TELEKINETIC

Written by

Chase Meyer

Address
Phone Number
 FADE IN:

INT. WORLD DEFENSIVE COMMISSION NORTHWEST HEADQUARTERS -

LOBBY - DAY

JAYTON PALL, 19 years old just under 6 feet with a lean body
frame and close cropped dusty brown hair and piercing grey
eyes, stands alone in the midst of the lobby. He is dressed
in black pants, sneakers, and a grey t-shirt bearing the
World Defensive Commission’s Logo, a gym bag thrown over his
shoulder.

Jayton looks up a large monitor that dominates the far wall.

On it flashes the Commission’s logo with a large “Join Up
Now” message flashing underneath before transitioning to
photos of men and women dressed in special suits of numerous
colors. Heroes. All of them pose with their hands on their
hips with confident smiles. Jayton nods at the screen.

EMILY QUAL
Jayton. Jayton! Hello!

Jayton breaks out of his stupor as EMILY QUAL, age 19 with a

lean but muscular body frame sporting soft brown eyes and
wavy blonde hair pulled into a ponytail, appears right next
to him, phasing through people to do so. She is dressed in an
identical fashion to Jayton. Jayton is startled by her
materialization.

EMILY QUAL (CONT’D)

Boo.

JAYTON PALL
Jesus Emily. I told you not to do
that.

Emily gives him a devilish grin.

EMILY QUAL
Where are you doing over here,
giving yourself a pep talk?

JAYTON PALL
I did that one time.

EMILY QUAL
Well todays the day to give
yourself one.

Jayton eyes a desk situated next to a large set of double

doors on the right of the lobby. A nervous expression blooms
on his face. A bunch of similarly dressed individuals are
migrate towards it.
 2.

JAYTON PALL
Yeah.

Jayton and Emily fold into the crowd. They arrive at the
desk. A desk employee smiles at Jayton.

DESK EMPLOYEE
Name?

JAYTON PALL
Jayton Pall.

Jayton hands over his WDC IDENTIFICATION CARD. The desk

employee scans Jayton’s card. A photo of him along with a
blurb of information comes up on her monitor.

DESK EMPLOYEE
Ah there you are. Good luck Mr.
Pall.

JAYTON PALL
Thank You.

Jayton steps away from the desk, joined moments later by

Emily. Jayton takes one last look at the large screen on the
far wall before stepping through the double doors.

INT. WORLD DEFENSIVE COMMISSION NORTHWEST HEADQUARTERS -

OFFICE - DAY

A shadowy figure stands before a monitor in a large dark

office. The slates on the window’s are drawn shut, casting
long horizontal lines on the rooms carpeted floor.

A list appears on the monitor. Numerous names flip around in

green blocky text until only ten names remain, their
affiliated powers along side them. Among those names is
Jayton Pall - Telekinesis.

CUT TO:

Title card. Numerous fragments of glass come together to form

one word as a thrilling score plays. TELEKINETIC.

FADE IN:

INT. WORLD DEFENSIVE COMMISSION NORTHWEST HEADQUARTERS -

LOCKER ROOM - DAY

Jayton and Emily both walk into a long bright room filled
with benches and lockers. The room is populated with other
teenagers.
 3.

Jayton and Emily make their way through the room to the far
corner and open two lockers side by side. Jayton leans into
his claimed locker. He takes a deep breath as he does so.
Emily pauses as she puts her bag into the locker.

EMILY QUAL
Jay you good?

Jayton pushes himself out of the locker. Sweat beads on his

forehead, his face red. He gives a small smile to Emily.

JAYTON PALL
Yeah just nerves.

EMILY QUAL
Afraid the Overseer’s gonna pop up?

JAYTON PALL
I’m not afraid of the Overseer.
What is he gonna do, change my
ringtone?

The two busy themselves as they empty the contents of their

pockets into the lockers. More people trickle into the locker
room.

EMILY QUAL
So what do you think the simulation
is going to be this year.

JAYTON PALL
Some sort of city environment
probably. Majority of the
applicants are combat orientated,
they’ll want to put us through our
paces.

EMILY QUAL
So powered combatants.

JAYTON PALL
And robots. Don’t forget the
robots.

EMILY QUAL
God I hate the robots.

JAYTON PALL
We could always do what we did last
time.

EMILY QUAL
I am not phasing you underneath a
robot again.
 4.

JAYTON PALL
It worked.

EMILY QUAL
You almost got squished.

Emily closes her LOCKER with a LOUD BANG. She sits down on
the bench and begins to retie her shoes. To the right of
Jayton and Emily a group of similarly dressed youths are in
the process of putting their bags away.

HERO APPLICANT 1
Yeah, so this man just drags the
eight kidnappers into the police
station with his daughter in tow.

HERO APPLICANT 2
Really?

HERO APPLICANT 1
Thats what the news said. Used some
sort of skin hardening ability and
went to town on them. Apparently
all eight of them are in the
hospital.

EMILY QUAL
What do you make of that?

Jayton turns his attention away from the other group and back
to Emily, who leans forward on the bench. He puts his back to
the lockers and fumbles with his lock.

JAYTON PALL
Well it’s not exactly something you
hear everyday, but it sounds like
they got what they deserved.

EMILY QUAL
Yeah, but I wonder if those guys
would be in the hospital if someone
from the Commission had handled it.

Emily leans back and points at the WDC logo on her shirt.

EMILY QUAL (CONT’D)

There are proper avenues. The
police first and the Commission if
things get serious. That man could
have killed someone.
 5.

JAYTON PALL
He had a good reason. They had his
daughter, who knows what the
situation was like. The way I see
it justice was served.

EMILY QUAL
Well we exist in a world of laws,
not justice. Besides Jay, do you
know how many laws there are
against vigilantism?

JAYTON PALL
Seventeen if we include the
Unlawful Usage of Powers Act.

Emily nods.

EMILY QUAL
Seventeen reasons to not do what he
did.

JAYTON PALL
Are you saying that he should have
done nothing?

