“UNDER A POISON SKY”
“E1: Wormwood part 1: Lost ”
By
Brett Whitlock
Copyright (c) 2013
This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author
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Scene 1

FAde In:

Hospital room, day / a redhead girl is lying in a hospital bed drenched in sweat and looking extremely sick with dark veins popping all over the place we pan up to see a young man (Connor Hunter) staring at her very concerned and distraught

Connor Hunter (v.o)

I never meant for any of this to happen, not like this, I was supposed to save her. This was my destiny. I failed

quick fade to black

we open to Connors face

Waking up in a small panic. There is a lighting storm outside of his tent. He looks at his phone and sees a clock. Then a message comes in saying: “We need to meet” by unknown number. He ignores it and then throws the phone out in the woods. We see him packing his tent and campsite up. We cut to the inside of a convenience store buying a new track phone. He looks across the street and sees a diner.

cut to:

We cut to him sitting at a booth. A waitress walks over to him

Waitress

Hello, so can I get you something to drink to start?

Connor

Ill have a hot chocolate, and ill go ahead and order an omelet

Waitress

Ok what kind we have many different options.

Connor looks at her and smiles

Connor

What do you recommend?

She smiles and writes it in her book

Waitress

Ok ill make sure to give you the house special

She goes away and Connor looks around he looks over and can overhear her conversation with the other waitress over how cute he is as she turns he looks away to give him his drink.

Here you go Hun, by any chance are you Connor?

Connor looks at her surprised and smiles politely

Connor

That depends on if I’m going to get your name and a possible reason you would know my name before I could tell you

Waitress

Well if you so happen to be then this is for you

She lays a letter on the table next to him with his picture and name. It looks like it was taken from a security video

This was just faxed in and said to give to you, by the way my names Cassie

Connor

Thanks

waitress

Your welcome, those eggs will be done in a minuet. Ill be off at 5 if you want to chat later

Connor

Ill be here

Connor drinks a little bit and opens the letter

We see her walk back to the kitchen and over to his table with the eggs but he isn’t there all that remains is the letter and some money with a hand written note that says sorry it was nice meeting you. The door dings and she looks up in time to see him walking down the street

Cut to him in a hotel lobby at the front desk

Mal

And here’s your room key and we hope you have a pleasant stay.

connor

Thanks. And I would also like it if you hold off all phone calls, faxes and anything that comes from an unknown number.

MAl

Yes sir don’t worry sir ill make sure that happens.

Connor

Oh and can I get the number for the diner just down the way?

MAL

Certainly sir ill have it on your answering machine

connor

Thanks

Cut to:

Connor walked in the door throwing his bags next to the bed he fell upon it and probably got the best sleep he has had in a very long time. The clock passes by a half hour and he wakes up and looks and throws his head down the phone rings and he holds out his hand without looking and the phone floats to his hand. He puts the phone to his head.

Connor

Hello? Ok hold on

Connor grabs a piece of paper and begins to write a phone number

Thanks I would appreciate it if I could not be disturbed for the rest of the evening. Thank you so much

Connor hangs up and looks at the clock and sees its 1:56 he picks up the phone and calls the diner. We cut between the two calls

Cassie

Hometown diner this is Cassie how can I help you?

Cut to Connor

Connor

I’m sorry I took off so fast I had to take care of something I didn’t have time to stay,

CASSIE

Well it was a bit abrupt.

Connor

I’d like to make it up to you. Is the offer still good for later when you’re off work?

Cassie

Yeah I guess so. But you owe me for the special omelet

Connor

I’m at the motel just down the street room number 12

Cassie

Ill be there at 6 don’t go disappearing on me again.

Connor

Not a chance. I’ll see ya then

Cassie

All right then bye

Cut to Connor as he hangs up and smiles. We watch the clock tick forward to 5:45 he has had a change of clothes and a shower. He is sitting on the bed putting on his shoes watching the news.

We hear the anchor speaking

T.V.

Officials say that there are still strange sightings and odd occurrences after the huge meteor collision that exploded in our atmosphere 6 weeks ago. People are claiming it’s the beginning of judgment day and that the meteor was the biblical star called wormwood

As he is paying attention we see the footage of the explosion. There is a knock on the door and he shuts off the TV and opens to door to a kid about 12 in a Boy Scout uniform.

Bex

Excuse me sir but I was looking to see if you wanted to wanted to buy some popcorn so that I can go to camp this year, I have almost reached my goal

Connor

Uh sorry kid I’m really strapped for cash and they wont send it to my address I don’t have one so run back to your mom and good luck

Connor tries to close the door and the kid puts his foot in the doorway.

bex

Look mister, if I don’t make a sale then I don’t go to camp so please at least help me out.

Bex holds his hand out to shake and Connor uses his power to lightly nudge him, and close the door. Connor turns to walk back to the TV when the door knocks again. Connor opens to look out quick and the door smacks him to the ground. Bex walks in and stands over him.

Bex

Ok pal I tried this the easy way now I’m going to make sure you remember to respect the uniform next time.

Before Connor can turn to get up the kid grabs his leg and as his hand begins to glow a blue color as Connors world is darkening

Nighty night dude

Connor finally passes out


FAde Out:

slow fade in:

Connor wakes up on a couch and looks around and sees Mal, Bexer, and T.J. standing at a table he freaks and starts to back up trying not to be noticed when mal looks over at him and smiles

Mal

Oh good he’s awake

Bex

Well I had to speed it up I think I hit him a bit hard

Mal shoots him a death look

Well he started it!

mal

We are so sorry that it came to this I wish there was another way

Connor stands up and tries to back up as the group stands and advances towards him.

