Recent Posts

OUAT is absolutely awesome, i havent watched any of the episodes since it came back from Christmas hiatus, leaving them to build up to have a marathon of them later. Disappointed about YJ, hope they don't end this current season on another cliffhanger though

right, I gave my review of season 1 recently, with the occasional hint of S2 in it, but here I just wanted to right how much more I've enjoyed this season so far!
I will admit I did skim through S1 as quickly as possible because I wanted to get into S2 to see what Chris was doing with the character of Rachel Roth, aka Raven, and it hasn't disappointed - when I read that like that included "Azerath Metrion Zinthos" i squeed - Teen Titans animated series reference!!
Lana is powerless, but still out kicking ass, which I admire, although I have to admit, I did not completely clock onto the fact she was no longer using the suit! That's my bad, totally, like I said, I skim read at times, and that detail had completely gone by me!
But I'm loving the new Quentin/Lana relationship, and the added twist of Stuart switching sides and revealing Valentina is still alive.
My only disappointment is the reveal that Lex is a part of Checkmate, and the idea that Lionel somehow had a hand in creating it. Lex overall, feels like he is being written as 'the villian' in order to allow Amanda to step back from that role and being explored as an actual character, which I look forward to. But I feel that Lex is a lot more layered then that, and even though he IS a guest star, needs a few more scenes set on just him - i mean, he may have forgotten about his LOVE for Lana, but he must know he had a relationship with her, does he not wonder what she can tell him? It also feels like (and this goes for Smallville as well) that Checkmate was used as a way of spicing characters up, like Stuart and Tess being discovered to either be part of it, or joining it later. I hope that at some point we do explore more about Checkmate - given the time span and how long Checkmate was left alone for, we could find out what happened after Zod's attack back in S9 Smallville, and maybe THAT is how Lex became involved in it.
I hope it isn't too forward of me, but if Chris needs any help with passing out scripts to be written, in order to get Trinity back 'on air', I'm happy to help out.

so, i've finally read all episodes of Trinity...

Overall, I have enjoyed seeing Lana come into her own, and the relationship with Quentin, the development of him and his relationship with both Lana and Valentina. I loved the fact that the kryptonite in Lana's blood is removed and this causes all kinds of problems and new meteor freaks to develop.

However, as someone else commented on earlier, I have found myself shaking my head at times because of a particular flaw in the show's 'mythology' - that being Lana's apparent ability to 'remove' the Prometheus suit, which was actually grafted to her permanently and CANNOT be removed, hence the reason she had to finally leave Clark behind. I'm sorry, but that really ruins my enjoyment of the show, because to me it's a major flaw in the writing. When I read the scene where Quentin actually makes a point to Lana about her not wearing the suit after 'Extract', I was shaking my head in disappointment. That suit is the source of Lana's powers, she CANNOT be Trinity without it, at least not in any superpowered form, and that was the whole point of her getting it - wanting to HAVE power in order to make a difference.

I've also found the characterisation of Amanda disappointing at times- I don't see her as 'evil', but simly focused and determined to protect not just her country, but her planet as well. Other characters, like Pete and Cynthia also seemed to suffer from not being developed enough, although I applaud the introduction of another DC character in Cynthia, I actually thought she was an original creation at first until I studied up. Pete, however I can do without, I couldn't stand the character in the original show, and really think he is a waste of space and time.
Jake, while interesting, as I find a little bit of a wildcard, I find him also hard to take serious - when I read in Season 2 the scene where he meets Lex, I laughed because I wondered if Lex thought he looked familiar - since Paul Wesley had previously played Lucas Luthor. I also feel that bringing in the Green Lantern Corps wasn't explored as well as it could be, although it did well in helped Jake break the shackles to Checkmate, if only temporarily

Please do not get me wrong, I will continue to read Trinity when it resumes, I still enjoy the series, but I feel it could be a lot stronger then it currently seems to me.

ACT FIVE

EXT. METRO COFFEE STOP - METROPOLIS - DAY
The MCS is a complete wreck - chairs, tables, glass and other debris litter the outside seating area, and the walls have been smashed in, and we see that inside, hidden in the shadows, occasionally glimpsed through the cracks, SOMETHING moves around, skulking slowly back and forth.

REVERSE ANGLE:

4 police cruisers are parked in a CLOSE FORMATION, doors wide open, each door being leaned over by an officer, with their SERVICE WEAPON AIMED and ready. Behind them, a SWAT van pulls up and another 5 heavily armed and battle-suited combat officers pile out, ready for orders.

Through this throng of ORGANISED CHAOS stride Maggie, her dark leather jacket replaced by a bullet-proof vest, Danny behind her, similarly protected.

DANNY
Damn, a ‘disturbance’ they said.

MAGGIE
Yeah, that was definitely an understatement. At least we’ve confirmed no hostages were taken.

DANNY
SWAT team’s in position, we got snipers armed with tranquilisers as per your orders up top.

MAGGIE
Good, this kid may be a thug, but he didn’t ask for whatever is happening to him right now.

DANNY
Still, we’ve got to lure him out of there somehow, otherwise we won’t get the shot.

EMIL (O.S)
Captain Sawyer!

Both Maggie and Danny turn, surprised to see EMIL behind the partition that has been used to keep civilians out of the way. She quickly waves him through the cordon, and he HURRIES over, carrying a small black bag.

MAGGIE
Doctor, what are you..?

EMIL
I have something I think might help you.

He opens the bag, and pulls out a small silver box, which he cautiously opens to reveal a SYRINGE, with a strange YELLOW LIQUID inside it.

EMIL (CONT.)
I’ve been developing this based on my own research and the work of Dr. Curtis Knox and the BCE Clinic.

MAGGIE
Knox? The suspected serial killer who disappeared, what 5 years ago?

EMIL
He pioneered work into curing meteor infection, although his approach was surgical. I’ve been looking into turning it into a more streamlined and less invasive procedure, although it hasn’t been tested as much as I would like.

DANNY
How does this help us now?

EMIL
If Eric Marsh is undergoing the same mutagenic changes as Troy Walsh and Mario Gonzales, his body will be unable to cope with it for much longer. This serum, if it works, will nullify the meteor rock in his system, rendering him ‘normal’, for lack of a better term.

DANNY
‘If it works’? Not liking the sound of that.

MAGGIE
I’ll take any advantage I can get, thanks.

She TAKES the syringe in one hand, and then picks up the LOUD SPEAKER from the car hood in front of her, speaking into it.

MAGGIE
Eric! Eric Marsh, my name is Maggie Sawyer, with the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit. We know about Troy and Mario, Eric, and we think we know what’s happening to you as well.

She SETS the loudspeaker back down and SUDDENLY BEGINS TO WALK TOWARDS THE COFFEE STOP! All the officers suddenly become a lot more alert as she walks forward.

DANNY
Boss!

MAGGIE
Stand down, Dan. Trust me, all right.

DANNY, against his better judgement, bites his lip, but nods. But he also pulls out his own SERVICE WEAPON, and readies himself, EMIL hovering next to him.

MAGGIE continues to walk forward, slowly, cautiously, arms raised in a passive open gesture.

MAGGIE
Eric? You need help, okay? You need to come out here, no one will hurt you, I promise.

