid
crawls over to Nancy. They hug.
ADAM VO
I would have stayed. But I don't like to
socialise with cops. They view me as a vigilante.
They're probably right. Even so, I gain no
pleasure from attacking unless provoked.
CUT TO:
EXT. SUPERMARKET - DAWN
Icero's black car is parked outside. The license plate reads Lets
Play.
ICERO OC
What do you mean I can't get any freaking ice?
CUT TO:
INT. SUPERMARKET, CHECKOUT
Icero is at the checkout counter. He looks mad. Where is my goddamn
ice he thinks. The cashier looks unforthcoming.
CASHIER
I'm sorry sir. But we don't sell ice to the
quantity that you want.
ICERO
[enraged]
Oh you little...
A customer pushes ahead.
CUSTOMER
[livid]
Hey, some of us want to get out of here this
week. We're bored solid hearing this ice
crap.
ICERO
Bored solid huh.
Icero turns round and dispatches the customer with an icicle to the
gut.
The other customers look around, gormless. They then quickly run
away.
CASHIER
That wasn't cool Morgan.
Icero snarls.
ICERO
Tell Mum I'll be home for thanksgiving. And next
time you better have some ice... or...
CASHIER
Or what?
Icero really wants to make an icicle, but his brotherly love prevents
him.
CASHIER
(continuing)
Man, why do you always have to go and scare my
customers away?
ICERO
I am a people person.
CASHIER
You did know it's my birthday on the 21st?
ICERO
I have a feeling I'll remember.
CASHIER
[excited]
What are you going to get me?
ICERO
Not sure yet. But I have a feeling it'll be
something from Sandsworth Inc.
CASHIER
Oh, Mum said to tell you that she got your
fruitcake.
Icero snarls.
ICERO
Give her my love.
CASHIER
Later Morgan.
Icero walks off, snarling loudly.
CASHIER
Next.
CUT TO:
INT. OFFICE OF ADAM KOVAC, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
Adam reads a magazine at his desk. Just outside is Julia. She is
standing by the coffee machine. Bored senseless.
JULIA
Do you have any clients?
ADAM
Yeah.
JULIA
Where are they?
Adam closes the magazines.
ADAM
My clients are pikey's Julia. They don't come out
till it's dark. This is usually because they will
be arrested by policemen standing outside
McDonalds.
Julia walks into his office.
JULIA
So what are we meant to do?
Adam puts the magazine into a drawer.
ADAM
Usually I plan out the rest of my day. Seeing as
how that's a one person activity, I say we talk.
[beat]
So what sort of music do you like?
JULIA
I like punk rock. Bands like Good Charlotte,
Linkin Park and singers like Avril Lavigne.
People who tend to speak to the generation we
came from. You?
ADAM
Busted. Chilli Peppers. Nirvana. Nelly. Eminem,
and Christina Aguilera circa late 2002/2003.
JULIA
That's a pretty eclectic collection.
ADAM
I'm a pretty eclectic kind of guy.
Beat.
ADAM
(continuing)
So how do you find it working here?
JULIA
I like it for the most part. You seem like a
decent guy. The pays good. I like the independent
feel of it most. I don't have to rely on my
father's money.
ADAM
I wish I could relate to that. I barely got a
chance to coast off my folks.
JULIA
Oh. How did they...
ADAM
[cutting off]
This might be a little upfront, but I was
wondering if you fancied going out to
dinner sometime.
Beat.
JULIA
I'd love to. Friday at Six.
ADAM
Sure.
Long beat.
They stare into each other's eyes.
JULIA
I'll just…
ADAM
Yeah.
Julia turns round. She walks out of the office. A big cheesy smile is
on her face. She thinks she's the luckiest girl alive.
Adam makes the scoring motion with his fist. Then he progresses onto
stage two. He spins round on his chair, giggling like a schoolgirl.
CUT TO:
INT. OFFICE OF ADAM KOVAC, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR - LATER THAT DAY
Adam sits on his own. Julia has gone, left hours ago. Adam plays
around on his phone, scanning through numbers.
His is pretty strange. They range from people like Carl to weird
names like Mastardon and Retro.
CARL OC
Hey buddy, you ready?
ADAM
Yeah. Lets go.
Adam picks up his coat. Him and Carl walk out of the office. Adam
makes sure to shut the lights off, and lock the door.
Hey, even superheroes need protection against street kids with
nothing better to do.
CUT TO:
EXT. KOVAC RESIDENCE - EVENING
Rain pours down from the evening sky.
CARL OC
Kirsten Dunst or Jennifer Garner?
INT. KOVAC RESIDENCE, LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Carl holds up two DVD's - Spider-Man and Daredevil. Adam walks in
holding a beer.
ADAM
Daredevil.
Carl shakes his head. He pops the Spider-Man DVD back. Sets up the
Daredevil DVD.
CARL
I always meant to ask. Why do you prefer
Daredevil to Spider-Man?
Adam looks slightly worked up.
ADAM
Daredevil suits my mind better. I hate all that
goody goody crap that Spider-Man does. No one is
that nice.
CARL
So killing the Green Goblin is nice?
They both sit on the couch.
ADAM
No, but he doesn't mean to. Yet, if anyone went
after someone I cared about, I would intend to
finish the job.
He drinks his beer. There is an evil glint in Adam's eyes. Carl
notices half-heartedly.
Ring, ring.
Adam picks up his phone.
ADAM
(continuing)
Yeah.
JULIA OC
Hi.
Adam smiles.
ADAM
Hi.
He sees Carl . Adam takes the phone into the kitchen. Carl remains
on the couch.
CARL
Son of a bitch.
He peeks into the kitchen.
CUT TO:
INT. KOVAC RESIDENCE, KITCHEN
Adam stands by the side. He laughs.
ADAM
... that is a sick joke lady. You should know
better at your age.
JULIA OC
I'm the same age as you Adam.
ADAM
Don't I know it.
Mild laughter.
ADAM
(continuing)
Why did you call?
JULIA OC
I was just wondering if you fancied going out
tonight?
ADAM
Sure. Where?
JULIA OC
Just this little out of the way pub.
ADAM
Great. Pick you up in half and hour?
JULIA OC
I'll meet you on the corner of Elm Farm.
ADAM
Why not your house?
JULIA OC
I gotta go.
She hangs up. Adam looks confused at the phone for a bit. He shrugs,
walking...
CUT TO:
INT. KOVAC RESIDENCE, LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
... back into the living room. Carl is watching the infamous 'Log
Fire Lurve' scene.
ADAM
Can't you just appreciate the film?
CARL
[with eviction]
I am.
ADAM
I don't think that is what Mark Steven Johnson
would have wanted.
CARL
I am enjoying the film. Don't knock that.
Beat.
CARL
(continuing)
So who was that?
ADAM
A girl.
Intriguing.
CARL
Who?
Adam gets up.
ADAM
I got to go out. I'll give you a lift back home
later when you get shitfaced.
Adam goes to the door. He stops, half turns.
ADAM
(continuing)
Did you get the tickets for the Gordon Ball?
Carl half answers.
CARL
Yeah.
ADAM
Can you get another one?
CARL
Probably. Why?
ADAM
No reason.
He walks out. Carl sits engrossed - has he heard a word that was
just said? - A big shit eating grin comes over him.
CARL
I love this shit.
CUT TO:
EXT. PUB – TWILIGHT
Cars pull up. The floodlights come on, lighting up the huge football
field.
JULIA OC
This is nice.
ADAM OC
It sure is.
CUT TO:
INT. PUB
Adam and Julia stare into each others eyes. She shies away, blinking.
He takes a sip of his beer.
ADAM
So I guess we should get to know each other?
JULIA
Yeah.
Silence.
ADAM
Daredevil or Spider-Man?
Julia looks baffled.
JULIA
What?
ADAM
Its this little test me and my friend Carl
conduct to see what kind of person you are. You
can like both of them, but neither equally.
You're either goody two shoes like Spider-Man,
or tortured vigilante like Daredevil.
Long beat.
Julia thinks it over.
JULIA
I guess if I really searched - not caring much
for either - that I'd probably be more like
Daredevil than Spider-Man.
Adam lights up.
ADAM
Same here.
JULIA
Really?
ADAM
Yeah.
They share a moment, followed quickly by flickering eyes, and nervous
laughs.
ADAM OC
I had a great time.
JULIA OC
So did I.
CUT TO:
EXT. PUB, CAR PARK - TWILIGHT
Adam and Julia stand by his car.
ADAM
I like you Julia. You seem different from every
other women I know. More grounded. Secure
Stifled laughs from Julia.
JULIA
I'm not so sure about that. I'm full of
insecurities.
ADAM
Like what?
JULIA
Like how I hate my stepmother. She's 30 years
younger than my Dad, and basically a cosmic
superslut.
Adam laughs.
JULIA
(continuing)
Don't laugh.
She hits his arm. It hurts. He rubs the wound clear. Where the hell
did she learn that?
JULIA
(continuing)
You okay?
ADAM
Yeah. I just never met a girl who could hit like
that.
JULIA
To be fair Adam, what you don't know about me
could fill the grand canyon?
They laugh.
ADAM
Will we fill that in now?... or...
JULIA
... later.
They both stare into the distance.
ADAM
Are you sure you don't want a lift back?
JULIA
Yeah. I better wait for the limo. I don't want
you to meet my Dad.
Adam mocks concern.
ADAM
Why, whatever shall I do?
Both laugh.
ADAM
(continuing)
That's copasetic. We'll save it for a more
important night.
JULIA
Sure.
She gets up, and walks a bit. In the distance headlights are visible.
The limo pulls up.
JULIA
(continuing)
I had a great time.
ADAM
Me too.
She gets in.
JULIA
Call me.
The limo drives off. Adam sits on his bonnet for a bit. He is on an
emotional high.
FADE OUT.
ADAM OC
You fancy going to the Gordon Ball with me on
Sunday the 21st?
JULIA OC
I'd love to.
FADE IN:
EXT. PENDLEY MANOR - EVENING
The car park is packed. Limo's, Mercedes, porches. You name it, its
probably here.
CARL OC
Where is she?
ADAM OC
Relax.
CUT TO:
INT. PENDLEY MANOR, BALLROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Carl and Adam stand by the staircase. A waiter comes by, holding
some wine. Carl pinches two glasses.
He passes one to Adam.
CARL
Drink up, it's free.
Carl downs his.
ADAM
Would you relax?
Carl shrugs his shoulders.
CARL
Man I am so nervous.
ADAM
Why?
CARL
I'm about to meet the girl you haven't stopped
blabbering about. This is a big deal for me.
ADAM
Just play it cool okay.
Carl tries to play it cool. He fails miserably. He knocks the waiter
over, who spills the drinks on a rich couple.
CARL
Sorry.
He barely manages to duck a wine glass. It smashes against the wall.
Carl sighs.
CARL
(continuing)
The rich man. Say no more.
Beat.
CARL
(continuing)
So where is she?
ADAM
She'll be here.
Adam stares forward. Carl 's eyes flicker across the floor. They stop
on something.
It is so captivating that Carl can't move his eyes.
CARL
If only we could get someone like that.
Adam turns round, and sees...
... Julia, cascading down the stairs. She looks knock out beautiful.
A huge smile comes over his face.
ADAM
I have.
Adam walks off. Carl is left on his lonesome. His tongue is hanging
out. His eyes are shocked.
CARL
No way.
He downs the second glass of champagne.
CUT TO:
INT. PENDLEY MANOR, BALLROOM, STAIRCASE - MOMENTS LATER
Adam meets Julia on the stairs. They stare in awe for a moment. This
is a perfect moment.
ADAM
You look... amazing…
Julia gleams.
JULIA
... thanks, so do you.
Beat.
They are about to kiss.
CARL OC
HURHUM.
Not quite kissing, they back off. Julia and Adam turn round to see an
impatient Carl .
CARL
That was cold.
He turns to Julia.
CARL
(continuing)
Hi, I'm Carl .
He extends his hand like a true - pseudo - gentlemen.
JULIA
I'm Julia.
She shakes his hand.
CARL
Its a pleasure to meet you.
Carl kisses her palm. He is trying to be as cool as McQueen and
charming as Connery.