EMILY QUAL
Not at all, you know me better than
that. But he should have used the
proper channels. He shouldn’t have
taken the law into his own hands.

JAYTON PALL
I’ll agree that he went too far,
but I don’t think he’s in the
wrong. Sometimes the proper
channels don’t work. I won’t
condemn him for trying to save
someone.

Jayton points at himself and than Emily.

JAYTON PALL (CONT’D)

That’s why we’re here after all. To
help people. This is the best way
to do that.

Emily smiles at him and nods.

EMILY QUAL
You would have made a good lawyer.

JAYTON PALL
So I’ve been told.
 6.

A SHRILL BEEP comes from the LOUDSEAKERS on the walls. A

robotic voice follows.

LOUDSPEAKER
Attention all applicants, please
make your way through the next set
of doors at this time.

Emily springs to her feet.

JAYTON PALL
Go, I’ll catch up after I lock this
up.

Emily takes off through the next set of double doors along
with the rest of the applicants. Jayton turns back to his
locker. He grabs at his hand as it spasms and drops his lock.
He grits his teeth as he flexes it.

JAYTON PALL (CONT’D)

What the hell.

Jayton reaches his hand out towards the lock. It violently

jerks into his hand. Jayton reels back. He looks at the lock
in surprise before he shakes his head. He locks his locker
and takes off through the double doors.

INT. WORLD DEFENSIVE COMMISSION NORTHWEST HEADQUARTERS -

SIMULATION WAITING ROOM - DAY

Jayton runs into a large y-shaped room. The middle of the

room is filled with applicants dressed in WDC training
clothes and Commission Official’s dressed in dark suits. At
the two ends of the Y are large tunnels, flanked by medical
teams dressed in white. The room is deathly quiet aside from
one woman, GLORIA ZARDANEY, who wears a pantsuit and sports
grey hair pulled into a bun.

GLORIA ZARDANEY
Applicants with last names A-O
please form rows by the left
tunnel. Applicants with last names
P-Z please do so by the right
tunnel.

Jayton joins Emily by the right tunnel and stands at

attention. The group of applicants turn to the woman as she
begins to address them.
 7.

GLORIA ZARDANEY (CONT’D)

Welcome Applicants. I would like to
start off todays activities by
congratulating you all on making it
this far in the process. That is no
small feat to accomplish.

Gloria strides between the rows of applicants, her eyes

surveying them.

GLORIA ZARDANEY (CONT’D)

As you all know, ever since the WDC
was established to protect the
world with the aid of powered-
individuals, we have strived only
to take the best of the best. This
is where our holo-domes come into
play. These domes were designed to
simulate various environments that
our applicants may face while in
the field. The last portion of your
program today will involve a
simulation within the dome. This
years simulation will be combat
orientated, which should be no
surprise to you. The terrain will
consist of several city blocks.

Jayton nudges Emily, who rolls her eyes.

GLORIA ZARDANEY (CONT’D)

During the simulation period you
will be accosted by powered
combatants and un-maned automatons.
You will judged by your ability to
react to and defend against these
threats. If for any reason an
applicant is injured or is unable
to continue, the simulation will be
paused until said applicant can be
extracted.

A group of Commission Workers begin to hand out black bands

to the applicants. Jayton takes his band and flips it,
revealing several metal electrodes on the back.

GLORIA ZARDANEY (CONT’D)

The black bands that you are being
given will monitor your vitals and
location once you put them on your
wrist. They will lock upon doing so
and will unlock once the simulation
is over.
 8.

Jayton wipes the sweet of his forehead and clips the band
around his wrist. A green light begins to pulse on the band.

GLORIA ZARDANEY (CONT’D)

Once the band begins to pulse,
please make your way through the
tunnel. Good luck to you all.

The Commission Official walks away from the applicants, who

all begin to make their way to the tunnel. Emily notices as
Jayton’s hands begin to shake as they walk into the tunnel.
She gives him a friendly punch on the arm.

EMILY QUAL
Hey, nothing too it.

JAYTON PALL
Right.

EMILY QUAL
We’ll get through this and that
will be that.

JAYTON PALL
Right. Besides the passing rate is
around 50 percent. One of us is
bound to pass.

EMILY QUAL
Bright side Jay.

JAYTON PALL
Got it.

The two reach the end of the tunnel, the enormous opening of
which is covered by a large door with a seam down the middle.
The DOOR begins to crack with a LOUD SCRAPING as light begins
to pour into the dark tunnel. A large expanse of a ruined
city lies beyond the tunnel, a pixelated sky blinking above
it.

JAYTON PALL (CONT’D)

Ready?

EMILY QUAL
Stay close.

INT. WORLD DEFENSIVE COMMISSION NORTHWEST HEADQUARTERS - HOLO

DOME - CITY SIMULATION - DAY

Jayton, covered in sweat with various cuts along his arms,

vaults over a broken section a wall. He pants as he does so.
 9.

RUBBLE SCRAPES against the soles of his shoes as an EXPLOSION

BOOMS behind him. Emily phases through a solid section of the
wall alongside him, her hair now yanked out of its ponytail.

EMILY QUAL
That’s the fourth one!

JAYTON PALL
This thing doesn’t know when to
quit.

JOINTS CRANK as a large robot lumbers over the wall. Jayton

and Emily scramble onto the street as the foot crushes the
wall beneath it.

EMILY QUAL
Need to put it down.

Jayton and Emily stand on a ruined street with numerous

wrecked buildings along it. EXPLOSIONS RING through out the
dome.

The robot pursues the two onto the street, a large humanoid
figure made up of interlocking plates and exposed gears with
a large concussion cannon grafted to its arm. It raises the
cannon and fires, a LOUD SHRIEK emanating the CANNON as it
does so. The blast hits to the right of them as Emily turns
intangible and phases into the ground as Jayton braces his
arms in front of him. The rubble deflects away from his body.

Emily phases back aboveground a few feet away from Jayton.

The two begin to run away from the robot.