In REPLY, there is a low, almost mournful, moan,

REVERSE ANGLE:

From out of the rubble, a SHAPE steps partially into the light, allowing us to see ERIC, shirtless, dishevelled, his body covered in cuts and scrapes, pronounced green veins bulging through his skin, which itself has taken on a soft green hue. HIS ENTIRE FORM seems to have swelled outwards, looking like a STEROID CASE, but in OBVIOUS PAIN - his body is TEARING ITSELF APART, with rips in the stretched skin.

We see the VARIETY OF REACTIONS from the assembled officers and curious onlookers - horror, disgust, shock, sympathy. We see all those emotions play out of the faces of DANNY and EMIL as well.

DAN
Holy mother of God.

EMIL
His body can’t handle much more of that kind of transformation. Captain Sawyer needs to get that syringe into him now!

DANNY
She’ll do it, don’t worry.

They continue to watch as ERIC slowly shambles out into the open a little more, before crumpling, moaning in pain as Maggie approaches closer. Eric closes his eyes tight against the agony.

ERIC
(slow, stumbles, rough)
It, it hurts, everywhere.

Maggie opens up her hand, and shows Eric the syringe she carries.

MAGGIE
I have medicine, Eric, it will take the pain away, make it all better.

CLOSE UP on Eric’s eye as it snaps open.

TROY (V.O)
This will make it all better, dude.

We FLASHCUT TO a series of memories of Eric’s - as Troy, smiling, charming, hands him a syringe, filled with GREEN LIQUIF, that seems to GLOW, Eric injecting it, and the world turning a shade of green as he lays back and feels the rush. The images are FAST, barely lasting a couple of seconds each, before we cut back to ERIC.

He SEES the syringe in Maggie’s hand, and REACTS - he BELLOWS WITH RAGE, and swings a powerful arm, that KNOCKS MAGGIE BACKWARDS, SENDING HER FLYING BACK. She lands, hard, and tumbles across the pavement as the SYRINGE skitters away from her. She groans in pain, but manages to right herself, desperately looking around for the syringe, as ERIC STEPS FORWARD, ROARING!

ERIC
NO!!! NO MORE ‘ALL BETTER‘!!

He CHARGES TOWARDS Maggie, until

BANG!!

A bloody hole appears on Eric’s right shoulder, and he CRIES OUT IN PAIN, turning in SHOCK AND PAIN, his angry eyes searching for:

DANNY, whose weapons is aimed and still smoking from the discharge, his face like stone. Emil, standing beside him, has his hands clapped to his ears, deafened by the shot.

THINKING FAST, Maggie spots, reaches out and GRABS the syringe, before jumping up and BRINGING IT DOWN HARD BETWEEN Eric’s SHOULDER BLADES, and pushing down on the PLUNGER. The fluid is quickly emptied into Eric’s bloodstream, and he JERKS from THE PAIN of the injection, but doesn’t cry out. Instead he suddenly straightens up and flings his arms out, Maggie backing away from him as he does. Close in on HIS EYES as they GLOW GREEN for a moment, before SHIFTING TO GOLD, then back to their natural BLUE. The veins bulging across his face begin to fade, skin and muscle begin to warp, as he collapses out of frame.

Maggie, approaching slowly, looks down, stunned at what she is seeing off camera, before looking up to see EMIL and DANNY both approaching, Danny, his weapon still cautiously aimed at the off-camera ERIC. Danny looks up and gets a small nod from Maggie - ‘thanks‘. All three look down together as we pan around as ERIC, as the last vestiges of the pronounced veins slowly disappear from sight, his body back to normal, barely clothed in the tattered remains of jeans.

As well pull back from the scene and move into the Metropolis air, we:

FADE TO:

EXT. METGEN HOSPITAL - METROPOLIS - DAY
Establishing shot of the building, before we

CUT TO:

INT. METGEN HOSPITAL - METROPOLIS - DAY
MAGGIE is seated on a gurney in the outer treatment area of the Emergency Room, her arm being tended to by a nurse, who once she finishes wrapping it, leaves her be, as DANNY and EMIL wait nearby.

EMIL
Given the all clear, I see?

MAGGIE
He knocked the wind out of me for a second, that‘s all.

She stands, and IMMEDIATELY HISSES IN PAIN, and touches her side gingerly.

DANNY
Yeah, if you say so, boss.

MAGGIE
Just some bruised ribs, nothing I haven’t been through before. He wouldn’t have got me at all if I had been firing on all cylinders, I’m getting slow in my old age.


She walks over to the two men, and they move down a corridor and out of them way.

MAGGIE (CONT.)
How’s Eric doing?

EMIL
We sedated him to keep him under control, just in case, before he was moved here, but the serum seems to have done the trick, thankfully. His blood is still showing heavy concentrations of starlight, but it’s been rendered inert, and the mutagenic changes seem to have halted. Time will tell if he’ll recover completely, though. His respiratory and circulatory systems underwent a massive trauma, so the prognosis is 50/50 at best for the moment.

DANNY
Poor kid.

MAGGIE
You changing your tune?

DANNY
Hey, he made some lousy decisions, sure, but I saw what you all saw, he was in pain, his body was turning against him.

EMIL
If and when he is on the road to recovery, I’m going to contact the Isis Foundation, they specialise in helping those with meteor-related issues, maybe their counsellors can-

BEEP BEEP BEEP!!!

An ALARM begins to sound loudly.

VOICE (V.O)
Code Blue, Code Blue, crash team to Room 217 stat!

REACTION: EMIL, his eyes widen, and his jaw drops, and he takes off RUNNING down the corridor.

EMIL
That’s Eric’s room!

Off of Maggie and Danny’s realisation that this IS NOT GOOD, we:

FADE TO:

EXT. METRO CENTRAL - METROPOLIS - DAY
Establishing shot of the building.

HENDERSON (PRE-LAP)
I heard about Eric Marsh, Maggie, I’m sorry.

CUT TO:

INT. MAGGIE’S OFFICE - METRO CENTRAL - DAY
Maggie herself is looking out of the window, as Henderson pours two drinks from a small cabinet, before approaching and offering her one, which she accepts. He then sits atop Maggie’s desk, eyes fixed on her, who continues to look out onto the Metropolis skyline. Both LexCorp and the Watchtower building are clearly visible, as is the Daily Planet’s globe. Maggie takes a deep swig of the drink, before turning to face Henderson.

MAGGIE
Mike, cut the small talk, okay? We both know why I’m here, so let’s get this out of the way, huh?

HENDERSON
What do you mean?

MAGGIE
You told me that if I didn’t bring the kidnappers of Vanessa Kapatelis to justice, I should kiss my career in Metropolis goodbye, right? Well, I didn’t, so should I just hand in my badge now, or wait till Corporan comes calling for it?

HENDERSON
Actually, you might want to hold onto it for a while, considering you’re getting a promotion.

Maggie REACTS, STUNNED to say the least!

MAGGIE
Is that your idea of a joke?

HENDERSON
Well, that depends, really. You finding Vanessa Kapatelis alive and well has forced our dear Commissioner’s hand in certain matters. Do you remember what you told Corporan the last time you saw him?