Julia isn't really convinced, but hides it with a glowing smile.
JULIA
Likewise.
Beat.
ADAM
So how are you?
JULIA
I'm good.
CUT TO:
INT. PENDLEY MANOR, HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
The doors swing open. A load of suits walk through. They are followed
by Charles Gordon.
Photographers snap some pictures for The Bucks Herald/Advertiser.
Charles poses with his cigar, albeit in a casual manner.
JOURNALIST
Mr Gordon, where are the proceeds for this event
going?
CHARLES
They are going to the NSPCA. I hate seeing those
little kittens get hurt.
The journalists laugh.
CHARLES
(continuing)
I think I shall end up giving generous donations
to all the local charities. Tonight just happens
to be a night where I give a little back to the
community. Besides, I'm not made out of money.
More phoney journalistic laughter.
CHARLES
(continuing)
Now lets get this party started.
CUT TO:
INT. PENDLEY MANOR, DINING AREA - LATER
Adam and Julia sit at a corner table. They eat a lavish meal, while
making constant eye contact.
Adam is in the midst of a joke.
ADAM
... so the guy turns round and says, I didn't
know she was a dog.
Both roar.
JULIA
I haven't laughed this much in ages.
ADAM
Neither have I.
He takes her hand.
ADAM
(continuing)
Being with you makes me feel things I never felt
before. I believe I can do anything. I used to be
a cold and disillusioned man. Someone I didn't
want to be. My eyes were foggy, and I couldn't
see. Now with you, my eyes are open. I can see
where I want to go, and who I want to be. In
short, you make me a better man than I thought I
could ever be. When I met you I rose to cloud
nine. Getting to know you has allowed me to
remain there, and I don't think I'll ever come
down. Without you, I would have died a little
more inside. You are the only reason I haven't
become cold and emotionless. You complete me.
Julia sheds a single tear.
JULIA
Oh Adam. You have made me the happiest I have
ever been. And if I was asked to trade my
feelings for you... I wouldn't... for all the
money... in all the world.
They slowly lean towards each other. Their lips pressing ever closer,
until...
... they kiss. It is magical. The room seems to spin. Everything
becomes a haze of bright lights.
Yet there is a chill in the air, as if...
ICERO OC
I'm coming for you.
CUT TO:
INT. SANDSWORTH RESIDENCE, MASTER BEDROOM
Mrs Sandsworth lies on the bed. She has been stabbed through the
chest with an icicle.
The falling of a cupboard makes a deafening noise. Mr Sandsworth
frantically blocks the door with it.
MR SANDSWORTH
Leave.
Icero snarls.
ICERO OC
I can't do that.
He slams into the door. It budges out. The cupboard moves along the
floor.
ICERO OC
(continuing)
But I can promise you this...
Icero slams into the door. It budges a significant distance. One more
barge and its open.
ICERO OC
(continuing)
...You will die very slowly.
Icero bangs through the door. Mr Sandsworth backs towards the window.
He can't open it.
ICERO
Lets play.
Icero throws six rapid icicles towards Mr Sandsworth. They each sink
into a muscle.
Mr Sandsworth collapses by the window. He is on his hand and knees.
He crawls over to Icero.
Weakly, Mr Sandsworth looks at death.
MR SANDSWORTH
Please don't kill me.
ICERO
(continuing)
I hate beggars.
Icero slams down the icicle, as we...
CUT TO:
INT. PENDLEY MANOR, BALLROOM - SAME TIME
Adam and Julia dance to a slow love ballad. They are captured for
eternity in each others arms.
JULIA
Never leave me.
Adam holds her close.
ADAM
I won't.
They kiss again.
CUT TO:
EXT. SANDSWORTH RESIDENCE - TWILIGHT
Julia is dropped off by Adam. They kiss once more. He drives off into
the distance.
Julia turns to see a motorbike parked in the driveway. The license
plate reads 'Kick Ice'.
Julia becomes worried. Her happy look changes to a look of dread and
fear.
JULIA
Dad?
She runs inside.
CUT TO:
INT. SANDSWORTH RESIDENCE, CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
Julia barely stops. Yelling up the stairs.
JULIA
Dad?
She hears coughing.
JULIA
(continuing)
DAD?
She runs up the stairs...
CUT TO:
INT. SANDSWORTH RESIDENCE, 2ND FLOOR HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
... missing the top steps completely. She fumbles over to the master
bedroom.
She slowly creaks the door open, and sees...
CUT TO:
CUT TO:
INT. SANDSWORTH RESIDENCE, MASTER BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
... her father impaled on the wall, an icicle being the offending
weapon.
Julia leaps back in shock. Tears form from her eyes. She breaks down.
JULIA
No. No. NO!!!
She hears the revving up of a motorbike. Julia runs over the window –
lined with ice - witnessing...
CUT TO:
EXT. SANDSWORTH RESIDENCE - CONTINUOUS
... Icero drive off on his motorbike. He stops short. Tilts his head.
Spots Julia.
ICERO
I'll be back for you later dollface.
Icero revs up again, and burns rubber.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
EXT. CEMETARY - DAWN
Sombre mood. Only fifteen people are there. These include Julia, Adam
and Charles Gordon, with the obligatory vicar.
VICAR
We are here today, to mourn the passing of Warren
Sandsworth. Devoted husband and father, Warren
was also a very successful businessman. He always
strived to provide the life for others that he
did not receive.
Julia drops a tear.
VICAR
(continuing)
Would anyone care to say a word?
There are no takers.
CUT TO:
EXT. CEMETARY - LATER THAT DAY
Julia sits in her personal limo. She looks like a part of her had
died as well.
Charles walks over, sombre expression on his face.
CHARLES
My condolences Julia. Your father was a great
man. This is unfortunate.
Julia looks mad.
JULIA
Unfortunate it is. But I guarantee you my fathers
killers will pay.
She shrugs the anger clear.
JULIA
(continuing)
Thank you.
Charles walks off.
Adam is over the other side of the cemetery. He looks at Julia with
sadness in his eyes.
ADAM OC
Why can't I see you?
JULIA OC
It won't work.
ADAM OC
I love you.
JULIA OC
I'm sorry. I need to find out who I am. I'll call
you when I work it all out.
CUT TO:
INT. SANDSWORTH RESIDENCE, LEISURE AREA
Julia walks in. She has a stern look on her face. Slumped over her
shoulder are her possessions.
JULIA
This is what I have to do...
She drops the bags.
JULIA
(continuing)
... so that my father's murderer will not walk
these streets idly.
She takes a running start, moving swiftly towards the wall. She
reaches it...
... using her feet to run up it. Julia does a wall assisted
backflip...
CUT TO:
INT. SANDSWORTH RESIDENCE, LEISURE AREA - DAYS LATER
... landing on her feet.
Julia wears a green leather costume. It is the polar opposite of
Adam's in design.
JULIA
Julia exists only in reality...
She puts on a green mask that covers her eyes almost completely.
JULIA
(continuing)
... for I am going to kill that murderer with the
alias...
She seethes with rage.
JULIA
(continuing)
SPRITE!!!
She darts out of sight.
CUT TO:
EXT. CARL 'S LAW OFFICE - DAY
Possibly located in the worst neighbourhood in Aylesbury. A beat up
pinto is in the parking space.
CARL OC
Man, I want this asshole locked up just as much
as you do...
CUT TO:
INT. CARL 'S LAW OFFICE
The office is slightly better, but not much. Adam sits across from
Carl .
Carl flicks through a dossier.
CARL
...but the fact is that he has a watertight alibi
for that evening. I know its a load of crap, but
the courts will rule with him.
He puts the dossier down. Adam sighs. He looks at Carl with dead
eyes.
ADAM
You know what the son of a bitch did. He sexually
assaulted a minor. No, worse than that. He
sexually assaulted a minor who was his
responsibility to watch. The guy posed as a
babysitter so he could abuse a fourteen year old
girl. Now maybe society views fourteen year old
girls as adults, but I see them as a confused
kid.
He clenches his fist. Adam has the look of a killer imprinted on his
face.
Carl looks concerned.
CARL
Look, buddy, I know how you feel. Do you know how
many pieces of shit I wanted to smack in the head
with this phone? Countless. There must be
hundreds. Scumbags walking the earth like the
rules don't apply. But we have to have faith in
the law. If we don't, then who will.
Adam looks at Carl . There is an evil glint in Adam's eyes. This guy
is toast.
ADAM
The law may set them free...
CUT TO:
EXT. ROOFTOP - NIGHT
Adam stands on the rooftop. From the head down he is clad in his
costume.
ADAM
... but I will never let them be.
He pops on the mask.
MUTINEER
Harry Donovan, start running...
He clenches his fist.
MUTINEER
(continuing)
... because you can't contend with the rage that
I have.
EXT. DOWNTOWN BAR - TWILIGHT
Crummy and desolate. The sign promises vigorous flesh, a
contradictory statement for sure.
HARRY DONOVAN OC
Here's to my, beating out the legal system. Who
says crime doesn't pay?
Laughter rings for seconds.
CUT TO:
INT. DOWNTOWN BAR
Harry stands on the bar. He downs a bottle of beer in one. Smiling,
he spits it out like a fountain.
Drunken bikers salute him. A few working girls follow him up onto the
bar. They fondle over him.
He puts his arm round them both.
HARRY
Girls, this is going to be a night that we will
never forget.
SPRITE OC
Ain't that the truth hotshot?
Larry looks in the direction of the comment. He sees Sprite perched
on top of a railing.
HARRY
Leather clad vixen, bestil my beating heart.
SPRITE
How about I kick your ass from here to kingdom
come dipshit?
Harry laughs, followed by his lackeys.
HARRY
Looks like we have a party pooper. Boys, escort
her ass out of my establishment.
Two mean ass looking bikers approach Sprite. She sighs deeply, barely
looking.
MEAN ASS BIKER
What will it be lady? The nose or the ribs.
SPRITE
Oh, a choice. How hard it is? Um... Oh, I've got
it.
She spins her heel round, breaking the mean ass biker's nose. He
slumps to the floor, bleeding profusely.
MEAN ASS BIKER
The bitch broke my nose.
The second biker grabs Sprite's arm. She flips over the railing. As
she lands, she pulls a metal instrument out of her costume...
SLASH
She slits the biker's stomach with it. As he reels back in horror,
she digs it in.
The biker groans.
SPRITE
I broke his nose, so I had to go for your ribs.
The biker collapses. Sprite pulls the instrument out. She flicks the
blood off.
A third biker cocks a gun.
SPRITE
(continuing)
I don't think so.
Sprite throws her weapon. It slams into the gun, rendering it
useless.
The biker throws down the gun. He runs across the bar towards Sprite.
Three punches are thrown. They are all swiftly blocked. The biker
throws a third...
... which Sprite catches. She kicks the biker twice in the ribs,
knocking him out with a killer kick to the head.
The biker flies backwards, slamming through a table.
Sprite pulls the metal weapon out of the gun, and spins it
effortlessly round her fingers.
SPRITE
(continuing)
Harry, she's here to help.
Harry runs out of the bar, nearly slipping on the spilled beer
bottles.
The two girls on the bar - Candy and Rita - block Sprite's exit after
him.
CANDY
Uh... uh... honey. You ain't going to be getting
in our man's face.
SPRITE
Move.
Rita blocks Sprite off, getting all up in her face.
SPRITE
(continuing)
Move.
RITA
Soon as you do... bitch.
Sprite laughs.
With a swift backhand blow, she knocks Rita clean out.
SPRITE
Stay down bitch.
Candy slams Sprite over the head with a beer bottle. Sprite falls to
her knees.
CANDY
What's up baby? You got a problem with your legs.
Sprite smirks.
SPRITE
Not as bad as you.
Sprite sweeps Candy's legs out. Candy falls. Before she hits the
floor, Sprite props her up.
Sprite holds her weapon inches from Candy's neck.
SPRITE
(continuing)
Mess with me again, and I won't be able to
control my metal.
Candy gulps. Sprite lets her go. Candy spirals out of the way. Sprite
spins the metal weapon.
SPRITE
(continuing)
Come here you piece of shit, you and me have to
talk.
CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEY - TWILIGHT
Harry runs desperately. He stumbles over a trashcan. They both
crumble to the floor.
Harry gets back up, and sprints.
He reaches a dead end in the alley. A huge wall. Harry cries out in
pain.
HARRY
Please god. Not me.
MUTINEER OC
You think god cares about a piece of slime like
you?
Harry looks round. He sees Mutineer standing in front of him. Harry
stumbles against the wall, trapped.
HARRY
Please, show some compassion.
MUTINEER
Like you showed that little girl. Why the hell
should I care about your well-being?
Harry kind of smiles.
HARRY
Because you're the good guy.
Mutineer leans in, like he has a secret.
MUTINEER
That's a myth.
Harry's face turns to horror. Mutineer grabs him by the neck. He
drives Harry into the wall.
MUTINEER
(continuing)
After I'm done with you, I'm gonna let her father
have a go.
Harry goes white.
MUTINEER
(continuing)
Say your prayers.
He cocks his fist back. In the background we hear a wolf whistle.
Mutineer turns round...
... only to be kicked in the face by Sprite. Mutineer reels onto his
butt.
SPRITE
He's mine.
Sprite throws the metal instrument. It slams through Harry's
shoulder. He screams in agony.
SPRITE
(continuing)
And don't you forget it.
Mutineer cracks his muscles. He wipes the blood from his lip.
MUTINEER
You play hard.
SPRITE
I play to win.
They look at each other for a long time. They wonder - we know -
whether they have met before.
MUTINEER
So what do they call you?
SPRITE
Sprite.
MUTINEER
Like the soft drink.
Sprite sighs.
SPRITE
Ever the comedian.
Beat.
SPRITE
(continuing)
What's your name leather boy?
MUTINEER
Mutineer.
Sprite looks at him in a patronised way.
SPRITE
0h, how cute. You chose a name which has a
synonym of rebel. You must have really believed
you were an outsider in school, when you were
probably in the chess club.
Mutineer smirks.
MUTINEER
What's wrong with the chess club?
SPRITE
About 5 hours of free time a week.
Mutineer mockingly claps.
MUTINEER
Did you think of that all by yourself?
Sprite ignores this and turns to Harry.
SPRITE
I want a piece of this garbage.
Mutineer shakes his head.
MUTINEER
He's mine.
Stalemate.
SPRITE
What have you got?
MUTINEER
He sexually abused a fourteen-year-old girl. I'm
going to beat him for a beat, then let her father
have a go, then dunk his ass down the cell. You?
SPRITE
I think he knows the man who killed my father.
Mutineer puts his hands over his ears.
MUTINEER
I stay out of family business. Its get too
personal. Go ahead.
Mutineer covers his ears.
In the background Sprite beats the truth out of Harry. Satisfied, she
walks over to Mutineer.
MUTINEER
(continuing)
Done.
SPRITE
Yep.
Long beat.
MUTINEER
If you ever need any assistance fighting crime,
don't hesitate to give me a bell.
Sprite smiles.
SPRITE
I'm avenging a death.
Mutineer smirks again.
MUTINEER
It starts out that way, but you get hooked on the
hunt.
SPRITE
He's all yours.
Sprite runs off.
Mutineer turns to Harry. Harry has a bloody nose. The wound from the
metal instrument is pretty gruesome.
Mutineer pops his knuckle.
MUTINEER
Now, where were we?
Harry groans in a muffled fashion.
CUT TO:
EXT. PARK - DAWN
Julia sits on her own. Adam walks over. They sit together on the
bench. Rain cascades down.
ADAM
Why did you quit?
JULIA
I quit because I needed independence. Now I have
unlimited independence.
ADAM
How have you been?
JULIA
Okay. I've got some demons to exorcise before I'm
perfect.
ADAM
That'll come with time.
Beat.
JULIA
What about us?
Long beat.
ADAM
I still love you Julia, that hasn't changed.
JULIA
I love you too, Adam.
She stares into his eyes. They go to kiss. Instead, Adam hugs Julia.
They embrace deeply.
ADAM
It'll be okay.
Adam's eyes show the pain rushing through his veins. He remembers his
parents fate.
Julia's eyes show hunger. She has something that she needs to do, and
damn whoever is in her way.
CUT TO:
INT. JULIA'S BEDROOM - EVENING
Adam and Julia make love in the bed. There is a strong sense of
hunger and longing.
No mere mechanics come - sorry, couldn't resist - into play.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. JULIA'S BEDROOM - MIDNIGHT
They lie side by side. Adam has his arm draped over Julia's side.
They both stare into the darkness.
JULIA
Why can't we be honest with each other?
She turns to face Adam.
ADAM
We're not hiding things from each other Julia. We
just have secrets that we can't dispel. I know
your are holding back, but so am I.
He kisses her forehead.
ADAM
(continuing)
When we're ready to lay everything on the line,
we'll know.
They kiss.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. JULIA'S BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Julia sneaks out of bed. She slips into her Sprite costume, and
climbs out of the window.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. JULIA'S BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Adam gets up. He goes over to his overnight bag. He pulls out and
puts on his Mutineer costume. He too exits out of the window.
CUT TO:
EXT. TRAIN STATION - MIDNIGHT
Some petty thugs are beating up a guy on the side of the track. They
hold his head perilously close to the edge.
LEAD THUG
You want to give us the money.
SCARED GUY
I gave you everything I had.
The lead thug snarls.
LEAD THUG
Electrocute him boys.
The lead thug shuts up…
… when he has the metal instrument scraped across his stomach.
Indeed, he cowers in fear…
… as Sprite appears.
SPRITE
Little shit.
She is instantly tackled by the other two thugs. She tries to fight
off, but they are vicious little sods.
They hammer her relentlessly. She scores some solid blows, but no
dominating ones.
The lead thug grabs the metal instrument. He walks over. The other
thugs hold a prone Sprite.
LEAD THUG
Any last words?
Sprite spits at him.
SPRITE
Go to hell.
The lead thug pulls the metal instrument back. He is about to strike,
likely killing Sprite, when...
... Mutineer leaps into view. He kicks the lead thug across the
platform. The lead thug slams off a wall, dropping the instrument.
Sprite overpowers the two thugs holding her. The first one sees his
eye busted with an elbow.
The second is kicked in the nads. While he bends over, Sprite grabs
him by the collar.
Sprite throws the poor guy back first onto the floor. The thugs
recuperate, and dart off.
Sprite picks up her instrument. She twirls it, while noticing
Mutineer. She smiles.
SPRITE
(continuing)
Well if it isn't the rebel himself.
MUTINEER
Hi soft drink.
Long beat.
Mutineer runs past Sprite, stealing the metal instrument. He paces
into the distance.
MUTINEER
(continuing)
Catch me if you can.
Sprite doesn't think twice, and gives chase...
CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEY - MOMENTS LATER
Mutineer darts down an alley, quickly followed by Sprite. He ducks up
some ladders. She follows...
CUT TO:
EXT. ROOFTOP - MOMENTS LATER
Mutineer climbs on the roof. He runs over to a wall. Mutineer sits on
it, and waits for Sprite.
She gets up there. Spotting the cocky Mutineer, she keeps a distance.
SPRITE
You must think you are real clever... huh Mr
Superhero.
Mutineer smiles.
MUTINEER
No, just fearless.
Mutineer spin jumps off the wall. He runs with a real fury over to
the roof edge.
Mutineer dives over the edge.
Sprite runs to see where he ends up. She looks down, and sees...
CUT TO:
EXT. SIDE OF BUILDING - CONTINUOUS
... Mutineer diving down the side. He latches onto a pole of some
sort, and flicks himself up to the next rooftop.
EXT. ROOFTOP - CONTINUOUS
Sprite smiles.
SPRITE
Impressive. But I got that beat.
She rubs her hands.
Taking a huge run up, she runs to the edge of the roof. Reaching the
edge, she forms a torpedo shape ala Trinity.
CUT TO:
EXT. ADJOINING ROOFTOP - CONTINUOUS
Sprite approaches the shorter rooftop. She rolls to safety. Coming to
a halt just in front of Mutineer.
MUTINEER
Not bad...
He pulls her mask over her eyes.
MUTINEER
(continuing)
... for an amateur.
Mutineer laughs.
Sprite pulls the costume from over her eyes. She lets out a bravado
laugh - indicating two can play at this game.
SPRITE
So I'm an amateur...
She leaps into the air. Approaching Mutineer, she does a forward
flip. Grabbing hold of the metal instrument, she flips onto her feet.
Half turn, to Mutineer.
SPRITE
(continuing)
... yet I have the gold.
She runs off.
Mutineer stays where he is, waiting for something.
SPRITE
Follow me.
Mutineer doesn't need to be asked twice. He follows Sprite like a man
on a mission.
CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEY - SAME TIME
Icero is in the alley on a bike. He looks at Mutineer and Sprite
though a special lens.
ICERO
No one finds Icero.
He snarls.
ICERO
(continuing)
I find them.
He revs up the bike.
ICERO
(continuing)
Time to play.
CUT TO:
EXT. PARK - DUSK
[Song playing is Always by Saliva]
Sprite and Mutineer, the hero and heroine of our little piece, stand
in the centre of the park.
Rain cascades down from the sky, illuminating them.
Sprite takes her hand, and places it on Mutineer's mask. She gently
feels her way down. Mutineer takes his arm, and caresses her
shoulder.
This is a touching moment. Despite not knowing who the other is under
the mask, these two heroes have fallen in love once again.
MUTINEER
I never want to leave you.
SPRITE
Then don't.
MUTINEER
There are things about me you don't know.
SPRITE
I don't love your thoughts. I love you. Whoever
you are, whatever you've done is irrelevant.
Through his mask Mutineer smiles. Sprite leans in, tentatively.
Mutineer follows.
They kiss. It's magical. An instant buzz passes between them.
After what seems like an eternity [the good kind folks] they part.
There is a comfortable silence, through which both laugh nervously.
It suddenly turns serious,
MUTINEER
You understand that I can never tell you who I
am, don't you?
SPRITE
Yes. Because I am in the same predicament.
She touches his mask. Mutineer budges back. Sprite hangs on. She
touches his lips gently.
SPRITE
I respect your privacy. I just want to see your
eyes.
Mutineer looks unconvinced.
MUTINEER
I can't.
He offers no resistance as Sprite slowly pulls up his mask. The mouth
is revealed. As is the nose.
She's slowly edging her way up shortly, she will know that Mutineer
is her boyfriend Adam.
Sprite convulses, her hands slipping off the mask. She jolts upright.
Her face is open in silent protest. She slumps to the floor.
Mutineer looks at her, horror in his eyes. He turns round, and
sees...
A BLOCK OF ICE...
It slams into his head, crashing open on impact. Mutineer is sent
reeling. He has particles of ice scattered around his eyes.
He opens them after a struggle. Looking at Sprite, he sees she has an
icicle sticking out of her back.
That can mean only person. Mutineer looks up, and sees...
ICERO...
The self-proclaimed ice assassin rests on a rooftop. He creates
another icicle in his hands.
Extends it. Takes aim. Throws it. His eyes are locked on Mutineer. He
smiles, sadistically.
ICERO
See you in hell.
The icicle flies towards Mutineer. His eyes are fixated on it. It
comes closer.
At the last second, Mutineer pulls out his trump card. As all heroes
do, Mutineer has a special weapon. In this case, a brass glove.
Mutineer cocks his fist back. The icicle gets closer. Mutineer slams
his fist forward...
... bang...
... he smashes the icicle into a thousand pieces.
Icero sneers.
ICERO
You'll pay for that you bastard.
Icero runs across the rooftop. He leaps to several smaller ones, in
the hope of fighting this pest. Icero hates being foiled.
Mutineer grabs Sprite, and moves her to the side. He pulls out the
icicle.
Sprite starts breathing heavily. Blood forms on her back. She is in
agonizing pain.
Sprite groans in agony.
AAAHHH.
Mutineer takes her by the hand.
MUTINEER
I have to fight the bad guy. I know you'd love
to, but you are in no position to fight. I'll be
back real soon.
Mutineer gets up. Sprite shuts her eyes, and grits her teeth. The
look in Mutineer's eyes says it all. He's going to kicks Icero's cold
ass.