EMILY QUAL (CONT’D)

Any ideas.

JAYTON PALL
The gears maybe. If we can get its
head down here maybe you can fry
it.

Emily nods and looks around. Her gaze comes to a rest on a

large telephone pole. She pounds on Jayton’s arm and points
at it.

JAYTON PALL (CONT’D)

Perfect. Knock it down for me.

Emily makes a break to the pole as Jayton skids to a stop to

face the robot. He reaches out his left hand to the pole as
Emily swings her arm through the wooden pole. She changes her
density and the pole splinters around her arm. The broken
pole hangs there for a moment before Jayton makes a throwing
motion with his left arm.
 10.

The pole rockets towards the robot, the METAL TEARING as the
pole goes straight through the robots leg. Jayton’s eyes
widen as the pole shoots down the street. The pole embeds
itself hundreds of feet away.

The robot collapses onto the street as Emily dashes towards

it. She thrusts her hands into its head and yanks out several
wires. The robots eyes go dark.

EMILY QUAL
Finally.

Jayton drops into a kneeling position, his breath ragged. He

makes a fist as his hand spasms, several rocks moving towards
him as he does so. Emily notices this and runs to him. She
helps him back to his feet.

EMILY QUAL (CONT’D)

I didn’t know you had that kind of
power.

JAYTON PALL
Neither did I.

Sweet continues to bead on Jayton’s face as his hands spasm

again. Several OBJECTS along the street RATTLE as they do so.
Emily eyes the street as Jayton clutches his head.

EMILY QUAL
You good?

JAYTON PALL
Yeah, just need a moment.

A figure turns around the corner and onto the street. Emily
notices the man who is dressed in dark tactical suit.

EMILY QUAL
Shit.

Emily and Jayton turn as the man raises a hand and slams it
onto the street. The GROUND RUMBLES as the street splits down
the middle line. Jayton and Emily both dodge opposite sides
of the divide.

Jayton clutches his head as his entire body begins to spasm.

He peeks through the crook of his arms to see Emily face a
man bathed in flames. Emily runs into an alley as a wall of
flames engulfs her side of the street.

A spike of stone streaks towards Jayton, who rolls to avoid

it. Jayton looks back in the direction it came from. The man
who split the street advances towards him.
 11.

INT. WORLD DEFENSIVE COMMISSION NORTHWEST HEADQUARTERS -

OBSERVATION ROOM - DAY

Several Commission Official’s sit in a circular observation

deck dominated by monitors, a large window overlooking the
simulated city environment below. Faint EXPLOSIONS RING from
below.

A Commission Worker, dressed in a black suit and sporting a

combover, flips through a tablet that displays applicant
photos along with their vitals. He stops on Jayton’s photo.
The Worker’s eyes widen as he sees Jayton’s vitals begin to
spike.

COMMISSION WORKER 1
Oh no. Overseer!

The Commission Worker bolts to the middle of the room where

the OVERSEER, an impossibly thin man clad in a black turtle
neck and blazer with grey wispy hair and a goatee. His
luminescent green eyes bore into the worker as he rushes over
to the center console. The worker passes the tablet to the
Overseer’s.

COMMISSION WORKER 1 (CONT’D)

One of the applicant’s vitals are
all over the place.

The Overseer looks at the tablet displaying Jayton’s vitals,

which have begun to spike all over the place.

OVERSEER
Jayton Pall...

The Overseer turns to the bank of monitors in front of him,

cameras POV’s flipping until they come to rest on various
angles of Jayton, who is being forced against a wall as stone
spikes thrust towards him. A small list pops up alongside the
camera POVs, one that displays “Jayton Pall - Telekinesis” in
green blocky text.

On the monitors Jayton reaches out to stop a stone spike.

Jayton’s hand spasms as he does so. The Overseer looks from
the Jayton on the monitors to his vitals on the tablet. The
Overseer nods.

OVERSEER (CONT’D)
Thank you. I’ll handle it from
here.

The Overseer pushes the tablet back into the worker’s hands.
The worker returns to his seat. The Overseer taps a device in
his ear as he watches the combatant who split the street bear
down on Jayton.
 12.

OVERSEER (CONT’D)
Rumble, I need you to do something
for me.

INT. WORLD DEFENSIVE COMMISSION NORTHWEST HEADQUARTERS - HOLO

DOME - CITY SIMULATION - DAY

Jayton gasps as the man who split the street launches a

volley of stone spikes at him. He throws himself backwards
and uses his telekinesis to propel himself further away. As
Jayton collides with a wall, the man stops his assault and
touches his ear. The man nods.

Jayton looks on as the man slams his fist into the ground, a
large pillar erupting from the ground as he does so. The
pillar flies towards Jayton, who throws his hands out. The
PILLAR meets the telekinetic shield with a CRUNCH. It cracks
as it does so.

JAYTON PALL
What are you-

The pillar pushes Jayton further into the wall, trapping him
between the wall and the pillar. Jayton cries out as he
telekinetically pushes against the pillar. A RINGING NOISE
begins.

A second pillar flies towards him, it cracks as it meets the

telekinetic barrier. Than a third. Jayton grits his teeth as
his eyes begin to tear up, the RINGING NOISE growing louder.

JAYTON PALL (CONT’D)

Please-

A fourth pillar meets the telekinetic shield. Jayton lets out

a pained scream. All of the pillars begin to push inward
around Jayton, whose body has began to spasm again. Jayton
grasps at his head as the pillars move closer. The RINGING
NOISE crescendos.

Jayton lets out a scream as a violent telekinetic shockwave

erupts from his body. The stone pillars rip away from the
ground as the man is thrown down the street.

The telekinetic shockwave tears through the surrounding

buildings, GLASS SHATTERING as it does so. The shockwave
reaches the dome’s ceiling, part of the simulated sky going
dark as the SCREENS SHATTER.

Blood drips from Jayton’s nose as he falls to the ground. He

glances up at the dome’s ceiling, which has begun to short
out. An ALARM begins to BLARE.
 13.