MAGGIE
That we need to reorganise the way we look at crimes in this city, sure. Metropolis isn’t the same city is was before Dark Thursday, hell, every year we’ve had more and more cases being labelled with the word ‘unexplainable’. We can’t rely on costumed vigilantes, no matter how powerful or good their intentions, to do our job for us, because we’re the ones who have to put the pieces back together after they fly or swing off into the sunset.

HENDERSON
What you said made sense then, and it still does now, but because you went in all guns blazing, and then proceeded to slate the Commissioner in public, the idea was pretty much kyboshed.

MAGGIE
Yeah, don’t remind me.

HENDERSON
However, it seems you’ve made a few friends in high places. corporan has been fielding calls from the Mayor, corporate executives, hell, even State Senator Kent!

MAGGIE
What are you saying, Bill?

HENDERSON
What I’m saying is, that I have been asked by the Commissioner to join his staff as his newly appointed Special Advisor for any cases that deal with ‘special individuals’. So, I nominated you as my replacemant as 1st Shift Commander and overall head for of the SCU. From now on, the purview of the Unit will be to look into any and all cases dealing with circumstances beyond the normal job of the police.

MAGGIE
So basically, its going to be our job to deal with the cases that no other department or precinct wants to touch?

HENDERSON
Look, Maggie, you need to look at this as a blessing, not a curse. You’ll be in charge of the whole department, answerable to me, able to hand pick the personnel you want onboard, have a dedicated lab space and staff, and we’ll be able to update all the equipment thanks to a very generous donation from Queen Industries. Apparently, a Dr. Hamilton is willing to come onboard as a scientific advisor, if you want him? That is, if you accept the reassignment. What do you say?

Maggie is IN SHOCK, she takes a final sip of the drink, before smiling, coyly.

MAGGIE
Do I get to move into your office?

HENDERSON laughs, before taking another sip of scotch, as we:

CUT TO:

EXT. DANNY’S HOUSE - METROPOLIS - NIGHT
Maggie pulls up in her car, and exits, heading up onto the porch, giving the door a firm knock, before waiting for someone to answer.

HENDERSON (V.O)
So, any thoughts on what kind of personnel transfers you want to make? I mean, you’re going to need a new partner.

MAGGIE (V.O)
Actually, yeah, but you might not like it.

DANNY answers the door, SURPRISED to say the least.

DANNY
Boss? I mean, Captain Sawyer?

MAGGIE
You can keep calling me Boss at work, but from now on, outside of work, it’s Maggie. You heard about my promotion, I take it?

Danny NODS.

DANNY
Yeah, congratulations, Capt- sorry, I mean Maggie.

She brings up a box she is holding in one hand, and passes it to Danny, who takes it, confused.

MAGGIE
Actually, I think it’s me who should be saying that to you.

Danny opens the box to find a METROPOLIS POLICE SHIELD, very new and very shiny, with the very prominent words ‘METROPOLIS’ and ‘DETECTIVE’ embossed on it’s surface. Danny looks up at Maggie, SPEECHLESS.

MAGGIE
Apparently, you aced the exam. Hell, you even beat my score! See you bright and early tomorrow morning, Detective Turpin.

Maggie walks away, leaving the totally floored Danny in his open doorway, and by the time she is back by her car, she looks around to see SUZIE TURPIN (Last seen in “Smallville” 8x16 - “Bullet-proof”) approach her husband. She watches as Danny, inaudible to the viewer, tells her the good news, and she EXCITEDLY EMBRACES her husband in celebration.

With a SMILE, Maggie quickly climbs into her car as we:

FADE TO:

EXT. METROPOLIS SATELLITE CENTER - METROPOLIS - NIGHT
Establishing shot of the building.

CUT TO:


INT. ACE OF CLUBS RESTUARANT - METROPOLIS - NIGHT
The club is closed for business, with only a minimal degree of lighting by the bar, as the elevator DINGS to signal it’s arrival, before the doors open. We see a pair of heel-clad feet walk out a few steps, before we pan up to reveal a stunning RED-HEAD, dressed in a business suit - this is WHISPER A’DAIRE (gorgeous, statuesque, but ice cold).

WHISPER
Treating me to dinner, Brickwell?

REVERSE ANGLE:

We see someone standing by the terrace opening, staring into the night sky, the lights of Metropolis visible, before they turn around. This is DANIEL BRICKWELL (late 30s, a hulk of a man, African-American, white dreadlocks pulled back in a ponytail), and he is NOT HAPPY.

BRICKWELL
I figured it would be best if we talked alone, Ms. A’Daire. We don’t open for the night shift for a few hours yet.

WHISPER
Oh, you know how to romance a girl, Daniel.

She moves to the bar, as Brickhouse moves to join her.

BRICKWELL
You said the raid on the Kapatelis mansion would be a simple job, Whisper. But what part of it costing me 3 of my guys makes it ‘simple’.

WHISPER
Oh, Daniel, we both know those 3 were the lowest rung of your little posse, and that they were deliberately recruited because of their latent meta-gene potential. Mario and Troy, their deaths tell us that we need to keep working on the ‘starlight’ formula so that it doesn’t cause a fatal reaction from the new ability.

FADE TO:

INT. VANESSA’S ROOM - METGEN HOSPITAL - NIGHT
We see the sleeping Vanessa, TOSSING AND TURNING in her sleep. We close up on her sweat-stained face, her eyes moving rapidly under her eyelids, as SHE DREAMS.

WHISPER (V.O)
As for poor Eric, well, his death demonstrates that the Kapatelis hit wasn’t a total loss. Not only do we have several million in jewellery, but we also have a new ‘associate’ who can strike at the very heart of Metropolis high society without anyone being aware of it before it happens.

FLASH CUT TO:

A series of images:

- a dainty hand, fingernails painted silver, but cracked and chipped, picking up a cushion from the nearby chair.

- Vanessa standing by the sleeping Eric, cushion in hand

- her face, dead of emotion

- slamming the cushion down on his face

- the EKG SILENTLY GOING FLATLINE

- the pillow being placed back on the chair

- Vanessa watching from across the corridor as the Crash Team races into Eric’s room, fruitlessly performing CPR, her face expressionless.

FLASH CUT TO:

Vanessa’s eyes snap open, and she bolts upright, breathing heavily, looking around panicked for a moment, her eyes WIDE AS SAUCERS.

BRICKWELL (V.O)
Yes, our little Silver Swan, I wonder what kind of nightmares she‘s having?

Off of Vanessa’s TERRIFIED expression, we:
BLACKOUT:
END OF EPISODE

ACT THREE

EXT. METRO CENTRAL - METROPOLIS - DAY
Establishing shot to reaffirm we haven’t left the building, be we:

CUT TO:

INT. METRO CENTRAL - FORENSICS LAB - DAY
DANNY is working on the main computer station, looking at various displays on the different monitors, typing away at a reasonable pace, but stopping every so often, and looking over at WALLY with FRUSTRATION.

Wally, though, is clueless to the looks he is getting, as he mumbles Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” under his breath, but loud enough to be made out, and to know he CAN’T SING, as he works a sample out from the centrifuge, and drips some of it on a test slide, before placing that in another device.