Icero jumps down to the ground. He throws some ice pellets down. Once
the ground is frozen, Icero calmly walks across it.
He is a master of Ice.
His plan is to cause Mutineer to slip, enabling him to finish the
nuisance off.
Mutineer appears. He doesn't slip. He walks straight towards Icero.
As the two guys walk to their mutual destination, they engage in a
little banter.
When the talk ends, the fighting begins.
MUTINEER
You tried to kill her. I can't allow that.
ICERO
I don't recall asking for your permission.
MUTINEER
Who sent you?
ICERO
Think I'm going to let that out. Actually, I
don't care. They call him the Big Boss.
[no answer]
I take it you've heard of him.
MUTINEER
As an urban myth, maybe.
ICERO
Wake up. I don't think a guy like that's a myth.
I'm a myth.
MUTINEER
Why is that?
ICERO
Because they need people like you, to make sure
people like me cease to exist.
MUTINEER
You're insane.
ICERO
Did they tell you what I do to people who call me
insane?
MUTINEER
Supervillain weekly neglected to publish that
article.
Icero stares at Mutineer, deadly intent locked in his eyes.
ICERO
I FREEZE THEM.
MUTINEER
Well, did they tell you, what I do to people who
harm the people I love?
ICERO
No.
MUTINEER
I make them suffer.
Icero waves his arms in mock fear. He dances around like a boxer. He
can take this chump.
There is no doubt in Icero's eyes. So he missed. Next time, he won't
miss. He dares Mutineer to hit him.
ICERO
Come on. Hit me. I dare you.
He taunts Mutineer. This isn't wise. Mutineer is getting mad. He
turns his head. Icero does something that you should never do.
ICERO
I bet that bitch of yours would.
As soon as he finishes, Icero is caught with a blow to the temple. He
is sent flying backwards a good 10 feet.
He lands hard on the ice. It cracks. Icero rubs his head. He leaps to
his feet. He cracks his skull.
ICERO
Lets play.
He runs towards Mutineer.
MUTINEER
I don't play. I win.
The two men lock horns. They engage in the most brutal fight ever on
film. We're talking non-stop beating.
Both guys take a tremendous pounding. But, we need something to
surpass this, so it ends as quick as it begins.
Icero, sensing he's not going to win this time, blinds Mutineer with
a blast of concentrated ice to the face.
As Mutineer rubs his eyes clean, Icero throws an ice-pellet onto the
ice. It explodes.
Mutineer falls through the ice, into the sub-zero temperature. Icero
speeds away.
He laughs as he does so. He knows he hasn't won, but next time he'll
have the advantage.
ICERO
Next time, I won't leave you to chance.
Icero runs off. Mutineer flails about underneath the water. He
struggles for air.
Having powers of recuperation enables him to survive longer than a
normal human. Even so, time is running out.
Mutineer eventually rises up. The only problem is that he is nowhere
near the hole he fell through.
Mutineer solves this by hitting the ice above him as hard as he can.
Mutineer pounds the ice, not noticing the pain it causes.
Mutineer rises up through defeated ice, albeit after a long beat. He
gasps for air on the surface.
You'd expect him to wait a really long time, but Mutineer knows he
has to help Sprite.
He runs over, but she is gone. All that is left is a pile of wet
blood. Mutineer looks around for her.
He hopes she makes it safely away.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROAD - DUSK
Sprite staggers onto the road. She holds her chest tightly. The
icicle damn near popped out the other side.
She hopes Mutineer is doing okay. She nearly collapses, but manages
to stay on her feet.
She finally falls down, unable to walk any further. It as this point
that a black limo comes screaming around.
Two big bodyguards get out. They pick Sprite up, and place her in the
back.
They climb in. The limo speeds off. On the back license plate is the
personalized letters "Big Boss".
The car belongs to the infamous crime boss. It drives off into the
distance, out of sight.
CUT TO:
EXT. BACK ALLEY - DUSK
Mutineer leaps off a rooftop, landing in a dumpster. He pulls himself
out. Dusts himself off.
Runs. Latches onto a ladder. Pulls himself up. Climbs up. Sprints up
some flights of stairs. Four in total.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROOFTOP - DUSK
Reaches the rooftop. Climbs up onto a wall just above the indoor
flats. Pulls out some copper wire.
Attaches it to an electricity cable. Says a quick prayer. Then throws
his feet up in the air.
Mutineer slides down the cable. He glides through for a long time.
CUT TO:
EXT. ADJOINING ROOFTOP – DUSK
He reaches his destination, an adjoining rooftop.
Mutineer throws himself to the ground, uncoiling his wire. He does a
roll to avoid injury.
Adam walks over to a wall. He looks, making sure no one is looking.
He may be on a rooftop, but you can never be too careful.
He taps up, then down left, then down right. It forms a triangle
shape.
Click. The wall reveals a cunningly hidden door. Adam opens it. He
enters. The door shuts behind him.
It reverts back to its dull wall colour.
CUT TO:
INT. KOVAC HOUSEHOLD
Adam enters. The upper floor of the house is big. He walks through.
It has a suitably pre-modern slant.
It resembles a more humane version of Batman's from the Tim Burton
versions.
Adam walks straight through. He enters the bathroom suite. He shuts
the door.
CUT TO:
INT. BATHROOM
Adam takes a shower. He washes the blood off. He has numerous wounds
on his body. The fresh wounds are a direct result of his fight with
Icero.
I don't know what wounds he has yet. They will be identified during
filming.
He also has older wounds. Lots of them.
They are nasty. You got lacerations, stitches, bullet wounds, knife
wounds, massive bruises, and lumps.
They stretch throughout his entire body.
Adam is soaked with cold water. He used to have a mixture between hot
and warm, but has lately turnt to cold.
It helps him to focus his energies, and revitalize his energy supply.
Adam washes his face.
Something stirs inside his mouth. Adam puts a finger in. He pulls out
a tooth. It is dripping with fresh blood.
Adam drops it to the shower floor. It quickly becomes submerged in
cold water.
Adam exits the shower. As he does so, he turns the showerhead off.
The tooth is sucked down the drain with the last remaining fiscal of
water.
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM [INSOMNIAC MONTAGE SEQUENCE]- NIGHT
Adam reads a book... he paces around... he stitches up his fresh
wounds... he punches the wall in anger...
... Adam puts his hand in ice... Adam reads some letters... Adam
looks at the day's newspaper headlines...
... Adam checks over some dossiers pertaining to a client... Adam
stares at the lights...
... Adam gradually falls into a state of unconsciousness...
There is a heavy tick, tock from the clock. Moving closer, we see
that the time is 4am. Adam is off in the land of dreamers.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. BEDROOM - DAWN
The clock reaches 6am. The alarm goes off.
Adam bolts up like a flash. His eyes are open immediately. Despite
only two hours of sleep, Adam is ready to start a brand new day.
CUT TO:
EXT. CAFé – MORNING
Adam sits. He glances at his watch. He is waiting for Julia. She is
late. We know why. He has no clue.
The waitress comes over. She picks up Adam's empty coffee. She offers
him a flirty smile.
WAITRESS
Is everything okay?
ADAM
It's great. Can I have another cup?
WAITRESS
Sure.
She leaves. Adam looks at her nametag. Sandy Bridges. The name has a
ring to it. He decides to store it in his mind.
He doesn't know why. [I do, I plan on using her in a possible
sequel].
Adam waits for a while. Julia doesn't come. He tries ringing her
mobile. There is no answer.
Adam is about to get up and leave. But he doesn't. He doesn't,
because his old friend Carl Shaft shows up.
CARL
Hey Adam. Long time no see.
Carl takes a seat. Adam would mind, but he's used to this guy's
antics.
ADAM
How have you been Carl ?
CARL
Not bad. Missed you at the game the other night.
Adam clearly lies.
ADAM
I know. I had some work I had to do. You know how
it is.
CARL
[sage like]
Yep. I've had my fair share or problems.
ADAM
Fancy a cup of coffee.
CARL
Sure.
The waitress [Sandy] comes back over. She puts the cup down by Adam.
Before she leaves, he catches her arm.
Its gentle, almost welcoming.
ADAM
Could you get my friend a cup as well. You can
put it on my bill.
WAITRESS [SANDY]
Sure.
He releases the grip. She walks off. Carl looks after her. He beams.
He shoots Adam a 'she was fine' look. Adam laughs it off.
CARL
How do you do that?
Adam sips his coffee.
ADAM
I try to adopt a positive outlook on life. Women
like that.
CARL
If that's the case, then why am I always being
stiffed. I'm the bubbly comic support to your
conflicted lead.
ADAM
Now you know that's not true.
CARL
Just answer me this. Why aren't you getting her
number.
Adam looks up. He smiles. An 'I know something you don't know' kind
of smile.
ADAM
I have my reasons.
CARL
They better be damn good for passing up that.
The waitress sorts out an order for some completely different people.
Carl is obviously trying to hold in his physical attraction.
Adam does the same, but manages to look dignified about it.
ADAM
I'm seeing someone, its pretty serious.
Carl almost spits out his coffee.
CARL
Tell me it isn't the women from the Embassy Ball.
Adam taps his nose twice.
ADAM
You remember Julia don't you?
Carl looks dumbfound. Who is she? Adam plays it for all its worth.
CARL
The women from the Gordon Ball.
Carl looks happy and shocked.
CARL
Son of a bitch.
They high-five.
CARL
Man, she was hot. I woulda gone for her myself.
Cept I wanted you to take the spotlight.
ADAM
Thanks.
Carl looks cheery as hell. He feels he might be in with a shot at a
sister, friend or what not.
He turns to Adam. Adam shoots him down in flames.
ADAM
I'm not going to hook you up.
Carl looks disappointed. Puppy dog eyed.
CARL
Why not?
ADAM
I remember that thing with Susan Harris. She
hasn't spoken to me since.
Carl tries to think who she is.
CARL
Harris... Susan... Susan Harris... oh Yeah. THAT
WAS 3 YEARS AGO FOR PETE'S SAKE.
Both guys laugh. They haven't talked about the good old days like
this in a while.
ADAM
Life isn't that simple is it?
CARL
Nope, it sure isn't.
They share a moment of mutual understanding, yet divided thoughts.
For Carl , these are the normal troublesome secondary school moments.
For Adam, these involve the whole superhero thing.
ADAM
We should hang out. Just the two of us.
Carl agrees with a laugh.
CARL
Say a time and I'll be there.
ADAM
How about... Tuesday. We'll catch a film.
CARL
Great.
Adam gets up. The guys shake hands. Adam leaves. Carl sits there,
twiddling his thumbs.
The waitress comes back over. She puts the two cups of coffee down.
She shoots Carl a friendly smile, nowhere near as flirty as Adam's.
WAITRESS
That'll be [price of coffee].
Carl smiles dolefully. He pays her. [I'm not up on coffee prices].
She leaves.
He watches her go. He laughs to himself. I'm going to get him Carl
thinks to himself. He drinks both coffees.
CUT TO:
INT. GORDON EDGE INC - DAY
[Song playing is Turn Me On Mr Deadman.]
Charles Gordon, mid 40s, walks through his offices. Heavies flank
him.
He has the sort of menacing presence that could Tame a Shrew.
Wherever he goes, you can bet he'll end up kissing babies, cashing
cheques, and breaking necks.
He walks into his office.
CUT TO:
INT. GORDON EDGE INC, CHARLES G0RDOM'S OFFICE
In his office he finds Icero. Icero looks peeved. In his hands he
holds an icicle.
He splits it in two, in the blink of an eye. Throughout this
conversation, he keeps his eyes sideways.
ICERO
Where's the girl?
CHARLES
Which girl?
ICERO
Quack, quack, oops.
Icero throws the first icicle. It slams through the neck of Heavy
number one. He is impaled against the wall.
Charles holds Heavy two back.
ICERO
Where is Sprite?
CHARLES
Who is Sprite?
ICERO
Sorry Marlon, you coulda been a contender.
Icero throws the second icicle. It slams through the chest of Heavy
number two. He keels over, dead.
Charles stands there, confident.
This doesn't bother him. He walks over to the wall, grabbing a bottle
of Scotch.