Emily appears from around the corner, her hair and clothes
singed from her fight. She runs to Jayton as he loses
conscious.

INT. WORLD DEFENSIVE COMMISSION NORTHWEST HEADQUARTERS -

EXAMINATION ROOM - DUSK

Jayton sits in a examination room. The room is sterile,

flooded with bright light from the overhead bulbs. His hands,
right cheek, and left arm are bandaged in white gauze, a
stark contrast from his dirty training clothes. Jayton sits
on the edge of padded examination table, his eyes squint
against the bright lights as he picks at the bandages on his
arm.

The examination room’s door swings open, and a commission

doctor, a middle aged man dressed in a white lab coat and
dress shirt, walks in flanked by Gloria Zardaney. Jayton
winces as he jumps to attention.

COMMISSION DOCTOR
Well Mr. Pall, looks like you’re
all good to go. Just make sure to
clean those cuts on your hands and
change the gauze in the next 24
hours. Also watch your torso,
nothing is broken but you have some
rather severe bruising there.

The doctor turns towards the Commission Official.

COMMISSION DOCTOR (CONT’D)

Mrs. Zardaney will see you out.

JAYTON PALL
Thanks Doc.

Gloria takes Jayton by the shoulder, who bristles slightly at

her touch, and guides him out the door.

INT. WORLD DEFENSIVE COMMISSION NORTHWEST HEADQUARTERS -

HALLWAY - DUSK

Jayton and Gloria walk side by side down a brightly lit

hallway. Floor to ceiling windows dominate the left side of
the hallway. Gloria’s stride is quick with her hands held
behind her back while Jayton’s gait is marked by a small
limp.

Through the windows is the Holo-Dome which has abandoned the

city block simulation.
 14.

It now shows a grid-like pattern throughout the walls and

floors, a few scattered pieces of debris throughout the dome.
A large ragged hole is visible on the ceiling of the dome.

Jayton looks out of the window, his eyes locking with the
ragged hole on the dome’s ceiling.

GLORIA ZARDANEY
I trust the doctors did well Mr.
Pall?

Jayton flexes his hand, which spasms a bit.

JAYTON PALL
Yes Ma’am.

GLORIA ZARDANEY
Good.

Gloria stops suddenly. She turns to Jayton.

GLORIA ZARDANEY (CONT’D)

I know the customary waiting period
is about a week for you to know
your results, but I feel it would
be cruel to keep you in suspense
until than.

JAYTON PALL
What do you mean Ma’am?

GLORIA ZARDANEY
Based on your performance within
the dome, the Commission has
decided to decline your
application. I’m sorry Mr. Pall.

A beat passes.

JAYTON PALL
What?

Jayton’s face drops. His body posture droops with it.

GLORIA ZARDANEY
I understand that this information
may be difficult to take, given
your long standing relationship
with the program.

Jayton braces his right hand on the window and takes a choked
breath. He raises his bandaged left hand to cover his mouth.
 15.

GLORIA ZARDANEY (CONT’D)

Understand this Mr. Pall, I only
tell you this with great regret. I
took a look at your file and I know
the work you have put in. All of
that effort shouldn’t go to waste-

JAYTON PALL
So I’m kicked out.

Gloria nods. Jayton’s eyes look down the hallway, stone faced
at the news. The RINGING NOISE returns softly, followed by
the sharp CRACK as the WINDOW that Jayton is leaning on
fractures. Jayton reels back from the window, a terrified
expression on his face. The RINGING NOISE fades.

GLORIA ZARDANEY
Mr. Pall are you alright?!

Jayton looks at his hand that continues to spasm. He shoves

it into his pocket.

JAYTON PALL
I’m... ok.

Gloria studies the new fissure on the window.

GLORIA ZARDANEY
Very well. Please remember that
despite your expulsion from the
program, you still have access to
Commission services. I understand
that this is hard. If you want to
explore other programs offered by
the Commission, do not be afraid to
reach out.

Gloria offers him a white card. Jayton stares at it for a

moment before he takes it. He looks down at the card, which
displays “Gloria Zardaney - Head of Program Development” in a
black cursive font. Underneath the name is a phone number and
email address. He tucks it away.

JAYTON PALL
Thank you.

INT. WORLD DEFENSIVE COMMISSION NORTHWEST HEADQUARTERS -

OFFICE - NIGHT

Gloria Zardanay strides into the office. The Overseer eyes

her from over his computer monitor, which displays camera
footage of Jayton’s telekinetic shockwave as it rips through
the simulated city.
 16.

GLORIA ZARDANEY
Are you sure releasing him onto the
streets was a wise choice.

The Overseer scratches at his goatee, the image on the screen

flips to a camera pov of Jayton, now with a hoodie thrown
over his training clothes, as he walks out of the locker
room.

OVERSEER
I’ve had someone position
themselves across the street from
his dorm. If something dire happens
we will know.

GLORIA ZARDANEY
Sir, I’ve watched countless
simulations inside the Holo-Dome.
In all of my years, I’ve never
witnessed something like that. What
if in his compromised state he does
something rash.

The Overseer turns away from his monitor and peeks through
the shutters of his window, the light of the city slips
through as he does so.

OVERSEER
I’ve read through the boy’s
profile, his psychological
evaluations, and I don’t believe he
will do anything rash.

EXT. WORLD DEFENSIVE COMMISSION NORTHWEST HEADQUARTERS - MAIN

ENTRANCE - NIGHT

Emily Qual sits on the edge of large fountain stationed in

the main entrance’s courtyard. Her leg bounces as she watches
the headquarters entryway, a large revolving door with a WDC
logo above it. The rest of the building looms above her, a
shining monolith of concrete and glass that stands out from
the dark night sky.

Emily watches as the silhouette of a hooded man walks out, a

slight limp evident in his gait. It is Jayton, his hood
pulled low over his face. He walks over to Emily, who tackles
him in a fierce hug. She holds him at arms length to look him
up and down.

OVERSEER (V.O.)
He will wallow.
 17.