Danny tries to focus on his typing, but when Wally hit’s a particularly off-key note at a rather high volume, Danny CAN‘T TAKE ANY MORE!

DANNY
Do you have to do that while I’m working?

WALLY
Do what? Sing?

DANNY
I’ve heard singing, and that ain’t it.

WALLY
Everyone’s a critic! My lab, dude, my rules, simple as.

Danny turns back to the monitors, letting out an angry sigh.

WALLY (CONT.)
Search not going well for what’s-his-name?

DANNY
Eric Marsh, and no, it isn’t. I’ve tried a load of different databases, but I can’t find any trace of him.

Wally looks up from his own work, a little surprised at the remark.

WALLY
He’s a convicted felon, he should be flagged easily enough.

DANNY
Exactly! But aside, from him serving a brief stint in Stryker's Island Prison, there’s nothing.

WALLY
That’s a little disturbing, wasn’t this guy arrested for armed robbery and assault charges?

DANNY
Yeah, how does the data trail for someone like that just vanish? I get going off the grid, but I don‘t even have a previous address or a parole officer to start from.

Wally comes over, a little too close, and takes the keyboard away from an indignant Danny, and types himself for a few seconds. A large red screen suddenly pops up - “RESTRICTED ACCESS” - not encouraging at all.

WALLY
Ooh, nasty.

DANNY
That didn’t happen before.

WALLY
You aren’t me, dude. This could be fun, leave it with me, I’ll get into this when my tests are done.

BEEP!!

Wally and Danny look up, as another machine in the room, the one Wally fed a test slide into earlier, sounds its alarm, and the printer linked to it spits out a sheet of paper. Wally hops over and pulls out the paper, and reads it, EYES WIDE.

WALLY
Whoa! Look at the spikes on this!

As Wally’s eyes continue to BOGGLE at the results, in walks, Maggie, and Danny takes one look at her SERIOUS mien and GRIMACES. Wally however, is OBLIVIOUS.

WALLY
Just in time for the grand finale!

MAGGIE
Good, I could use some good news today for once.

DANNY
You’re meeting at LexCorp didn’t go so well?

Maggie starts PACING as she talks, her tone BEYOND annoyed

MAGGIE
They may have changed the damn name of the company, and talked about ‘rebranding’ and making the company more ‘friendly and accessible’, but their damn PR department is still as obstinate as ever! I even called ahead and gave them a good hour to deal with my request, but it was like getting blood from a god-damned stone!

Wally, wanting to be the focus of attention again, waves his paper printout.

WALLY
Hello, genius at work here, remember?

MAGGIE
What have you got?

WALLY
It’s the chemical breakdown of that compound I isolated from the blood work from the burn victim, the really funky one.

DANNY
And?

WALLY
Can I just preface this by reminding you once again, I AM a genius, and very, very good at my job.

Maggie stops her pacing, and simply fixes her VERY ANNOYED gaze on the red-head, who swallows nervously.

WALLY (CONT.)
Basically, its your standard mix of cutting agents, but the major contributor of the compound is our old friend, benzoylmethylecgonine.

DANNY
Cocaine? Wait, the compound is some kind of drug?

MAGGIE
Come on, Wally, spill, no way cocaine would stump you.

WALLY
(sighs)
The mass-spec had some trouble with the other major ingredient, it can’t seem to identify it. It just down-right refused.

Maggie FROWNS, and fishes through her pockets for something, and pulls out a USB DATA DRIVE.

MAGGIE
Maybe our friendly LexCorp spokesperson actually did help after all.

She under-arm throws the data drive at Wally, who clumsily catches it, a little confused.

MAGGIE (CONT.)
Compare your mystery results with the chemical analysis on the drive.

As Wally turns to his computers, edging Danny out of the way rather unsubtly, he backs up and turns to Maggie, INQUISTIVE and IMPRESSED.

DANNY
I thought you didn’t get anything from them.

MAGGIE
I said it was difficult, not that I came away empty-handed. It takes a little more then a jumped up secretary to stop me from getting what I need for a case.

Wally suddenly WHISTLES!

WALLY
Now this is interesting!

Danny and Maggie look over and approach, as Wally continues to work on the keyboard.

POV: MONITOR DISPLAYS

Two images are next to each other, one labelled “SCU-UNIDENTIFIED”, the other “LC TEST 12897/D”, and even to an untrained eye, the peaks and troughs of the line diagrams look very similar.

Wally HITS a couple of KEYS and the two images move across the screen, eventually overlaying each other, and we see they are EXACTLY THE SAME!

BETH (PRE-LAP)
It’s used to be called meteor-rock, but when a certain superhero started showing up, it became known as Kryptonite.

CUT TO:


INT. OCME BUILDING - BETH’S OFFICE - DAY
It’s about as small as Maggie’s, but given the fact that many of the alls are covered in FILING CABINETS, it looks TINY, with only a few personal touches about it’s owner, including several diplomas and a couple of photos of family.

BETH, fishing through several different drawers of one particular cabinet, pulls out several manila folders, and drops them onto a large pile of identical folders on her messy desk, a half eaten apple laying precariously next to them.

DANNY
Kryptonite? You mean the stuff that supposed to be the remains of his home planet?

BETH
Wally sent me over the chemical breakdown, and I knew it looked familiar, so I went back over some of my recent cases that were apparent overdoses. There’s been this new designer street-drug doing the rounds, especially down in Suicide Slums, called ‘starlight’, which knowing what we do know, seems apt.

MAGGIE
How so?

BETH
This drug is regular street-level cocaine mixed with refine Kryptonite.

MAGGIE
Wait, so people are getting high snorting coke mixed with space rock?

BETH
Exactly. Given what people witnessed at the Kapatelis house, this might be more poignant then you realise. You’re both familiar with the two meteor showers in Smallville, right?

MAGGIE
Not so much the showers themselves, but the ’meteor freaks’ that were the result, yeah.

Beth gives her a disapproving look, before starting to hunt through the piles of paperwork for something.

BETH
I have a colleague over at Metropolis General, a staff physician, who also does some work with Queen Industries and the Isis Foundation researching into the ‘kryptonite phenomenon”. You might want to ask his opinion as well.

She takes a business card, and scribbles down in pen on the back of it, before handing it to Maggie.

MAGGIE’S POV: We see on the card, written in block capitals, is “DR. EMIL HAMILTON”

CUT TO:

EXT. METROPOLIS GENERAL HOSPITAL - DAY
Establishing shot of the hospital as ambulances pull out, and various people mill about, some in lab coats, some in nurses outfits, and some in regular civilian attire.

MAGGIE (PRE-LAP)
Excuse me, Dr. Hamilton?

CUT TO:

INT. METROPOLIS GENERAL HOSPITAL - NURSES STATION - DAY
EMIL HAMILTON (last seen in Smallville 10x18: “Kent“) looks up from the clipboard he’s working on, surprised to see Maggie and Danny walking up to him, Maggie holding her detective shield up for Emil to see.

EMIL
Yes, Detective, Officer? Can I help you with something?

MAGGIE
Captain Sawyer, Officer Turpin, Special Crimes Unit. We were wondering if we could take a few minutes of your time to talk to you about your work with the so-called ‘meteor freaks’.