ICERO
You'll be next.
Charles smirks. Icero looks disturbed. Why is this guy smiling? He
must have a death wish.
Icero makes a third icicle. Charles pours himself some Scotch. He
takes a sip. Oh yeah, that tastes good.
CHARLES
I think not. Besides, why should I care about
them. Heavies are by their very definition
expendable. I didn't even know their names.
Icero looks shocked for a second, and then replaces the agape mouth
with a smirk.
ICERO
They told me you were a sadistic guy. I guess you
have to see it for yourself to truly get it.
Beat.
ICERO
Where's the girl?
Charles sighs. He downs his Scotch. Turning, he faces Icero.
CHARLES
The assignment has changed.
ICERO
What?
CHARLES
You are not to touch this, Sprite.
Icero stands up.
He's about ready to park this fat boy on an icicle
ICERO
Why not?
CHARLES
Because I have a new prey for you.
Icero sits down. He's intrigued.
ICERO
I'm listening.
CHARLES
Name's Mutineer.
Icero lights up.
ICERO
That's funny.
CHARLES
Why?
ICERO
I'll do him for free.
CHARLES
For what reason?
ICERO
Sometimes its business. Its for the money. Him,
its personal.
CHARLES
How's that?
ICERO
He owes me a life debt. I intend to cash it in.
Charles laughs.
CHARLES
Very well. You can do it for free.
Icero stands up.
ICERO
There's one catch. I want Sprite. I failed to
kill her. And I never fail a job.
Charles sighs.
CHARLES
Very well. She'll be at the Burlington Hotel, 7pm
onwards.
ICERO
So she is here. Wait, how did you…?
Charles lifts up his sleeve. There is a needle filled with a green
substance.
It is Morphine. He drugged this information from her. Icero lets out
a hearty laugh.
ICERO
A man after my own heart. I can see we'll be
working together again real soon.
Icero leaves. Charles smile turns to a frown. He doesn't trust this
guy. Charles focuses on the heavies.
He scowls. Charles makes a call.
CHARLES
Jerome. Send up the cleaner.
Charles hangs up. What isn't in the film, but is on my mind, is the
cleaner.
This guy is in a name, Jean Reno. If we can get him, he'll have a
little cameo. If not, we'll ditch the entire idea.
CUT TO:
EXT. BURLINGTON HOTEL - DUSK
A grand hotel. Big in size and stature. Limo's pull up outside.
Valets park cars.
The neon sign flashes an illuminating shade of blue.
CUT TO:
INT. RECEPTION
The reception area is filled to the brim with patrons. They scowl at
bus boys and bellhops who keep screwing up.
Hotel porters try to defuse the situations, to a lack of avail.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM 101
The shower is running. Hung up in the corner is Julia's Sprite
costume. The shower stops.
Out of the bathroom walks Julia, clad only in a towel. [STOP
PERVING].
She eases through her hair with a brush.
There comes a knock at the door. Julia waits a beat. If it's
important, they'll knock again. And... there it is.
More knocking.
Julia walks over. She opens the door, to find....
... Adam, clad in a tux. He has some flowers in his hands. He passes
them. Roses.
Julia sniffs. She likes. She lets Adam into the room.
He shuts the door.
JULIA
I'm just getting ready. Give me a sec to slip
into something more comfortable.
Adam walks round the room, while Julia walks into the bathroom to
change.
Adam does the typical guy thing to checking out what's what. As the
room is temporary, he doesn't find too much.
JULIA OC
So how are you?
ADAM
Fine.
Beat.
ADAM
(continuing)
I missed you at the cafe. Where were you?
INT. SHOWER
We only see her feet, honest. All the action we shoot is her feet.
Water steams up the bathroom.
JULIA OC
I don't know.
In the floor tiles we can see what happened to her. But it's all
excerpts from. The effect is kinda like watching Memento while on
pot.
JULIA OC
It seems to have slipped my mind.
There is no answer.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM 101
Adam's eyes are focused on Sprite's costume. There is a split second
where it puzzles him. Why is it there?
Then it comes to him. The magic feeling on the roof. The connection
with Sprite.
Sprite... is... Julia.
Normal guys would probably be knocked for six. Adam would be, but:
A] He isn't normal.
B] He's a bloody superhero.
Instead he smiles. Julia walks out of the bathroom, wearing a flowing
dress. [I'll specify the exact colour with the actress].
She has a reserved look on her face. Adam looks flabbergasted.
ADAM
You look amazing.
JULIA
So do you.
They move closer. Closer, until they almost touch. Then, because they
are in love, they kiss.
It's the same as on the rooftop. Except now they can enjoy it.
There's none of that mask to skin discomfort.
Adam breaks away. He moves to the wall. Julia looks worried.
What has she done? She hasn't worked out what he knows quite yet.
JULIA
What is it Adam?
He looks at her with soulful eyes. Yet, he tilts them ever so
slightly to the left.
He's almost giving her directions. Julia moves her eyes as well. She
looks where Adam looks. She sees what he sees...
SPRITE'S COSTUME
Hanging on the wall. Julia freezes. Shit, busted. What the hell is
she going to do? Julia nervously smiles.
JULIA
Adam... uh... I can explain... uh... I... uh...
its not my costume... its... uh... a frame...
someone at the office must have planted it... for
a joke... yeah, that's it.
Long beat.
Adam stares a hole through her. Julia gulps.
Is the jig up? Can our two love struck heroes overcome this seemingly
immountable obstacle?
Adam smiles. He extends his hand.
This catches Julia completely off guard.
ADAM
I'm Adam Kovac. AKA Mutineer.
With his free hand, he unbuttons his shirt. Each button unbuttoned
reveals a dab of Mutineer's costume.
He does this until he reaches the LARGE M.
Julia slumps back. She didn't expect him to find her secret out. Now
she's gotta contend with his.
This is some twisted twilight zone shit.
JULIA
Julia Sandsworth. AKA Sprite.
She extends her hand. They shake. There is still an air of
nervousness.
ADAM
I think we need to talk.
JULIA
Me too.
With that, we wrap up this little scene. Thank you guys, you have
made
my fantasy come through.
When we return from the cut, we'll show a little more of what I like
to call 'SUPERHERO EXPOSITION 101'.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM 101 - LATER
Adam paces round. He is telling his part of the story. As it
progresses, we see Adam change.
His happy-go-lucky stance disappears. He becomes immersed in the
story of how he became a superhero.
ADAM
A long time ago, I was involved in an accident. I
crossed the road after school, I was only 16.
CUT TO:
EXT. FLASHBACK
Adam, 16, crosses the road. He doesn't look where he is going. A
truck speeds round the corner.
On the back it is revealed to be a toxic waste truck. It slams into
the curb.
A container of toxic waste spills out.
Adam turns round. He sees it flying towards him. He covers his eyes
with his arm.
The toxic waste burns Adam's arm. It goes onto level skin, tearing
through fabric with a vengeance.
We travel through Adam's arm. We see the toxic waste merge with his
DNA.
Inexplicably, it forms a perfect balance. The atoms combine.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM 101 - PRESENT
ADAM
Somehow, the atoms in the toxic waste formed a
perfect balance with my atoms. They mixed to give
me things no-one else had. I developed speed,
stamina, strength.
CUT TO:
INT. FLASHBACK
Adam works out at the gym... Adam runs track... Adam does a load of
press-ups...
Adam works at the gym harder... Adam runs faster... Adam does more
press-ups... Adam reaches unparallel levels at all three...
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM 101 - PRESENT
ADAM
But with these came a price.
CUT TO:
EXT/INT. FLASHBACK
Adam walks home one night. He sees the police outside his house. He
enters.
The police are standing around. Two bodies are zipped up. They are
Adam's mother and father.
Adam is held back by police.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM 101 - PRESENT
ADAM
It was at this point that I fully became aware of
who I was. Before then I had always been too
wrapped up in my adolescent angst.
CUT TO:
EXT/INT. FLASHBACK
A petty thug steals some old ladies purse. Adam sees this from the
off license. He looks mad. Adam runs out.
He chases the thug down the street. Adam is too fast for the thug.
The thug turns into a warehouse.
ADAM VO
I vowed to stop slime from doing that to anyone
else. By any means necessary. I took a job as a
Private Detective. But sometimes you couldn't
nail these guys with evidence. They needed to be
stopped with blood.
Adam dodges gunshots. The thug runs out of money. Adam disarms him.
Adam takes the purse.
The thug pulls out a knife. He stabs Adam. Adam grits his teeth
through it. He hits the thug in the throat.
The thug gargles over. He drops to the floor, dead.
ADAM VO
Were my methods extreme? I'd say so. Unjustified.
I'd say not. If hate breeds hate, my loathing is
going to breed World War Three.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM 101 - PRESENT
Adam looks horrified.
ADAM
I decided to be one of the good guys. But there
are days in which I doubt myself. What is good
these days anyway?
Julia walks over. She gently takes Adam by the hand. There is hope in
her eyes.
JULIA
You are good.
He takes her hand in his.
ADAM
Thanks.
They stare into each other's eyes. Suddenly, something clicks inside
Adam.
ADAM
Let me see it.
JULIA
See what?
ADAM
The wound.
Julia understands. She turns round, letting Adam see her back. He
unzips her dress, until he can see it.
There it is.
A massive scar.
ADAM
Jesus. How did you cope?
He zips it back up. Julia walks across the room. Its time for her
story.
JULIA
I don't have superpowers.
CUT TO:
INT. FLASHBACK
Julia walks into her mansion. It's in the not too distant past. She
hears nothing. Suddenly there is a crash. A thug runs down the
stairs.
He runs towards Julia. Bang.
He knocks her to the ground. He shoots her a 'stay down bitch' look.
He leaves.
JULIA VO
I'm vulnerable to pain. When my mother died, it
hurt me.
CUT T0:
INT. FLASHBACK
INT. FLASHBACK
Julia's dad, Warren, comforts her. He pulls her up. She is sparring
with some guy.
JULIA VO
He taught me a powerful lesson. Those who don't
fight can still be victims.
Julia gets better. She spars with this guy. We switch to a kickboxing
match.
Julia kicks his ass. The poor guy doesn't know what hits him. He's
floored with a brutal kick. He goes down.
JULIA VO
So I learnt how to defend myself.
CUT TO:
INT. FLASHBACK
Julia is blocking blows from an assailant. Soon she is having her
blows blocked.
The two have an impromptu contest. It is teaching Julia that the best
offence is sometimes a strong defence.
JULIA VO
He also taught me how to counter armed
assailants.
INT. FLASHBACK
A guy runs at Julia with a sword. She ducks left... right... left...
right. The guy is unable to get a blow. Julia flips over a swing.
She grabs a metal plate. Julia blocks all the blows. She knocks the
sword away. Julia holds the plate from the guy's neck.
JULIA VO
And to he prolific with a tiny blade he
christened Lichenza.
CUT TO:
INT. FLASHBACK
The tiny blade, Lichenza, rests in Julia's hands. She spins it round.
She stabs and ducks.
Several feathered sacks pop down and up. Julia rips through each of
them. The final one is in the corner.
Julia throws the Lichenza.
It impales the sack.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM 101 – PRESENT
Julia gets a sad glint in her eye. The story is going to end in
sorrow.
JULIA
But that doesn't explain Icero.
CUT TO:
INT. FLASHBACK
Julia's mansion. She sleeps in her bed. A noise awakens her. She
climbs out.
She hears shouting downstairs. Then a scream. Julia rushes down to
investigate. She finds her father lying on the ground.
He has an icicle digging out of his heart. Julia looks at the window.
It is lined with ice… the calling mark of Icero.
Julia watches as her father passes away.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM 101 - PRESENT
JULIA
I wonder whether a normal couple would divulge
these secrets.
Adam kisses her hand.
ADAM
We're not a normal couple.
They both smile. Adam gently rubs her hand. He worries for her
safety,
ADAM
I know your tough, but he will never let up. At
least wait until you've fully recuperated.
Julia looks at him. Her eyes have already decided. He can't persuade
her.
She is going to fight Icero.
The more he fights, the more she'll fight.
JULIA
I'm sorry Adam. But I have to do this.