Jayton raises his head, tear tracks evident on his cheek. He

shakes his head at Emily, who looks at him with a horrific
expression.

FADE IN:

INT. JAYTON’S DORM - NIGHT

Jayton steps into the dark dorm room before he closes the
door behind him. The room is decorated with posters of
movies, the walls lined with scratched bookshelves full of
weathered novels and movies. A small kitchenette dominates
the far left corner, a plush couch, coffee table, and small
tv in the far right. A single window lies opposite of the
door, a twin bed pushed beneath it.

OVERSEER (V.O.)
He will blame himself.

Jayton drops his gym bag on the floor as he stares at the far
wall. He yanks off his hoodie, quickly followed by his WDC
training shirt. Bandages are wrapped around his torso. He
stares at the sullied grey shirt, his thumb runs across the
WDC logo. Jayton’s grey eyes flick over to the right wall
where a WDC recruitment poster hangs, as tears begin to run
down his cheeks. THE RINGING NOISE returns.

OVERSEER (V.O.)
He may even get angry.

He lets out another sob and slams his fist into the ground.
Several of the OBJECTS within the room RATTLE. Jayton looks
at his bandaged hands in horror as tears continue to track
down his face.

OVERSEER (V.O.)
And than he will have a choice.

BEGINNING OF MONTAGE

A disheveled Jayton with dark bags under his eyes lies in his
bed as sunlight pours in. He raises his hand to his face,
watching as his fingers tremble.

Jayton limps to his kitchenette. He reaches the counter and

places his bandaged on the countertop. He reaches out to a
coffee mug and telekinetically pulls at it. He watches in
horror as the MUG shatters with a loud CRACK.

Jayton sits in the middle of his dorm room. Broken objects

lie around the room. He watches as his PHONE BUZZES, a photo
of Emily posing in front of a large wiener dog statue
flashing on the screen. He puts his head in his hands.
 18.

Jayton stands before his mirror. He undoes the bandages on

his chest. A series of molted bruises run along his torso.

Jayton sits on the edge of his bed at night. He pulls the

gauze wraps off of his hands, revealing several partially
healed cuts. Jayton begins to reach a trembling hand out
towards his trash can before he lowers it in defeat.

END OF MONTAGE

INT. JAYTON'S DORM - DAWN

Grey Sunlight streams into the dorm room through the cracks
in the windows blinds, across a curled up Jayton who lies
under the covers of his bed.

Jayton’s PHONE BUZZES, an unknown caller ID flashes on the

screen. The call goes to voicemail.

GLORIA ZARDANEY (O.C.)

Hello Mr. Pall, apologies if this
call is comes at an inconvenient
time. I just wished let you know of
a special program being ran at the
Commission’s Headquarters in
Upstate New York. It was designed
with former candidates like
yourself in mind-

Jayton reaches over and ends the voicemail. He shifts under

the covers before he pulls himself onto the edge of the bed.
A very disheveled Jayton lets the covers drop off of him,
dark bags underneath bloodshot eyes. He is dressed in a blue
t-shirt and sleep pants, the faded bruises visible just above
the collar of his shirt. His hands and left arm are no longer
wrapped, the cuts barely visible against pink skin.

Jayton scrolls through apps on his phone. He almost drops his

PHONE when it BUZZES. Emily’s contact photo flashes on the
screen.

Jayton sighs and answers the call.

JAYTON PALL
Hey.

EMILY QUAL (O.C.)

Hey.

A beat passes.

EMILY QUAL (O.C.) (CONT’D)

How are you doing?
 19.

JAYTON PALL
I’m ok. Sorry if my texts were a
bit-

EMILY QUAL (O.C.)

Ambiguous. Don’t bother, this isn’t
the first time you’ve dropped off
the face of the earth for a week.

Jayton chuckles.

JAYTON PALL
So what do you need Emily?

EMILY QUAL (O.C.)

Well, I wanted you to know that I’m
in.

Jayton’s face breaks into a smile.

JAYTON PALL
Really!

EMILY QUAL (O.C.)

Yep!

JAYTON PALL
That’s great! When do you leave?

EMILY QUAL (O.C.)

Tomorrow.

Jayton’s face falls. A beat passes.

EMILY QUAL (O.C.) (CONT’D)

They want me in New York for a last
bit of training and some Q and A’s.

Jayton leans forward. He puts his hand over his mouth.

EMILY QUAL (O.C.) (CONT’D)

I was wondering if you would see me
off at the station tomorrow?

Jayton runs a hand up his face. He covers his eyes.

JAYTON PALL
Of course.

INT. METRO STATION - DEPARTURE PLATFORM- DAY

Jayton, dressed in a high collared jacket and long sleeved

hoodie, stands next to Emily on the waiting platform.
 20.

Emily has a backpack slung across her shoulders, a large

suitcase at her feat. The platform is busy.

Jayton puts his hands in his pockets, gaze locked with train
tracks. Emily gives him a glance. Her gaze doubles over his
bloodshot eyes and the bags underneath them.

EMILY QUAL
How much sleep did you get last
night?

Jayton rubs his eyes.

JAYTON PALL
Not much. To be all that honest I
haven’t been sleeping well lately.

EMILY QUAL
I wouldn’t have asked you to come
if I knew that.

JAYTON PALL
It’s fine Em. I needed to get out
of the dorm anyway.

The two stand in silence. Emily moves from one foot to the
other as Jayton wrings the edge of coat between clenched
hands.

JAYTON PALL (CONT’D)

I don’t resent you, if you’re
worried about that. I’m happy you
got in, you’ve wanted it longer.
Besides-

Jayton turns to Emily, a cheeky smile on his face.

JAYTON PALL (CONT’D)

You could say I was right about the
fifty percent pass rate.

Emily’s facial expression morphs to one of annoyance. She

swings her fist at Jayton, who grunts as the fist hits him in
the shoulder.

EMILY QUAL
Of all of the stupid things to say!