Emil FROWNS, and crosses his arms, DEFENSIVE.

EMIL
Actually, we prefer people to use the term ‘meteor-infected’. These people didn’t ask for what happened to them, they’re as much victims as anyone else can claim to be.

DANNY
With respect, Doctor, I’ve spent a few years cleaning up after those so-called ‘victims’, and seen what they can do.


MAGGIE
The point is, sir, we’ve been told you’re an authority on the problems that this meteor infection can result in. You’re highly respected not just as a ER doctor, but also as a scientific authority on pretty much everything. It was you that helped cure that rabies strain, what, 2 years ago?

EMIL
(miffed)
Yes, the ‘zombie virus’ as everyone called it. I’m surprised you found out I had any involvement, the Department of Domestic Security tried their damnedest to cover up my part in that.

MAGGIE
We both have friends in high places, Dr. Hamilton.

EMIL
(suspicious)
Just what is it you want my ‘expertise’ on, Captain Sawyer? I am a very busy man, as you can imagine. In fact, I need to get back to my lab, would you care to follow me?

Emil WALKS away, forcing Maggie and Danny to follow him, as he heads down a corridor to his lab.

MAGGIE
You’re aware of the new drug going around, called ‘starlight”?

Unseen by the two police officers, Emil visibly REACTS, and frowns again, but tries to play it cool.

EMIL
In passing only, I’ve not had any involvement in any cases directly related to it.


DANNY
So you’re not aware of the fact that it’s actually cocaine mixed with Kryptonite?

EMIL freezes his tracks - he’s NOT SURPISED at all, but quickly feigns it, turning to look at the officers.

EMIL
Meteor rock? No, I wasn’t, if I had, then Queen Industries would have taken note of it.

Maggie frowns - she’s not buying it, but that’s not the important thing at the moment.

MAGGIE
Maybe you could explain just how this ‘infection’ works? I’ve worked a few cases myself involving people affected by the meteors, and I’ve never noted any kind of pattern to it.

EMIL
There does appear to be a random nature to the abilities people may develop, but it has been postulated that the mutagenic changes that occur can be related to several factors, such as the atmosphere and surroundings at the time of infection, the person’s emotional state, or in others, it triggers latent meta-human abilities. We’ve’ only recently began to unlock the secrets of the so-called ‘meta-gene’, and unfortunately, those who have them are naturally hesitant to come forward, especially after all the VRA nonsense.

DANNY
But what about the fact that so many of these people, they seem to end up going all kinds of crazy.

EMIL
(unimpressed)
Is that the technical term, Officer Turpin.

MAGGIE
My partner has a point, Doctor.

EMIL
(sighs)
Unfortunately, yes, it does appear in the majority of the cases, but not all, that kind of genetic mutation can cause a severe psychological effect, ranging from a change in personality, to a complete psychosis.

MAGGIE
So, these ‘starlight’ users, if Kryptonite can cause these mutations, could they be using the drug to do the same? To give themselves abilities somehow?

EMIL
Theoretically, yes, it’s possible, but as to what kind of abilities they would develop, there is no way to be sure.

MAGGIE
Anything like pyrokinesis or enhanced strength?

EMIL
Again, it’s possible. Why do you ask?

Off of Maggie and Danny exchanging a worried look, we:

CUT TO:

INT. METRO CENTRAL - FORENSICS LAB - DAY
CLOSE-UP of one of Wally’s MONITOR SCREENS, which displays slightly fuzzy image of the KAPATELIS VAULT AREA, and several indistinct people, with static lines moving through it - the video is paused.

WALLY
So, you’re thinking that the guys that attacked the Kapatelis place, they’re not meta-humans, but regular people using this ‘starlight’ drug to give themselves a meta-power?

We pull back from the monitor to see MAGGIE, WALLY and DANNY are all in the room, Wally on the stool by the monitors, turned to face the police officers, who are leaning on a counter each.

MAGGIE
9 years ago, Eric Marsh came up with a way to use refine meteor rock in an inhaled form to give himself super strength, so maybe if he’s using starlight, it’s having the same effect on him.

WALLY
I suppose that makes sense, yeah, considering how much that stuff plays havoc with your genetics anyway. Oh, that reminds me! I got a call from Dr. Chapel over at the morgue, she said she’d looked back over the body of the burn victim, and it took a little time, but she found evidence of track marks, definite drug use.

DANNY
Well, we knew that anyway, right? I mean, we found the drug in their blood. But, wait, that means they killed one of their own?

WALLY
Maybe they wanted to increase the cut among the other two?

MAGGIE
Maybe, maybe not. Have you watched the video yet?

WALLY
No, I waited for you two to get back and be suitably impressed by my data recovery skills. Plus, I was waiting for my popcorn to get ready.

DANNY
Forget the popcorn, lets see what it shows.

WALLY
Fine, fine!

Wally, turning back to the keyboard, taps a couple of keys, as Danny and Maggie move closer and watch over his shoulders as the video plays.

The image clears up a little as it does, and we watch as the 4 people enter the shot, and move towards the Vault door - 3 men, 1 woman. As the woman goes over to the control access keypad, and taps at it, she moves clearer into shot and we see it’s VANESSA.

MAGGIE
Nice work, Wally, that’s pretty clear considering.

WALLY
I aim to please.

The footage continues, as the vault door opens, and we see ERIC, carrying a back-pack, head in, as one of the other men, MARIO, clearly visible on camera, in apparent discomfort, suddenly clutch at his stomach, and collapse to the floor, as SMOKE can be seen rising from him.

DANNY
Is it me, or is that guy… smoking?

MAGGIE
(realising)
Wait for it.

Suddenly, the guy BURSTS INTO FLAMES that cover his entire body, the other man stumbling away from him in shock, and we see it’s TROY, clearly seeing his horror.

WALLY
Whoa!

DANNY
Wait, what just happened?!

MAGGIE
They weren’t expecting that to happen at all, look at that shock. The ’victim’, he was in on the robbery, he was part of their little gang. I think he was a starlight user, and it gave him the ability to create and control fire, he was the guy your witnessed talked about.

DANNY
The one who set his hands on fire.

MAGGIE
Exactly. But something went really wrong, either he lost control, or the starlight effect isn’t as predictable as they believed.

WALLY
So he spontaneously combusted?! That’s awesome!

Wally taps a control, and a brief freeze frame captures Troy’s image, and copies and moves the image to a corner of the screen. He also rewinds the footage, and does the same for Mario.

DANNY
Well, now at least we can ID the poor guy, and his wingman, and we’ve confirmed Eric Marsh was in on the robbery too. Play the rest, would you.

Wally taps a key, and the video resumes, with Mario a smoking corpse on the floor, as Eric, swinging the back pack onto his shoulder, runs, while Troy grabs Vanessa by the arm and pulls her out of shot. We see Danny frown at the screen for a moment.

DANNY
Why take her though?


MAGGIE
You thinking something?

DANNY
Vanessa Kapatelis is a member of one of the wealthiest families in Metropolis, but we’re still waiting for a ransom demand. It doesn’t make sense.

Wally freezes the image and we CLOSE-UP on the image, grainy to an extent, but clear enough to make out that while TROY looks panicked as all hell, Vanessa looks CALM, ALMOST BLANK OF EMOTION.