She gets up. She was going to spend the evening with him, but she has
to avenge her father's death.
Julia goes into the bathroom to change. Before she does so, she
gently caresses Adam's face, and briefly kisses him.
Adam is left in the room. He gets off the bed. He looks like he's
going to kill someone, anyone.
He refuses to shed a tear. Adam walks out. He slams the door.
CUT TO:
INT. ICE RINK
A hockey trial session is in progress. The two manages watch on, as
big guys pound the crap out of little guys, and vice versa.
The seats are empty. This doesn't stop Icero appearing at the top. He
walks down.
He must walk down about 300 steps. He doesn't tire one bit, driven on
by the ice running through his veins.
He reaches the glass. It won't open. Icero snarls. He wrenches his
head.
He headbutts the glass. It shatters. A large laceration appears on
Icero's head.
He shakes it off. Icero walks through the glass.
The hockey trial session has stopped. Everyone turns to look at
Icero.
They have confused looks on their faces.
Who the hell is this guy? is the common phrase.
Icero walks across the rink to them.
ICERO
Allow me to introduce myself. I am Icero. That is
my first, and my last name. Anyone who makes a
joke about it will die a very painful death. But, I
don't come here to kill. I came here for information.
You see, I don't live in Aylesbury. In my eyes it's a
squalid hellhole. Yet I go where there is work. Now,
what I need to know is, where the hell is the
Burlington Hotel.
No answer.
ICERO
Do you people need an incentive? Very well.
Icero creates an icicle. He throws it at the manager's hand. It slams
right through.
The manager screams in pain. If the icicle didn't melt, he'd probably
never stop.
ICERO
That was a warning. Next time, It'll be the
knees, guts, and other areas which precede a
lengthy death.
Icero doesn't notice the hockey player who has sneaked up behind him.
This is because
Icero focuses momentary thought on creating an icepack for his head.
Icero uses this to freeze the wound over.
HOCKEY PLAYER
Hey freak show.
Icero turns round. He regrets this.
A blow from the guy's hockey stick awaits him.
Icero reels back. He snaps his head back forward.
Icero snarls.
ICERO
Lets play.
He creates 6 mini icicles. Icero throws the first 2 through the
hockey player's knee padding.
The hockey player screams in pain.
The next 2 go through his shoulders. This causes more screams.
Icero walks towards the hockey player, who is now minus a stick.
Icero grabs the 2 icicles, and merges them into one.
He slams them through the hockey player's chest.
The hockey player begins coughing up blood.
Icero creates a final icicle. He is about to slam it through the
hockey player's neck.
The hockey player gurgles some blood.
HOCKEY PLAYER
Don't.
ICERO
What's the magic word?
HOCKEY PLAYER
[struggling]
Please.
ICERO
Beggars can't be choosers.
He slams the icicle into the hockey player's head.
Icero walks over to the manager he earlier attacked. Icero grabs him
by the neck.
He slams the manager roughly into the glass. It cracks. The manager
panics. Everyone else promptly leaves.
ICERO
Tell me what I want to know.
MANAGER
Its two blocks from here. You can't miss it.
ICERO
Good.
He creates an icicle. The manager starts to fret. He doesn't want to
die.
MANAGER
You said you wouldn't.
ICERO
No I didn't.
He kills the manager with a blow to the heart.
Icero sneers as he leaves.
He cracks the ice plaster with his knuckles. The wound has gone, just
like Icero.
CUT TO:
INT. LIMO, MOVING
Charles Gordon's personal limo, as seen when he rescued [dependant on
your definition of the word] Sprite.
He is in there on his lonesome. He smokes a big fat Cuban cigar.
Charles knows the good life.
He taps twice on the tinted glass directly in front of him. It winds
down. The driver is revealed.
He's a nervous character. He is visibly shaking.
DRIVER
Yes Mr Gordon.
CHARLES
Stop here.
DRIVER
Yes sir.
Not wanting to infuriate Mr Gordon, the driver finds a place to park.
Charles opens the window.
He puts some of his cigar end onto the sidewalk.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - DUSK
Charles gets out of the car. Some neighbourhood kids look at the car.
They are dressed in the latest musical fashion.
It won't be nu-metal, but we're going to pretend it is. The kids look
at Charles in awe.
Charles looks down the sidewalk. To anyone else, it'd be a derelict
wasteland. To Charles it is home.
You see, Charles grew up here. He takes a good, long, hard sniff of
the air. He sighs peacefully.
Charles speaks, quietly, to himself.
CHARLES
I am home.
A big smile hits his face.
CHARLES
(continuing)
Sometimes I forget my roots, and who I am.
He turns to the driver.
CHARLES
(continuing)
Born and raised here. This is the place I call
home. I can sit in my big office all day,
plotting the future of this town. But sometimes I
need to snap back into reality.
A little kid, no more than seven, looks up at Charles. His big eyes
are as wide open as humanly possible.
Charles kneels by him.
CHARLES
(continuing)
Whatever anyone tells you, never forget your
roots. Break out of here it you choose, but
always bring something back.
Charles gets up, and walks off. He is satisfied that he has gotten
across to that kid.
The kid watches, awestruck, as Charles drives off.
CUT TO:
INT. LIMO, MOVING
Charles smokes another cigar.
DRIVER
Where to?
CHARLES
Gordon Edge Inc. I have a date with destiny.
CUT TO:
INT. RECEPTION
Icero walks up to the main desk. There are people in front of him.
Icero dispatches of them [one way or the other].
He rings the bell repeatedly. The agitated manager removes the bell,
and laughs.
HOTEL MANAGER
How may I help you sir?
ICERO
Where is Sprite?
HOTEL MANAGER
In the vending machine sir.
ICERO
Where is Julia Sandsworth?
HOTEL MANAGER
I can't tell you that.
ICERO
Why not?
HOTEL MANAGER
It's against hotel policy.
ICERO
Oh I see.
His hands disappear. We know what he is doing. The manager has no
idea.
True to form, Icero's hands pop back up.
He carries a huge icicle, placing it centimetres from the manager's
neck.
The manager predictably wets himself, as would us all.
ICERO
Tell me or I'll give this town the best slit
throat its had in years.
HOTEL MANAGER
Room 101.
Icero thinks about stabbing the manager. He decides against it. The
manager composes himself.
Ah what the hell. Icero impales the manager throat first against the
wall.
Why break a perfect record.
CUT TO:
INT. CORRIDOR
Adam walks down the corridor. His tie hangs out, collar undone. He
looks peeved at Julia's decision.
No sense being there for the aftermath. He's going to be a real nice
guy, and leave her on her own.
Except, he's not. He stops. Adam isn't going to follow her wishes.
He's going to go there, and make sure she comes to no harm.
Icero walks down the opposite end of the corridor. He scans each
room.
90...91...92...93...94...95...96...97...98...99...100...101..
Icero is about to knock on the door. He backs off when Adam arrives.
Adam knows who it is.
Icero offers an evil smile. Adam decides to play it cool.
ADAM
Wrong room?
ICERO
Nope. Got to pay Julia a little visit.
ADAM
What's your name?
ICERO
Icero. She'll know who it is.
ADAM
I'll tell her you're waiting.
Adam enters. Icero snarls. This chump is going to get impaled.
There's no reason.
Icero just hates these suit wearing preppy guys with a vengeance.
He'll give the guy 30 seconds. Then he's going to die along with that
twisty vixen.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM 101
Julia walks out, clad in her Sprite costume. She also has two
Lichenza's in her hands.
She twirls them like batons through her fingers, effortlessly
dropping those bad boys into specially designed holsters.
Julia looks startled to see Adam. She heard the door slam.
No, she thinks to herself.
He will not talk me out of this. Screw him. Then she sees Adam's
eyes.
They are filled with a sense of dread.
ADAM
Run.
JULIA/SPRITE
[baffled]
What?
ADAM
[top of voice]
RUN!!!
The door is blown open. Adam is sent flying against the wall.
He bounces off it like a Jordan slam-dunk bounces off glass [IE VERY
PAINFULLY].
Icero flicks up an icicle, and throws it through Adam's shoulder.
ICERO
Stay down bitch.
Hotel alarms blare around. Icero snarls. He likes snarling. It's his
private emotion.
Adam screams in pain. Julia puts her mask on. Icero sees this. He
laughs.
ICERO
I know who you are. So why don't you take the
mask off for me.
Icero walks over. Adam tries to break free. He fails. Icero
approaches Sprite.
He places his hand gently on her mask. He appears to be flirting with
her.
Sprite does nothing. Icero goes to lift the mask. Slash. Icero is
slit across the face with a Lichenza.
SPRITE
I don't think so.
Sprite knees Icero in the nose. We see it break, replete with a
resounding crack. Icero's eyes go watery. The water turns to icicles.
He snarls.
Icero grabs his nose. He pops it back into place. He snarls again.
This chick is frosties.
ICERO
Lets play.
Sprite looks at Adam. She mouths the words, I love you. Then Sprite
darts across the room.
Icero fires off half a dozen icicles. Sprite dodges each one. She
throws herself out of the window.
Icero walks over. He looks out. Sprite dusts herself off. She burns
rubber down the street.
If Icero wants her, he's going to have to chase. Icero snarls again.
He creates an icicle. He throws it…
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET – DUSK
We follow the icicle as it approaches Sprite. It's going to be a
perfect hit, a Bullseye.
No mortal can outpace a precision point icicle. Shit, I sure as hell
can't.
Come on baby... impale her.
NO...
It doesn't. Sprite performs a miraculous somersault over the icicle.
It ends up slamming into a tree, and becoming nothing. Sprite looks
up at Icero.
She smiles.
That the best you got.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM 101
Icicle takes a running start. He dives out of the window. But he has
his own way of avoiding injury.
In mid-air, he crafts an iceboard. Icero rides the iceboard in mid-
air, landing perfectly on the ground.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - DUSK
Sprite looks in horror. She's quick, but there's no way she can
outpace an iceboard.
Shit.
Icero snarls. He's got her where he wants her. He points at her. He
makes the death sign via his throat.
ICERO
Lets play.
Icero gathers up steam on his iceboard [I crack me up]. He slides
like a true professional.
Sprite is getting closer in sight. Icero doesn't feel like creating
an icicle.
He's going to kill her the mortal way.
Sprite tries her best, but this is a foregone conclusion. Icero is a
few inches way.
He readies his fist. She's going to get nailed. Sprite leaps into the
air, landing in the branches of a tree.
Icero slides a few feet in front, before turning round. She's made
him mad. [YOU DON'T MAKE ICERO MAD].
He creates an icicle. These games are getting tedious.
A shadow looms above Icero. He doesn't see it till it's too late...
...Sprite hits Icero with a leaping sidekick. Icero is sent hurtling
off the iceboard.
The iceboard flies, smashing against a wall. Icero staggers up. He
pops his joints back into place.
THIS CHICK IS GOING DOWN, he snarls.
Sprite throws her first Lichenza at Icero. He catches it, in his
hand.
The weapon goes through.
OR DOES IT.
Icero freezed his hand before impact.
The weapon hits the ice, forming a tiny crack, but nothing more.
Icero throws the Lichenza at Sprite.
She tries to move. She doesn't make it in time.
The blade slams through Sprite's hand. [I NEGLECTED TO MENTION THAT
ICERO IS A MASTER MARKSMEN].
She yells in pain. She rips it out.
Icero walks over.
Sprite tries to kick him.
Icero catches her leg. He waits a beat, snarling.
He swipes the other leg out.
Sprite hits hard.
Icero kneels beside her. He pulls out an icicle.
ICERO
Where do you want it?
SPRITE
In your head.
ICERO
Oops. You lose.
SPRITE
No. I win.
She kicks Icero full on in the leg.
Icero bowls over in pain.
Sprite gets up.
Coming on like a women possessed, she kicks the crap out of Icero.
Icero takes a beating that few will ever take.
At the end of it, Icero is lying on the floor. He is in agonizing
pain.
He looks dead. Eyes are glazed over, breathing erratic.
Sprite picks up her Lichenza, she's going to finish this.
She pulls it up. She's going to stab him. She brings it down.
OH, DENIED.
Icero created an icicle while she contemplated this. He slams it into
her thigh.