Jayton laughs a little. Emily brings up another fist, prepped

to swing again. Jayton lifts his hands in surrender.

JAYTON PALL
I’m sorry. I’m sorry But I meant
what I said, I’m happy for you.
 21.

Emily lowers her fist, sniffing a little as she does so.

EMILY QUAL
You’re an idiot.

JAYTON PALL
And you’re my best friend.

A beat passes before Emily tackles Jayton in a hug. A pained

expression flashes on Jayton’s face, his eyes tear up. He
returns the hug.

EMILY QUAL
You better text. I’m not dealing
with your cryptic ass.

JAYTON PALL
Ok.

EMILY QUAL
And for God’s sake take care of
yourself. You smell awful.

Jayton pats Emily’s back.

JAYTON PALL
I’m gonna miss you too.

EXT. METRO STATION ENTRANCE - DAY

Jayton walks out of the Metro Station. The sky above him is
overcast, the sun weakly peeking through the clouds as Metro
Passengers bustle in and out the entrance. Jayton turns down
the sidewalk.

A foot steps onto the sidewalk, clad in a dark loafer.

ROMAN BASS (O.S.)

Jayton Pall?

Jayton stops on the sidewalk, frozen. He turns to the voice.

Its owner is ROMAN BASS, a man in his early thirties with
dark tanned skin, bright red eyes, a carelessly styled head
of black hair. Burn scars peep out from collar of his shirt
and cuffs, white scars that wrap around his neck and wrists.
His tall and muscled frame is clad in a black blazer and
slacks, a red t-shirt thrown on underneath. A black briefcase
is thrown over his left shoulder.

JAYTON PALL
Excuse me-

Roman thrusts his left hand in front of Jayton.

 22.

ROMAN BASS
My name is Roman Bass. I was
wondering if I could buy you a
coffee?

INT. DINER - DAY

JAYTON PALL
I don’t drink coffee.

Jayton and Roman sit in the booth of a diner as a waitress

places a mug of hot chocolate in front of Jayton. Jayton has
his hands underneath the table, his gaze leveled at Roman.

Roman winks at the waitress as she sits a cup of coffee in

front of him.

ROMAN BASS
Thank you.

The waitress leaves as Roman takes a drink of his coffee.

ROMAN BASS (CONT’D)

Of course not. It’s for older
people. What are you, sixteen?

JAYTON PALL
Nineteen. How old are you?

ROMAN BASS
Old enough.

Roman takes another drink of his coffee. Jayton’s eyes

narrow.

JAYTON PALL
Who are you?

ROMAN BASS
As I told you before, I’m Roman
Bass. And I wanted to talk.

JAYTON PALL
Which you have refused to elaborate
on.

ROMAN BASS
You’re not very patient are you.
No, I guess you wouldn’t be, all
things considered.

A beat.
 23.

JAYTON PALL
What do you mean?

Roman raises his coffee cup to his mouth.

ROMAN BASS
How are your injuries healing?

Jayton’s KNEE BANGS against the booth’s table. The CUP of hot
chocolate begins to RATTLE on the table, the brown liquid
spills onto the table. Roman watches the cup, before he
places his own back on the table.

JAYTON PALL
Who the hell are you?

Roman leans forward and places his right hand on the RATTLING
MUG. It stops moving.

ROMAN BASS
Someone who wants to help.

Roman takes his left hand and reaches into his briefcase. He
pulls a large manilla folder from it.

ROMAN BASS (CONT’D)

Tell me Jayton, do you know what a
catalyst is?

Jayton shakes his head.

ROMAN BASS (CONT’D)

Well, a catalyst is when an
enhanced individual’s given
abilities begin to flux. It often
occurs during puberty, but it’s
also known to occur during early
adulthood.

Roman lays the folder in front of Jayton, flipping it open to

reveal a superimposed version of Jayton’s WDC Identification
Photo alongside his name. Roman flips to the last few pages
and pushes it at Jayton.

ROMAN BASS (CONT’D)

This either leads to a mutation or
an enhancement of the individual’s
abilities.

Jayton looks through last few pages. His eyes are drawn to a
a two key line’s near the end of the file.
 24.

“During Holo-Dome Simulation Applicant Pall displayed a

previously unrecorded level of telekinetic force, dwarfing
his previously documented output.”

“Applicant pinned for further observation.”

Jayton stares at the lines.

JAYTON PALL
What is this?

ROMAN BASS
A copy of your confidential
Commission file.

JAYTON PALL
How the hell did you get this? I
can’t even get this.

ROMAN BASS
I have a friend in the Commission.
They gave me your file.

JAYTON PALL
So I underwent a catalyst. And the
Commission watched.

Roman frowns at Jayton and pulls out his phone. He clicks on

his phone and places it in front of Jayton, a video queued on
the screen.

ROMAN BASS
I’m sorry kid. They did more than
just watch.

Roman clicks play.

BEGINNING OF RECORDING

The camera shakes slightly, its viewpoint at eye level. On

camera is the Overseer, who looks at a bank of monitors. On
the monitors is a grainy Jayton who dodges stone spikes. The
Overseer taps at the device in his ear.

OVERSEER (RECORDING)
Rumble, I need you to do something
for me. The boy who you are
currently in combat with, the one
with the grey eyes. I need you to
break him.

END OF RECORDING
 25.

Jayton stares at the phone, the video paused on the

Overseer’s face.

JAYTON PALL
The Overseer.

ROMAN BASS
So you know him?

JAYTON PALL
I know of him. He’s like a boogey
man to Commission Applicants.

Jayton’s voice grows small. He feels his chest, the faded

bruises visible under the collar of the jacket.

JAYTON PALL (CONT’D)

Why would he order that.

ROMAN BASS
I’m sorry that I have to tell you
this Jayton, but the Commission
isn’t all that it preaches to be.
They want to remain in charge and
to do that they need stronger
tools. And you got dragged into
their scheme headfirst.

Jayton remains silent. He stares blankly at the phone and

file as his hands shake.