On the grainy, blank expression of Vanessa Kapatelis, we:

FADE TO:

INT. PRIVATE WAREHOUSE - SUICIDE SLUMS - NIGHT
A pair of dirty, bare feet, scratched and bleeding from tiny cuts and scrapes, toenails painted silver, are the focus of attention, as WE SLOWLY PAN UP and see a figure, wrapped in darkness, but clad in a familiar silver dress, torn in places, ruffled and wrinkled, and long blonde hair, flowing down untidily over their face.

DANNY (V.0)
She looks so vacant, compliant, even. We’re assuming they panicked at took her as insurance, but what if that wasn’t it. What if they decided she was their best bet at finding somewhere to lay low?

WALLY
Well, the Kapatelis have a lot of money tied up in real estate, redeveloping Suicide Slums, especially around Hobbs Bay. Maybe they used her to gain access to one of them?

DANNY
That’s a big area, we need to narrow it down.

MAGGIE (V.0)
One way or another, we need to figure out where the hell she might be.

Suddenly, a shaft of light appears, ILLUMINATING the figure, but we still can’t see who it is:

REVERSE ANGLE:

MAGGIE and DANNY, weapons drawn, approach from underneath a raised shutter door, and we can see several police cars behind them, their lights casting into the warehouse as they walk forward. Maggie, spotting the figure moves in quickly, as other uniformed officers moved throughout the warehouse, making sure it’s secure.

She kneels, down, and feels for a pulse for a moment. Satisfied, she nods at Danny, who lowers his weapon, and gets on his radio, as Maggie gently lifts the person’s head up, and into the light, gently moving the hair from their face:

It’s VANESSA KAPATELIS!

On her unconscious, but tear-stained and blood-streaked face, we

BLACK OUT:

END OF ACT THREE

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

EXT. KAPATELIS TOWNHOUSE - METROPOLIS - NIGHT
We’re back at the townhouse, but it is a very different sight that greets us, as around the house are now dozens of POLICE CARS, a couple of AMBULANCES and one FIRE TRUNK, and various people in UNIFORMS are making there way to and fro around what can only be called a scene of barely controlled CHAOS.

There is a police line in force, as uniformed OFFICERS make sure that the growing numbers of passer-bys and gawkers keep their distance from what is now a CRIME SCENE.

The house itself looks the same, except that there appears to be faint traces of smoke coming from the still-open doorway and several open windows, and the doors themselves are no longer attached to their hinges, but rather on the steps leading up to the door.

As we pan over the mess of people going about their jobs, we pass an ambulance whose rear door is still open, and we see a familiar face inside - it’s Owen! He is unconscious, and sporting several burns on his face, as a paramedic checks the IV going into his arm, the one not crushed by Eric.

There is a sudden glare of HEADLIGHTS casting into the ambulance as we:

REVERSE ANGLE:

...and watch a car pull up and come to a stop several feet from the ambulance. The driver’s side door opens, and out steps another familiar face, CAPTAIN MAGGIE SAWYER (last seen in Smallville 7x16: “Descent“), looking presentable but rather tired as she reaches into her car, and pulls out a still steaming cup of coffee in a travel mug, before slamming the door closed.

She makes her way forward towards the police line, taking a sip of her coffee with one hand and reaching into her jacket pocket with the other, pulling out her POLICE BADGE, and flashing at the OFFICER standing by the tape. He obligingly lifts it for her and she ducks under and heads into the crime scene.

OFFICER
Evening, Captain.

MAGGIE
Officer.

OFFICER
Inspector Henderson is here, thought you should know.

Maggie visibly REACTS, SURPRISED at the news, but squares her shoulders, and nods in acknowledgement before continuing.

TOBY (O.S.)
Detective Sawyer! Detective Sawyer!

Maggie stops and turns at the sound of her name and watches with an amused look on her face as TOBY RAINES (attractive, late 40s, blonde hair, smartly dressed) quickly makes her way over to the tape. The young officer starts to move to block her, but Maggie lays a hand on his shoulder and shakes her head.

MAGGIE <smiles>
She’s okay.

The officer quickly retakes his position as Toby walks right up to the tape, with a notebook and pen already in hand.

TOBY
I see they’re already calling in the big guns, if you’re here, Captain. What can you tell me about what’s going on here?

MAGGIE
As you can see, Ms Raines, I’ve only just arrived, so I can’t really answer that question right now.

As they talk, it becomes clear to the viewer that there is more to this banter then meets the eyes, as the coy eye contact and veiled comments illustrate. There is a chemistry between the two of them, they’ve done this kind of thing before, and they both enjoy it.

TOBY
Word is this was a private fundraising endeavour arranged by Mayor Berkowitz.

MAGGIE
I'm sure that once we've done a preliminary investigation, we will of course release all pertinent information to the press then.

Toby just shoots her an annoyed look that screams “seriously?”

TOBY
Come on Maggie. Can’t you at least confirm the basics for me? Rumour is it’s a meta-case, which would make sense if they called you in, everyone knows you’re the go-to gal for those kinds of cases, these days.

Maggie’s professional smile falters for a moment - she has a hard time saying “no” to this woman. Finally, she sighs, and shakes her head, with an air of knowledge she might regret this in the morning.

MAGGIE
The Mayor wasn't actually involved in what happened here tonight, that much I have been told. As to if this IS a meta-case, I can’t say yet. However, we will be pursuing any and all avenues that our investigation finds.

Toby shoots her a dazzling smile.

TOBY
Can I quote you?

Maggie narrows her eyes at her, but she still has a small smile on her face.

MAGGIE
Don’t push your luck, Toby.

Toby laughs softly at the reply, as she scribbles on her notepad, before closing it and looking back at Maggie.

TOBY
We still on for Saturday night?

Maggie nods, her smile widening a little.

MAGGIE
I hope so. My place?

TOBY
I’ll bring the wine. Now go and catch the bad guys.

With that parting comment, Toby turns on her heel and walks off back into the still-growing crowd of people, as Maggie watches her leave, somewhat wistfully. She turns around, only to see the young officer shooting her a funny look, and her smile fades as she realises he heard some of their conversation. Her expression hardens into an angry frown.

MAGGIE <defensive>
Problem, Officer?

The officer quickly swallows and shakes his head - BUSTED!

OFFICER
Of course not, no, ma’am.

He quickly looking away, not wanting to be on the wrong side of Maggie’s temper. But she isn’t about to let him off the hook easily.

MAGGIE
Good. Keep it that way, understood?

This time he nods, but still keeps looking away from her, not risking eye contact. With a dark look, Maggie turns and stalks away, now clutching her coffee mug in a death grip as we CUT TO:

INT. KAPATELIS TOWNHOUSE - METROPOLIS - NIGHT
The foyer is a complete disaster area, ten times as worse as the exterior was looking. There is blood in quite a few areas, not horror movie level, but enough that Maggie notices as she walks in and surveys the scene.

She takes a long look around, watching the various crime scene techs working, collecting the evidence, and taking notes. Maggie slowly sips her coffee as she also makes mental note of the surroundings.