Connor

I don’t know who you people are but you need to let me go before I hurt someone

T.J. laughs and cracks his knuckles

Connor

You people do not know who your dealing with I could really mess you up

Mal

But we know that you wont, you aren’t even in full control of your power yet.

Connor

How do you know that, who are you

Bex hands begin to pulse and glow and T.J. looks like he’s going to bear hug him.

Connor lifts his hand and T.J. stops immobilized, Bex stops after Connor lifts his other hand. Bex begins to push back on himself as if pulled from behind.

MAL

BOYS! Will you all just calm down, Connor let them go and let’s make some introductions. We are not going to hurt you

Connor drops his hands and Bex falls on his face. Mal walks to him and puts a hand out to him.

Mal

I am Mal Jenison

Connor just stares her down she retracts her hand

mal

This is Bexer gray and T.J. Bradley, Let me officially welcome you to the Nerve Center.

Connor looks around to the room full of computer equipment.

Connor

Are you the bastards who have been texting my phones and sending me faxes at diners?

BREEN

Actually that would be me.

A man steps into the room from around the corner. Connor steps back and into T.J.

Connor

What the hell is going on here? You people just pop up out of nowhere don’t ya

Breen laughs and extends a hand Connor doesn’t touch it he looks around at the gallery in front of him who are now standing extremely close to him

Connor (cont)

Who are you and how did you find me?

Breen

My name is Peter Breen, I am a Technopath, which is how I found you, we are trying to make the world a better place and so I have chosen you to lead them, to save the others like yourself and me and them

Gestures to the others

connor

What do you mean others?

Bexer

Is this guy stupid or something?

T.J.

Doesn’t seem to pay attention much, maybe he shouldn’t be leader.

MAL

Guys be nice

Breen

Did you honestly think you were the only one who gained special abilities when the cloud hit the sky? There are hundred of others just like you lost, scared of there new found abilities and need help to control them so that they don’t hurt themselves or others.

Connor looks around, and back at Breen

Connor

Ok first off you have to give me a minuet to process here after all I just had a huge information overload on top of the headache tiny Tim over their gave me. And second, I don’t care who you are or what you think you know of me, but you don’t, so therefore I’m going to have to say let me out or ill have to tear the roof off this place and not a single one of you can stop me.

Bexer

I knew this guy was a loser

Mal

BEXER!

BExer

What! He has been nothing but a huge waste of our time

Connor

Hey short stuff, watch who your calling a loser ok just because I don’t want to join your little team of super friends doesn’t make me a loser, it makes me the only sane one in the room.

Bexer

The time we spent tracking him down and cornering him into that room, we could have found someone more willing to do the right thing.

Connor

Sorry to burst your bubble kid but I don’t look good in spandex

Bexer stands and tries to attack him but is being held by T.J.

BEXER

Ok that’s it I’m tired of this clown lets just kick his ass and move on

Connor

Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?

Connor turns to Breen

connor

You really should wash his mouth out with soap and put him in a corner

Bexer lets out a scream and grabs T.J. who begins to howl in pain because his arm starts burning. Bexer is on the ground and runs to Connor as Connor lifts his hands and sends him sailing into the other side of the room.

MAL

BEXER GRAY get back here

Connor

That’s right be a good boy and run to mommy

Mal

Connor he is 36 years old will you stop with the insults

A look of confusion crossed his face he looks over at Breen who nods and then back at mal and then down at Bexer who is walking back over to the table. Bexer kicks his ankle as he walks past.

Breen

Connor you may think we don’t know anything about you, but as we just proved it is absolute truth that you know nothing of us as well, please take that into consideration before you threaten or insult us, we are not your enemy, we are offering you a place with those who understand you.

Connor looks at the group before you

Connor

What exactly are we talking about here, a gang of superheroes? A small cadre of freaks, and who’s idea was it to put me in charge

breen

The same person who lost his family 12 years ago in a car bomb and told his foster family that he wanted to do something great to honor his family. The same person who after receiving a

breen (cont)

Wonderful gift almost killed a classmate and then skipped town before charges were pressed. The same person who has been running from his past for 2 years and still wont honor the promise he made to his family by stepping up to where he is most needed.

Connor

I did not chose to be a leader and if you utter one more syllable heading in the guilt trip your starting, I will make sure that no one in this room has the ability to follow me ever again because I’m going to make your brain explode from the inside.

T.J.

We all know you can’t do that, your control is not strong enough, we checked while you were sleeping.

Connor looks over at T.J. and then backs at Breen

connor

Who the hell are you people?

breen

We want to help you control your power and help save others from the feelings you have had over the past few weeks. I owe this to you; please we will not be able to do this without you.

Connor looks down at his feet and then around the room. Then back at Breen.

Connor

Fine but as soon as this is under control I’m gone and not you or anyone else can stop me.

Breen

The choice is yours; we hope you decide to do the right thing

Breen holds out his hand and offers it to Connor who then extends a hand and grasps it.

cut to:

scene 2

TXT: 3 years later. Robinson Private Airport, Hughesville MD.

A handshake between 2 men in suits one has one bodyguard, the other has 3, and the first man holding the brief case hands it over to the second man.

1st man

I hope that this is what you have been looking for it has taken me several moths of travel to bring it here to you.

The second man nods

2nd Man

This should be sufficient; since you are taking my jet the payment is inside and will be given once you take off.

1st man