ROMAN BASS (CONT’D)

I know how you feel Jayton, so lost
and angry that you don’t know what
to do, with all that power at your
fingertips.

JAYTON PALL
It’s..it’s like I’ve been using a
hose all my life. Now I’ve been
given a waterfall. I can’t even
control it anymore.

Roman nods and slides a black business card over to Jayton.

ROMAN BASS
I want to help with that. I can
offer you a position in my company,
get you away from the Commission.
But it’s up to you.

Jayton looks at the card, his voice tight.

 26.

JAYTON PALL
How do I know I can trust you? What
do you have to gain from this?

ROMAN BASS
You don’t know if you can trust me
kid. But you know that you can’t
trust the Commission. I have a
vetted interest in helping people
get away from the Commission. I can
give you names, cautionary tales of
people who were in similar
situations. You’re in danger.

Roman taps the line on Jayton’s Commission File reading

“Applicant pinned for further observation.”

ROMAN BASS (CONT’D)

I just want to help.

Jayton gives him a look and picks up the card. On it in a

silver bold font is “BASS METALWORKS”. He slides it into his
wallet.

JAYTON PALL
I’ll think about it, Mr. Bass.

INT. JAYTON'S DORM - DAY

Jayton enters the dorm room, his face downcast. He looks

around the room, a mess after his week and a half of self-
confinement. Slowly Jayton’s hand curl into claws and he
begins to lose his breath. The RINGING NOISE returns.

JAYTON PALL
FUCK!

Jayton swings his arm. Books fly from the room’s shelves as
he does so. Items begin to fly around the room. They smash
into the walls and floor. Jayton storms around the room. His
telekinesis bolsters his actions as he throws furniture
around. He flings his head at the WDC Recruitment Poster, the
GLASS of which loudly CRACKS.

JAYTON PALL (CONT’D)

GOD! FUCKING! DAMNIT!

Jayton punctuates the last swear by driving his arm through

his coffee table. Jayton kneels by the wreckage and draws his
legs into his chest. He lets out a small sob.
 27.

INT. JAYTON'S DORM - DAWN

Jayton sits in the midst of his destroyed dorm room. Books

lay on the floor, the couch is overturned, photos and posters
crooked on the walls, the coffee table in splinters.

Jayton pulls his wallet out from pocket and slips out two
cards. One is Gloria Zardanay’s, the other Roman Bass’.
Jayton takes a look around the destroyed room, sighs, and
pulls out his phone.

CUT TO:

INT. ATLAS CITY LINE - BULLET TRAIN CAR - DAY

Jayton sits opposite of Roman in a train care. Roman flips

through a magazine as Jayton peers out the window. Scenery
speeds by. Jayton looks at his phone, which displays a text
message from Emily.

EMILY QUAL (TEXT)

Good luck with the move!

Jayton sighs. Roman peeks over his magazine.

ROMAN BASS
Everything ok?

JAYTON PALL
Yeah, my friend just wishing me
luck.

Roman puts the magazine down.

ROMAN BASS
Emily, right?

JAYTON PALL
Your knowledge of my private life
is very concerning.

ROMAN BASS
What I know, the Commission knows.

JAYTON PALL
As you keep saying.

ROMAN BASS
If you’re curious, the Commission
keeps tabs on applicants who show
synergy with each other. Your
teamwork throughout the application
process is mentioned in your file.
(MORE)
 28.
ROMAN BASS (CONT’D)
Her aunt is also your emergency
contact.

Jayton stares at Roman, his grey eyes wide.

JAYTON PALL
What else does it say?

ROMAN BASS
A great many things. Your history
with the program, close familial
connections or lack of, your
birthplace.

Roman pauses. His red eyes bore into Jayton.

ROMAN BASS (CONT’D)

This is a hell of a homecoming for
you.

Jayton’s hands curl and pull at his jeans. He looks down.

JAYTON PALL
It’s been awhile.

ROMAN BASS
How long has it been?

JAYTON PALL
About 12 years. I want to read that
file, I want to know what they
know.

ROMAN BASS
I’ll be happy to give you a copy
once we reach Atlas City.

Jayton crosses his arms.

JAYTON PALL
Why not give me it when we met?

ROMAN BASS
If you were pinned by the
Commission for future observation
they likely had someone staking
your place. If that person had
caught sight of you with a file,
they may have reported it.

JAYTON PALL
You’re incredibly paranoid, you
know that right?
 29.

ROMAN BASS
Sometimes you can’t afford to be
make slip ups.

Roman gives a sideway glance towards the window, the trees

outside flash by. He turns back to Jayton.

ROMAN BASS (CONT’D)

Especially with people like the
Commission in play.

Outside the tree line clears away to reveal ATLAS CITY. A

gargantuan sized modern-day metropolis with a splash of neo-
futurism arrayed next to the coast. A large tower is situated
near the center of the city. Skyscrapers are numerous. The
buildings gradually grow lower in height as they fan away
from the center of the city.

Jayton’s eyes widen at the city. His grey eyes reflect the
cityscape.

EXT. ATLAS CITY - WAREHOUSE DISTRICT - BASS METALWORKS

WAREHOUSE - DAY

A red car pulls in front of the warehouse, it’s ENGINE softly

RUMBLES as it comes to a stop in a small parking lot outside
the warehouse. The warehouse looks old, worn, a small sign
displaying the Bass Metalworks logo riveted onto the wall
next to a large door.

The car’s engine stops. Roman Bass emerges from the drivers
side. He stretches his arms as he kicks the door closed.
Jayton Pall emerges from the passengers side, his skin paler
than normal. He doubles over, his elbows braced on his knees.

ROMAN BASS
You’re looking a little pale
Jayton.

JAYTON PALL
I’ll be fine, just not used to
riding in cars.

Jayton straightens. He takes in a deep breath.

JAYTON PALL (CONT’D)

Interesting place to show me first.

ROMAN BASS
Your stuff won’t be at your
apartment until tonight, besides
this is important.
 30.