There are BURN PATTERNS in the walls, the FURNITURE is completely TRASHED, food, trays, smashed glass, is everywhere the eyes can see. BODY BAGS have been moved to one area, out of the way of everything else, but who is in them is not clear at all.

Several uniformed POLICE OFFICERS mill about, taking statements from several of the party guests that have stayed behind to answer questions.

One in particular catches our (and Maggie’s) eye, but his back is to us, so we cannot identify who it is at the moment. We notice him because he is on his own, whereas the other officers are working in pairs during their questioning.

Maggie FROWNS at the sight, and heads on over.

WE move focus onto a rapidly talking YOUNG MAN (about 20 or so, blonde, very excited, and not looking too worse for wear), and his outfit shows he was one of the serving staff.

YOUNG MAN
This guy, he just picked up some poor guy and through him across the room, with one hand! It was incredible, I mean, if I hadn't been so scared it would have been kind of hot, but speaking of hot, this other guy he set himself on fire, and acted like it didn't hurt at all, I mean that was so cool!

The man pauses for breath, before frowning slightly, and looking at the officer.

YOUNG MAN
You’re writing all this down, right? I mean, this is an eyewitness account, right?

We shift focus to see a rather blank looking page in the officer’s notebook, as he taps his pen against it in a seemingly random fashion, before we pan up and over onto the face of the officer, who becomes instantly recognisable as OFFICER DANNY TURPIN (last seen in Smallville 8x16: “Bulletproof“), trying to look like he actually believes a word the young man is saying - and failing.

DANNY
I am, sir, and I have your details if we need anything further, so expect to hear from us if we have any more questions.

The ‘witness’ isn’t convinced, and gives Dan a look that screams “whatever!”

YOUNG MAN
Sure, sure.

With that, he walks off, and Danny breaths a sigh of relief to be free of him, and OVER HIS SHOULDER, we see Maggie having watched the exchange with some amusement, before she puts on her serious ‘game face’ and walks up to him.

MAGGIE
Officer?

Danny turns around, and quickly STRAIGHTENS UP at the sight of a superior officer, nodding a welcome.

DANNY
What can I do for you, Detective?

The ‘game face’ quickly gives way to a small hint of a smile at Danny’s sudden move to look a little more professional in her presence.

MAGGIE
First of all, you can relax. Then you can tell me what we've got here?

Danny immediately relaxes, and responds with a slightly embarrassed smile of his own.

DANNY
We responded to a call of an explosion at this address, but it looks like everything happened long before we got here. I was the first officer on point, with medics and fire services responded to the same call, who secured the scene, but the fires had burnt themselves out by the time I arrived so there wasn't much for them to do. The doors, though, they looked like they’d been ripped right off the hinges!

MAGGIE
What about what was going on at the time it happened?

DANNY
Some kind of political fundraiser, arranged by the Mayor, put together by a Mr and Mrs Kapatelis, who are both out of town at the moment, they weren't involved in the actual function. It was hosted by their daughter, Vanessa.

MAGGIE (nodding)
Any casualties?

DANNY
Medics have already begun treating the variety of minor injuries sustained by the guests, but while securing the scene we came across the five DOAs you see as you walk in, plus two more in the basement by a high-security vault of some kind. It looks like they made off with several millions dollars worth of jewellery and item. The medical examiner has already signed off on the bodies up here, she should be with the one downstairs now.

MAGGIE
What about witness statements?

At the mention of that, Danny visible winces, a reaction Maggie spots, causing her to frown.

MAGGIE
What’s wrong? Something up with the witness statements?

Danny shrugs, not really sure what to make of what he’s been told several times tonight already.

DANNY
Honestly, I’m wondering what all
these people were smoking tonight. All the people I've spoke too. <beat> I don't know, Detective. It comes across as a little crazy, but they're all consistent with the others, that's what makes it so strange.

This gets Maggie attention, and she focuses intently on Danny.

MAGGIE
Strange how?

DANNY
Well, they all talk about 3 men who took control of the party, quickly dealt with the private security, and made a show of demanding jewellery and money from the guests. But no one can provide even a partial description, even though they say none of them wore masks, and add to that the 'special powers' they seemed to have.

Danny uses ‘AIR QUOTES’ and a sarcastic tone, when he talks about ‘SPECIAL POWERS’ - it’s pretty clear he DOESN’T BELIEVE a word of it.

Maggie however, react differently - her eyes widen noticeably, and she becomes much more concerned with taking in her surroundings. She looks back at Danny after a moment, an eyebrow raised.

MAGGIE
You don’t believe their stories?

DANNY
Look, I know that Metropolis has had some weird goings-on in the past, but more then likely, everything can be explained in a logical, reasonable way. I mean, fire coming from a guys hands, that’s a magician’s trick, easy enough if you know how.

Maggie can’t help but smile ever so slightly at what she perceives at Danny’s ‘innocence’ compared to her, whose seen plenty over the years.

MAGGIE
So you don’t believe in ‘super-powers’, then?

Danny visibly balks at the question, caught off guard, and knowing full well that it’s a trick question, but he’s still determined to answer.

DANNY
I didn’t say that, Captain. But just because we know certain people CAN do amazing things, doesn’t mean I have to believe every story about so-called ’powers’ that I hear.

Maggie nods, impressed. Danny smiles.

DANNY
Of course, unless that person has the word ‘Super’ in their name, that is. After watching Big Blue push a planet away, I’ll believe anything I hear about him.

Maggie can’t help it - she lets out a SNORT of LAUGHTER, that raises a few surprised looks and glances from the others in the room, and she COUGHS to clear her throat.

HENDERSON (O.S.)
Captain? Captain Sawyer?

Both of them look over at the source of the voice, and both their faces become more serious, but in Danny’s case, it’s more then a little dread as well.

REVERSE ANGLE:

...as MAYOR FRANK BERKOWITZ (50s, Caucasian, white hair, slim build and smartly dressed, if a little harried) is accompanied into the foyer of the Kapatelis house by INSPECTOR MIKE HENDERSON (late 40s, African-American, shaved head, serious face with a hint of tiredness) and they both look around the foyer, Berkowitz in SHOCK, visibly paling as he looks around, whereas Henderson watches with a more experienced eye.

Danny immediately stiffens up again, as Maggie turns away from them, her face immediately telling us these are the last people she wants to deal with right now. She straightens her shoulders, and casts a rather tired expression at Danny.

MAGGIE
Thank you, Officer Turpin, you can get back to work.

Danny’s pose immediately RELAXES, as does his expression, the SIGH OF RELIEF is almost audible, but he nods and quickly makes his way out, with all due haste.

Maggie watches, almost smiling, until she sees some of the OFFICERS present shooting hostile GLARES in the direction of the departing Danny. She fixes a steely gaze on TWO MEN in particular, and when they realise they’ve been busted, they quickly turn back to their work. Off her angry look, we:

BERKOWITZ (PRE-LAP)
I can’t believe all this, it’s just horrible.

CUT TO:

EXT. KAPATELIS TOWNHOUSE - METROPOLIS - NIGHT
Berkowitz quickly exits, followed closely by Henderson and Maggie, who wait for the mayor to compose himself, sucking in GULPS of air to help.