Sprite drops the Lichenza. Her mouth is open in silent protest.
Icero pops up. He snarls.
ICERO
I'm going to enjoy this.
CUT TO:
INT. R0OM 101
Adam manages to pull the icicle from his shoulder. He would scream in
pain, but the guys a hero.
Besides, he has to save the girl, and kick the bad guys ass.
What more could anyone want?
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - DUSK
Adam hobbles down the street. While he waits for his shoulder to
heal, he tightly puts his hand over it.
He can see Sprite and Icero.
He looks in horror.
ADAM
Julia.
She looks at him. Her eyes belie an "I'm sorry' look. She shuts them.
Icero slams an icicle into Sprite's chest.
She screams in pain.
ADAM
No.
The pain leaves his body. Filled with an intense rage, he sprints.
Icero sees him. He smiles. Not yet… not yet. Icero snarls.
ICERO
[loudly]
If you want a piece of me. I'm never too far
away.
Icero runs out of sight.
Adam runs, nay, bottles over to where Sprite is.
He takes off her mask.
She is on her last legs.
Adam holds her close.
ADAM
Please don't die on me.
Julia coughs. She opens her eyes, and looks up. Taking her hand, she
places it on Adam's face.
Adam knows she is going to die. He holds her hand tightly. He wants
to postpone it for as long as possible.
JULIA
I love you Adam.
He goes teary eyed.
ADAM
I love you too.
Her eyes close. Her pulse stops, along with her breathing. Julia
dies.
Adam holds her as close as he can.
A niggling thought resides in the back of his head.
Icero will pay in blood.
ADAM VO
When Sprite died. A part of me died. The part
that valued human life. Make no mistake about it.
My mourning process was going to give someone a
very bad day.
FADE OUT
FADE IN:
EXT. BACK ALLEY - DUSK
Two big guys push a lady around. They go for her purse. She won't let
them take it.
It isn't there's, they didn't pay for it. That is the sort of thing
you don't do to a morose looking pair of thugs.
One of them pulls out a flick knife. The other is less subtle. He
slaps her hard across the face.
The lady falls down, dropping the purse. The thug with the knife
walks over to her. He's going to enjoy this.
He doesn't even get the chance to go into specifics. His wrist is
grabbed, broken cleanly.
His nose is shattered with a right hook. He is knocked unconscious by
being thrown headfirst into the wall.
The other thug was looking through the purse. This little act of
extreme violence changed his mind.
The thug quickly pockets the purse, and pulls out a piece. He aims it
at the wall. Only his bloody accomplice is there.
THUG
Who's there?
A shadow moves by.
MUTINEER
You know who I am.
The thug is punched in the chest.
MUTINEER
You know what I can do.
The thug is kicked in the leg.
MUTINEER
But you've never seen me mad.
The thug is nailed in the back of the head.
MUTINEER
Thing is. I'm not just mad. I'm damn pissed off.
The thug is grabbed by the neck, and slammed hard into the wall. He
keeps hold of his gun.
Mutineer grabs the thug's hand. He twists it round unnaturally. The
hand is broken. The thug screams, and drops the gun.
MUTINEER
I'll take this.
Mutineer takes the purse. He throws it to the lady. He shoots her an
evil glance.
LADY
Thank you.
MUTINEER
I suggest you leave, else you might take that
sentiment back.
Confused, the lady darts out. Mutineer turns back to the thug.
Mutineer is punched full on in the face. He doesn't flinch one bit.
MUTINEER
Oh you picked the wrong day.
Mutineer uses his strength to throw the thug into the opposite wall.
The thug bounces off on his head.
Dazed, he slowly gets to his feet. Before he regains his composure,
Mutineer hits him in the face.
MUTINEER
You like picking on defenceless women.
Mutineer grabs the guy. He hits him again. This time with real
conviction.
MUTINEER
You slimy sack of shit.
Another punch.
MUTINEER
Answer my question.
He hits him again.
MUTINEER
Do you want to die?
He hits him again.
THUG
No.
Mutineer turns away.
MUTINEER
You aren't even worth my time.
He walks off. The thug crawls on all fours over to his gun. He picks
it up. He cocks it.
Mutineer turns round. His barrier has just been crossed.
MUTINEER
AAAAHHHH.
He runs at the thug. He kicks the gun a good 10 feet away. Mutineer
headbutts the thug, full on.
The thug's skull jolts back. He slips out of consciousnesses.
Mutineer doesn't let the thug down.
He wrenches back his fist. Mutineer hits the deadly blow.
There is silence. The thug lies on the ground, dead. Mutineer looks
undisturbed.
He stares down at the dead body. A smirk comes over his face.
MUTINEER
An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth.
He looks up at the heavens.
MUTINEER
Condemn me all you want. You took her from me. I
sent him downstairs in return.
[real empathy]
You don't have shit on me.
[solemn]
I used to believe in you. Then you took my parents.
Still I believed in you. I never doubted you for one
second. My parents dying was done for a reason.
It taught me how to help the less fortunate. But
I don't see any reason why you took her. She
didn't deserve to die. Now by taking her, you've
lost me. You may not think much of that, but rest
assured that the design of the wicked will never
sleep, and for what you have done to me, I will
never forgive you. [yelling] I HATE YOU.
Mutineer takes off his mask. Adam stares up at the heavens.
Rain comes down. It picks up in speed and intensity. Adam doesn't
move.
ADAM
You gave me a so-called blessing. But I am doomed
to walk this Earth with the curse that I can
never form human relationships. Now you bring
this rain, as what. A sign. A message. Why should
I listen to anything you have to say?
The rain turns to ice. It begins to come down harder and quicker.
Adam feels it slam into his head and body.
He looks at a small icicle on his hand. It starts to make sense.
He looks up, smiling.
ADAM
So this is your message to me.
He puts on the mask.
MUTINEER
You may work in mysterious ways. But I'm to the
point. Icero will pay, in blood.
Mutineer walks off.
The ice downfall stops.
The sun slowly comes out.
CUT TO:
CUT TO:
INT. GORDON EDGE INC, CHARLES GORDON'S OFFICE - TWILIGHT
There is only darkness.
Charles stands by the windows, staring out into the town. A huge
smile hits his face. He takes a few puffs of his cigar.
Lightning strikes.
Icero is reflected in the window. He is snarling. In his hand he
holds Sprite's fallen Lichenza.
Charles smirks, then turns.
CHARLES
It is done.
ICERO
Was there any doubt?
Charles walks over to his desk.
CHARLES
I suppose you want your reward.
He opens a drawer. Out comes a large briefcase full of cash.
Charles places it onto the desk.
He opens it.
Icero comes over to inspect it. He smiles, for the first time.
ICERO
Now that is what I call a reward.
Charles notices the Lichenza.
CHARLES
Who does that belong to?
Icero snarls.
ICERO
My brother.
Charles extends his hand.
CHARLES
So this is it.
Icero takes the gesture.
ICERO
I guess so.
They shake.
CHARLES
It was a dubious pleasure working with you.
ICERO
Ditto.
Icero picks up the briefcase, and walks out.
Charles sits down.
Remembering something, he calls over to Icero.
CHARLES
What about Mutineer?
Icero stops, half turns.
ICERO
He'll find me.
Icero spins the Lichenza in his fingers.
He leaves.
Charles sits there on his own, looking like a very happy cat.
CHARLES
I guess good things do happen to bad people.
He laughs, a jackals laugh. Evilness spurns on from every fibre of
his being.
CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEY - TWILIGHT
Lightning crackles.
Mutineer walks down the alley.
Mutineer looks like a demon vigilante.
In the BG plays the Foo Fighters One By One.
He walks through the small space between the buildings, never
faltering, never letting up.
He smells his prey.
MUTINEER
Icero.
Mutineer moves faster. His feet begin to pick up pace. Finally he
runs. Mutineer turns into a speed freak.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROOFTOP - TWILIGHT
Icero sits on the roof. He crunches some ice cubes. They are no match
for his desensitised dentures.
The briefcase is by him, lying precariously on the floor.
Icero continues to twirl the Lichenza in his hands.
ICERO
You can't hide forever. Why not face me like a
man?
Icero regrets this decision when he is nailed with a thunderous side
kick.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROOFTOP, SWIMMING POOL - SAME TIME
Icero is sent flying into the nearby swimming pool.
He struggles for breath.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROOFTOP - SAME TIME
Mutineer appears. His walks and mannerisms mirror those of the long
fabled 'Angel Of Death'.
He is never going to let up.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROOFTOP, SWIMMING POOL - SAME TIME
Icero jumps out of the pool.
As he clambers out, the water solidifies. It becomes pure ice.
Icero walks across it.
ICERO
(continuing)
Think that was funny you bastard.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROOFTOP
MUTINEER
I lost my sense of humour.
Icero throws the Lichenza. It soars through the air, aimed directly
at Mutineer's throat. It is inches away when...
... Mutineer catches it between his fingers. He pockets it. His face
has the look of a very angry man.
MUTINEER
(continuing)
You will know pain when this is done.
Icero looks genuinely scared. He shakes this off, and snarls.
No punk hero is going to get the better of him.
ICERO
Lets play.
MUTINEER
This is no game freak. This is reality. A world
that you can never beat me in.
Icero runs at Mutineer. He starts throwing punches with the speed of
a hurricane. Mutineer blocks and parries them all.
Icero swings like a boxer. Mutineer ducks from left to right. He
grabs
Icero's hand after an errant swing...
... and throws Icero headfirst into the ice.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROOFTOP, SWIMMING POOL - SAME TIME
Icero crashes through it. For a brief moment he is submerged in
water.
ICERO
[gurgling]
Nice trick.
He drags himself out.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROOFTOP - SAME TIME
Drying himself off, dripping ice cubes, he is hit full on in the
face.
Icero rolls backwards.
Mutineer punches Icero in the gut. Icero feels the brunt of the blow.
He bends over, in obvious agony.
Mutineer walks casually over. He lifts his knee into Icero's nose.
The sound of the nose breaking is excruciating.
ICERO
(continuing)
You no good son of a...
He never finishes the sentence. Mutineer swings his elbow round. He
knocks Icero silly with the ensuing blow.
Icero drops to the floor. He lies there face down, unconscious.
Mutineer stands a short distance away. He waits for Icero to get up.
This doesn't happen.
Mutineer slowly creeps over. He grabs Icero by the jacket collar. He
spins him round. Mutineer cocks his fist back.
He's going to finish this.
But he doesn't. Mutineer takes the mask off, revealing Adam. His face
is contorted with both internal/external pain.
ADAM
You're not worth my time.
He drops Icero down.
ADAM
(continuing)
I have bigger fish to fry.
Adam gets up. He begins to walk off. He's had enough of tackling
lackies, he's going to wrap things up.
An eye opens.
Icero blinks wildly. He cracks his neck. Getting up quietly, he makes
the biggest icicle possible.
ICERO
I'm going to enjoy this.
He throws it.
ICERO
(continuing)
See you in hell.
The icicle flies towards Adam's back. He slowly turns round. The
icicle edges closer.
Adam leaps over it.
Before Icero can comprehend what's happened, he jolts back with pain.
The Lichenza is implanted in his chest.
ADAM
That's your home. Not mine.
Icero looks at Adam with vacant eyes.
ADAM
(continuing)
That's for Julia.
Icero slowly staggers backwards. He nears the edge of the roof.
Adam looks on, unfazed.
Icero falls backwards...
EXT. ALLEY - TWILIGHT
... crashing into a dumpster.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROOFTOP - TWILIGHT
Adam walks over. He finds the briefcase. Adam pops it open. The money
isn't even worth admiring.
Adam throws the money out. In the corner of the briefcase is a note.
Adam picks it up. He inspects it.
It is from Charles Gordon, replete with an address. It details his
jubilation at Icero's work.
It ends with a contact place for a further job.
Adam crumples the note up. He pockets it. Adam puts the mask back on.
He's going to war.
CUT TO:
INT. GORDON EDGE INC, CHARLES GORDONS OFFICE - TWILIGHT
Security man the doors. Charles stands by his desk. He stares once
again out of the large windows overlooking the town.