Roman begins to walk to the warehouse. He props open the door

and gestures for Jayton to follow him.

INT. ATLAS CITY - WAREHOUSE DISTRICT - BASS METALWORKS

WAREHOUSE - DAY

Roman walks through the interior of the warehouse. Jayton

follows. There are large crates piled against the right and
left sides of the warehouse, chains hang from the rafters.
The back side of the warehouse has been converted, an obvious
remodeling of the warehouse’s former office.

ROMAN BASS
This is one of our warehouses,
mostly houses our emergency stock
so there’s not much reason to
visit.

JAYTON PALL
So why bring me here, orientation?

ROMAN BASS
Kind of.

Roman and Jayton reach the back end of the warehouse. The
office has been remodeled into a two story section, a
staircase leads up to a small lounge area with old beat-up
couches and tables. The ground floor section has a door and
long scratched up glass window that peers into a dark room.

ROMAN BASS (CONT’D)

Since it’s not busy I made myself a
little office here. I’ve found that
it helps to have a place to think.

Roman opens the door and leads Jayton inside.

INT. ATLAS CITY - WAREHOUSE DISTRICT - BASS METALWORKS

WAREHOUSE - OFFICE - DAY

Jayton steps into the wood paneled office. It is sparsely

decorated with a desk, office chair, book shelf, and old
couch.

JAYTON PALL
So you have a hideout?

Roman enters behind Jayton and closes the door. Jayton eyes
the closed door. Roman gives a smile and walks over to the
bookshelf.
 31.

ROMAN BASS
Not at all.

Roman slips a panel off of the bookshelf and reveals a

keypad. He types in a quick code and the bookshelf swings on
its hinges. Behind it is a step staircase leading downwards.
Roman looks over at Jayton.

ROMAN BASS (CONT’D)

That’s underneath.

He waves a hand at Jayton to follow and descends down the

staircase.

INT. THE FOUNDRY - DAY

Jayton enters the dark room. Roman stands behind him and
reaches for the wall. He flips a large switch and the room’s
lights turn on.

The room is high ceilinged, metal brackets visible over the

concrete ceiling. It is large, the left entire wall dedicated
to large metal shelves which holds numerous boxes and crates.
Another wall, opposite of the staircase that spirals from the
hidden entrance, holds three large monitors on a cluttered
metal table, an office chair, and a work bench. The right
wall has a few workout dummies and a punching bag. A floor
mat is rolled up and leaned against the wall. Tables populate
the floor.

JAYTON PALL
What the hell?

Roman pats Jayton on the shoulder and walks over to the bank
of monitors.

ROMAN BASS
This is my “hideout”.

Roman flips the monitors on as the screens light up. He types

a password on the computer and looks back at Jayton who walks
around the room with wide eyes.

ROMAN BASS (CONT’D)

This warehouse used to be a
foundry, the people who sold it to
me had this whole underground
section blocked off. They didn’t
even mention it on city records.

JAYTON PALL
What is all of this stuff?
 32.

Jayton gestures to the rooms contents.

ROMAN BASS
Things that come in handy when
you’re trying to help people.

Roman steps aside as Jayton walks over the monitors. The

screens display news feeds and video footage. Jayton looks at
the monitors as the bright screens reflect in his eyes.

One displays news footage of a man as he drags eight people

into a police station, a young girl in his arms. Another
displays grainy camera footage of the same man throwing one
of the men through the wall. The last displays Jayton in the
holo-dome suffering spasms. Jayton’s hands curl into fists.

JAYTON PALL
Help them how?

ROMAN BASS
The same way that man helped his
daughter.

Jayton spins around to Roman who leans against one of the

table.

JAYTON PALL
Is this why you helped me? You
wanted to use me? Because if you
think I’m going to-

ROMAN BASS
You misunderstand, I helped you
because you needed it. You were in
genuine danger, I didn’t lie about
that. But there is something about
you Jayton. It’s not just the
powers or your personal life, it’s
your mentality. I’ve looked at your
file, you’ve always just wanted to
help people. So can you look me in
the eyes and tell me that you can
stand by as people get hurt.

JAYTON PALL
There are people who can help with
that.
 33.

ROMAN BASS
Yes there are. People like you.
After what the Commission did to
you do you really believe that they
should be solely entrusted with
that responsibility? You’re angry
right-

Jayton steps forward as OBJECTS on the tables RATTLE.

JAYTON PALL
OF COURSE I’M ANGRY!

Roman backs up a bit.

JAYTON PALL (CONT’D)

Everything that I’ve worked for is
gone. Everything I’ve known is a
lie. But that doesn’t change the
facts! There are the police-

ROMAN BASS
Who are unable to handle certain
threats.

JAYTON PALL
The Commission Heroes than. We’re
in Atlas City, home of the Blue
Wings! There are laws! Proper
channels-

ROMAN BASS
That don’t always work.

A beat passes.

ROMAN BASS (CONT’D)

There are people who the Commission
overlooks everyday. Those who fall
through the cracks. They are
getting hurt. They need someone
Jayton. I think that could be you.

Jayton turns away from Roman, his eyes shut.

JAYTON PALL
So you want me to go around
ILLEGALLY taking out criminals. In
case you haven’t noticed I can
barely control my own powers right
now.
(MORE)
 34.
JAYTON PALL (CONT’D)
What makes you think that I could
even remotely be ready for
something as deranged as becoming a
vigilante. I’m compromised, you saw
it on that video footage.

ROMAN BASS
You’re not ready, not yet. But I
can help you, teach you to use your
powers in ways the Commission never
would. Help you regain control. And
after that if you still don’t have
any desire for what I’m proposing,
then I’ll respect that. I won’t
take away your agency. All I’m
asking for is a chance.

Jayton takes a deep breath. His fingers unclench from fists.

His grey eyes meet Roman’s red before he looks back to the
bank of monitors. Jayton watches as a video loop of him in
the Holo-Dome plays alongside the video of the man. Jayton
squares his shoulders.

JAYTON PALL
Where do we start?