Charles doesn't look around as the security are taken out. He can see
it in the windows reflections. Instead he does nothing.
One of the security men is thrown through the locked glass doors. He
falls by Charles's feet.
Charles sighs, then turns round.
Mutineer enters.
MUTINEER
Me and you, we gotta talk.
Charles smiles.
CHARLES
Take a seat.
Mutineer does nothing.
Charles takes a seat.
CHARLES
(continuing)
Cigar?
Mutineer still does nothing.
Charles shakes his head, and lights up. He takes a nice, long inhale,
followed by a casual exhale.
CHARLES
(continuing)
I take it Icero didn't finish you off.
Mutineer looks through Charles.
MUTINEER
I took the trash out.
Charles laughs.
CHARLES
You know, you and me are very much alike.
MUTINEER
No. I am nothing like you.
CHARLES
Oh really. I'm sorry, I must be confused. I
thought your name - least according to the
papers - was Mutineer Now, the Mutineer in the
papers is a real bad ass. He'll gladly beat a
criminal half to death to gauge a tiny titbit of
information. In fact, the papers say you beat a
petty thug to death in the alleys of our fair
town. Is this true?
Long beat. Mutineer nods.
MUTINEER
Yeah. So?
CHARLES
These people know you as Mutineer. They don't
know who you really are. By day you probably live
a completely separate life as a respectable
member of the community.
Mutineer grows restless.
MUTINEER
What are you getting at?
CHARLES
I am the same thing. People know me as Charles
Gordon, fair yet ruthless CEO of Gordon Edge Inc.
But by night I am the Big Boss. I run this town
in a cloud of darkness. I control both legitimate
and illegitimate means. Yet you look at me as if
I were the trash that we see populating shopping
centres begging for loose change. With contempt
that respectable citizens of society show to
those who perform petty crime. I am not petty, I
have lackeys who carry out that. I pay them to
restore chaos. After all, chaos brings
unspeakable prosperity.
MUTINEER
Why did you have them killed?
The mood turns sombre.
CHARLES
Why so coy? I mean, you did give me their
address... Adam.
The jig is up. Adam looks shocked. He takes off his mask slowly,
wanting to be sure its not a sick joke.
Long Beat.
CHARLES
(continuing)
I suspect you want to know how I knew. I believe
it burns in the pit of your stomach. A burning
that nothing could ever extinguish.
Adam looks angry/relieved that he doesn't have to put on the tough
guy facade.
ADAM
How did you know?
CHARLES
Your voice. I have met with you before. Besides,
you knew about their deaths, and the man who set
it up. Not all of that information was in the
Bucks Herald.
ADAM
Why did you do it?
Charles puts down the cigar.
CHARLES
We aren't carbon copies Adam. You kill, yet feel
remorse. I have evolved past that. I don't kill
for any great physical desire. My reasons are
simple. I kill for business. Mr Sandsworth was a
very rich man. He died because he dared to
attempt to muscle in on territory belonging to
me. That I cannot allow. So I had him killed. His
family were a different matter. Much like hunters
in the wild who kill the father and the cubs, I
choose to eliminate any chance of a distraught
relative or sibling baying for my blood in years
to come. It's genuinely referred to as 'Survival
Of The Fittest', or 'Social Darwinism'. Mr
Sandsworth died because he unfortunately did not
possess the thing that separates the men from the
boys.
Long beat.
ADAM
What's that?
Charles lean, smiling sickly.
CHARLES
The eye of the tiger.
Beat.
ADAM
You sound like Tony The Tiger.
CHARLES
Maybe the corporation was trying to impart some
knowledge into your simple mind. Mr Sandsworth
thought taking me on would only require balls of
steel relating to the business section. He never
thought I would do anything to keep the territory
I have built up over the years. That is why he,
and his family, fell.
Adam begins to get enraged. He thinks only of Julia. His face goes
red as beetroot.
ADAM
You killed Julia.
Charles sighs deeply.
CHARLES
Technically that was Icero, but I will accept
blame when it is just. Yes I did order her death,
but when Icero failed I ordered him to cease. I
even rescued the costumed minx. Yet, Icero's will
was strong. He refused to rest on his laurels. I
actually wanted him to kill you. Yet he wanted
that for free. You and Julia were deeply personal
to him Adam. Her, because she survived his
frenzied attack. You, because you saved Julia from
his attack. You must understand that she changed
when Mr Sandsworth died. Gone went the sweet
little girl. In came the leather clad bitch with
a mission.
Long beat.
ADAM
Then there are my parents.
CHARLES
I see where this is going.
Charles gets up.
CHARLES
(continuing)
You want retribution.
Adam nods.
CHARLES
(continuing)
Vengeance.
Again Adam nods.
CHARLES
(continuing)
Redemption.
Adam nods again, for the final time.
CHARLES
(continuing)
Well I am afraid that I do not feel anything for
your parents. They were in the wrong place at the
wrong time. If it helps, they did happen to have
something that they stole from me.
ADAM
What was that?
Charles snarls.
CHARLES
The apartment I was born in.
Adam laughs.
ADAM
Don't make me laugh.
CHARLES
I'd regale you with my life story, but you came
to fight, not talk.
Charles bends over the desk. He picks it up and throws it at Adam.
Adam is sent reeling from the force of the blow.
He falls to the floor, holding his ribs in agony.
CHARLES
(continuing)
You think I would make this easy.
Charles picks up the desk. He lifts it over his head. This is nearly
unparalleled strength.
CHARLES
(continuing)
I was raised in Quarrendon. I know no fear. I
know only hate.
He throws the desk onto Adam. He groans as it crushes his ribs. He
spits up a little blood.
ADAM
[weakly]
Hate breeds hate.
Charles grabs the broken desk. He throws it over the other side of
the office.
CHARLES
Now I finish you.
He picks up Adam. Charles pulls a pocket knife out of his sleeve. He
pulls Adam's neck back by his hair.
CHARLES
(continuing)
You bother me no more.
He brings the knife down...
... but Adam blocks it with his hand. Adam and Charles wrestle for
dominance.
Adam uses regained strength to push Charles back. Charles tumbles
onto his back.
Adam throws the knife away. While he's turned, Charles tackles him.
Adam is speared against the wall.
CHARLES
(continuing)
You are a bug.
He hits Adam in the ribs, Adam groans.
CHARLES
(continuing)
That I will destroy.
Charles knees Adam. Adam wrenches in pain.
CHARLES
(continuing)
And rid of this planet forever...
He hits Adam again. Adam coughs up some more blood.
CHARLES
(continuing)
... your type of vermin.
He goes to hit Adam one final time. At the last second Adam moves.
Charles hits the wall.
Adam rolls to safety. Charles holds his hand in agony. Adam wipes the
blood away.
ADAM
It's my turn.
Charles faces Adam. He is struck in the face with an almighty right
hook.
Charles wobbles.
ADAM
(continuing)
This is for my parents.
He hits Charles with a solid gut shot. Charles moans in pain.
ADAM
(continuing)
This is for Julia.
Adam punches Charles in the face. Charles feels his face jolt up.
Blood shoots to his brain, then flies out of his nose.
ADAM
(continuing)
And this is for me.
Adam lines up. He spins his foot around. Charles is sent flying with
a brutal spin kick.
He slumps against the window. It cracks. Charlie's weight forces it
to break.
Charles stumbles. He almost falls out of the window. Before he can
fall...
...he is saved by Adam. Adam pulls Charles back in, throwing him to
the floor.
Charles cowers off in fear.
ADAM
(continuing)
I said hate breeds hate. By my own definition I
could, and should, kill you right now. You took
everything away that I held dear.
Adam holds his rage in. He doesn't need to do this.
ADAM
(continuing)
You deserve to die, but that is not for me to
decide. Instead, you're going to jail.
Charles laughs evilly.
ADAM
(continuing)
Because justice is done in the courts, not the
streets.
Adam drops Charles.
CHARLES
I'll get you for this. When I tell them you're
Mutineer, I'll make parole.
Adam frowns.
ADAM
When you get out, remember this. Don't find
justice, it'll find you.
Adam walks out of the office. He flips up his phone.
ADAM
(continuing)
Police - Gordon Edge Inc - Big Boss is Charles
Gordon - No comment.
Adam turns once more to look at Charles. Then he walks out of sight.
Police sirens echo.
CHARLES
When I get out, the rebel will conform.
Charles laughs into eternity.
CUT TO:
INT. CAFE
Adam and Carl sit. Both drink coffee. Carl reads the daily
tabloids.
CARL
[off tabloid]
So what do you think of this costumed vigilante
they call Mutineer?
Adam almost chokes on his coffee.
ADAM
I don't know why you read that trash. The guys
probably running around helping little old ladies
cross the road. That costume is probably a
leftover from Halloween.
Carl sighs.
CARL
Trust you to rationalise.
Carl shuts the paper.
CARL
(continuing)
I'm sorry about Julia.
ADAM
Me too.
Beat.
CARL
Do they know what caused it?
ADAM
The coroner dismissed the post-mortem. Said it
was inconclusive.
Carl laughs.
CARL
Inconclusive. That's just like the Marilyn Monroe
thing.
Adam smiles, for the first time in ages he is content.
ADAM
Yeah. Exactly.
Carl sips some coffee. He looks at his watch.
CARL
Shit.
He gets up abruptly.
CARL
(continuing)
I gotta go to work. Ever since Gordon got
arrested, I got to work double hard for half the
cash.
Adam laughs.
CARL
Aren't you going to work?
Adam drinks some coffee.
ADAM
I'm taking a day off.
CARL
Lucky sod. I'll call you later. We'll go play
pool and drink some beers. Who knows, maybe even
meet some fly girls.
Adam laughs.
ADAM
Maybe.
Carl walks off.
The waitress - Sandy - walks over. She refills Adam's now empty
coffee.
ADAM
(continuing)
Hi.
SANDY
Hi.
They share a moment of eye contact.
ADAM
I know this is a bit forward, but I was wondering
if I could get your number.
Sandy smiles.
SANDY
Long as I get yours.
They trade numbers.
SANDY
(continuing)
Do you fancy sharing a cup of coffee with a lowly
waitress?
Adam smiles.
ADAM
I'd love to...
Adam remembers where he has to be.
ADAM
(continuing)
... but I have to see some old friends.
Sandy - downbeat - smiles, and brushes her blonde hair from her blue
eyes.
SANDY
Some other time.
ADAM
I'll call you.
Sandy walks off. Adam drinks his cup of coffee. He smiles. He hasn't
smiled like this for a long time.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. CEMETARY - EARLY EVENING
Adam stands by a grave. On closer inspection, it belongs to his
parents.
Adam looks downbeat.
ADAM
... sorry I haven't been around recently. I've
been busy. Fighting crime and all. I've never
really said this before, but I miss you guys. For
a long time I was in a real bad place. Now I
think I'm getting better. I'm growing into the
man I want to be.
Faint smile.
ADAM
(continuing)
God bless you.
He makes a religious gesture.
The Foo Fighter's 'Times Like These' plays as Adam walks into the
foggy distance.
CUT TO:
EXT. KOVAC RESIDENCE - DAY
The sun comes out.
CARL OC
Spider-Man or Daredevil?
ADAM OC
Spider-Man.
CARL OC
Why the change of heart?
ADAM OC
Once I believed that hate bred hate. Now I
believe good breeds good.
CARL OC
That's deep. I just wanted to watch Kirsten Dunst
in that wet t-shirt.
Laughter echoes into eternity.
Slow and methodical crawl up to the sun.
Mutineer leaps into view. He runs like a cheetah up several flights
of
stairs...
CUT TO:
EXT. ROOFTOP - DAY
... ending up on the rooftop.
Mutineer stands there. He takes off the mask, revealing Adam. Adam
smiles.
ADAM VO
I am born again.
He drops the mask down onto the concrete, as we...
CUT TO:
EXT. END TITLES - DAY
... the first titles play to the gorge of a new days sunlight...
CUT TO:
EXT. END TITLES - NIGHT
... slowly turning dark as the moon appears...
CUT TO:
EXT. END TITLES - DAWN
... then turning back to light. The fight between good and evil has
been won.
But the war isn't finished, and evil will be back...
THE END
FADE OUT:
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