HENDERSON
Frank, you can rest assured that whoever is responsible will be caught. Captain Sawyer is one of our best officers, she’ll be in charge of the investigation.

Maggie raises an eyebrow at the compliment from her superior, but is also a little cautious about it, frowning ever so, knowing there is a LOT MORE to that statement then is currently apparent.

MAGGIE
Mr. Mayor, perhaps if you explained what the function was all about, that might help us figure out where to get started?

Berkowitz finally stands up straight again, and nods, swallowing hard, still dealing with the shock.


BERKOWITZ
Of course, of course. <beat> It was a simple fundraiser, nothing more, really. I mean, I was running a little late, I suppose, I should have been at the party from the beginning, but I got held up at the office, you know how it is.

MAGGIE
Of course, sir. But why here?

BERKOWITZ
The Kapatelis family and my own have been friends for decades, I mean, I’m godfather to their daughter! They’ve been with me for years, staunch supporters and benefactors, they offered to host this fundraiser, had my goddaughter make most of the arrangements, even host the damn thing! <pauses> Oh, lord, what am I going to tell them about Nessie?!

Maggie blinks in surprise - what is he talking about? She shoots a concerned look to Henderson.

HENDERSON
Vanessa Kapatelis is missing, Sawyer. She’s not been accounted for, dead or alive.

BERKOWITZ
She can’t be dead! Her parents would never forgive me! No, she’s been kidnapped, that’s the only explanation for it, they took her to ransom off as some kind of insurance. Taking the damn jewellery wasn’t enough for them was it?!

MAGGIE
Kidnapping is a distinct possibility, Mr. Mayor, but we have other things to consider.

HENDERSON
Such as, Captain?

MAGGIE
Look at all the dead bodies we’ve got. It’s safe to say these people weren’t concerned about keeping people alive.

HENDERSON
All but one of the bodies has been positively identified, they were all part of the security detail.

BERKOWITZ
They were part of a privately contracted group hired by the Kapatelis’.

Maggie absorbs that information for a moment.

MAGGIE
What about the seventh body?

Again, Berkowitz pales, he’s almost green and puts a hand to his mouth and turns away. Maggie is surprised by the reaction and again looks at Henderson for answers, noting that even he looks a little disturbed.

HENDERSON
I’ll leave that one for the ME to explain.

Maggie frowns at the OMINOUS tone in Henderson’s voice, wondering what could cause that kind of response from him as we:

CUT TO:

INT. KAPATELIS TOWNHOUSE - BASEMENT/VAULT LEVEL
It’s a well lit area, and in contrast to the foyer, is barely touched. Several crime scene technicians can be seen working inside the open VAULT, the door of which is open as if opened normally.

We shift focus to the only entrance to the foyer, as Maggie walks in, returning a welcoming nod from the sole OFFICER in the room. Her own focus soon shifts onto the sight of another BODY BAG being zipped closed by a couple of coroners assistants and lifted onto a waiting GURNEY.

Pulling on a pair of plastic gloves, she walks straight over to an unidentifiable PERSON, wearing one of those white one-piece coveralls that cover you from head to toe, complete with a little hood and blue booties, as they kneel over something that we see is PARTIALLY COVERED in a plastic sheet, whereas the rest is blocked by the person’s body. On their back reads “OCME” - Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

MAGGIE kneels down, just behind the coverall-garbed individual, and grimaces at the off-camera sight.

MAGGIE
I see what Henderson meant.

The person stands up and steps back, before reaching up and pulling off the hood, and shakes out a full head of LONG CURLY BLACK HAIR - this is DR. BETH CHAPEL (African-American, mid-30s, tall, beautiful, confident), and although she’s seen a lot in her career, this one still disturbs her. She takes a moment to process, and Maggie sees her, becomes concerned.

MAGGIE
You all right, Beth?

Beth manages a small warm smile at the concern in Maggie’s eyes - these two have worked together before, they’re FRIENDS.

BETH
You know how it is, Maggie. You
think you’ve seen it all before, but then something comes along and reminds you just how brutal one person can be to another.

We shift focus to see just what it is they’re talking about - and it isn’t pretty - A CHARRED, UNIDENTIFIABLE, but still mostly intact CORPSE is underneath the plastic sheet, the ground around it scorched and pitted from whatever intense fire blackened the flesh of the corpse. The corpse itself is twisted in a rictus of pain - they died in agony.

MAGGIE
<understanding>
Tell me about it.

BETH
I’ve had burn victims on my table before, I’ve seen what fire does to the body if left to run it’s course, but this, this is something else. I don’t even know if I’ll be able to get DNA, the tissue and bone are that degraded.

MAGGIE
Do what you can, but the sooner we ID this guy, the better.

BETH
Well, I can say for sure it IS a guy, that much I know. But as for everything else, we’ll have to wait and see.

They walk over together to the other body, which Beth unzips as Maggie talks. IN the background two of the coroner assistants start moving and bagging the burned corpse.

MAGGIE
What about this one? Same cause of death?

BETH
No, he died from whatever killed the other security people as well. On first blush, it looks like some kind of aneurysm, but I need to run some additional tests to make that a conclusive verdict.

Maggie shakes her head, trying to take it all in.

BETH
Maggie, you better catch these guys fast. If they really have kidnapped Vanessa Kapatelis, she won’t be safe for very long, if these deaths are any indication.

Maggie nods in agreement, as they both turn to the sound of footsteps approaching, as Henderson enters, his gaze fixed on Maggie. She knows that look.

MAGGIE <to Beth>
Call me as soon as you have anything.

BETH
These guys are first on my list, I’ve already been given my marching orders.

Maggie snorts in derisive amusement

MAGGIE
Oh, I’m sure you have.

Maggie walks towards Henderson as Beth signals one of her assistants to give her a hand, and they start wheeling out the gurney.

HENDERSON
I don’t have to impress on you the importance of this case, do I, Maggie?

MAGGIE
Come on, Mike, cut the crap with me, okay? We both know I’m not exactly popular with Commissioner Corporan at the moment. He’s been treating me as a persona non grata for the past few months. You’re here, so why bring me into this?

Henderson doesn’t particularly care for the comment, but Maggie sticks to her guns and stares him down.

HENDERSON
Look, Maggie, we’ve been through a lot together, but you’ve never learnt to play the political side of the game. You’ve made a few enemies in the last few years, after your public statements accusing the Commissioner of becoming complacent, that he’s allowed any and all meta-related cases to be handled by the growing number of vigilantes operating in and around Metropolis. That’s why you got reassigned to being commander of the 2nd watch at the Special Crimes Unit. I’m only here to handle the politics of the case, the rest of it is up to you. The crime happened during 2nd shift’s watch, which makes it your case, not mine. This is your chance to prove you can do what you say you can.

Maggie can’t help be dubious at the suggestion.

MAGGIE
And if I can’t..?

Henderson’s expression grows grim.

HENDERSON
Then, you might as well start thinking about a transfer, because Corporan will make it his mission to see that no one in Metropolis take you seriously again.

Of Maggie’s look of worry, we:

BLACKOUT

okay, this only seems to work every 5th or 6th attempt, sorry about that
most probably will copy and pasting it on here directly...

METROPOLIS
SPECIAL CRIMES UNIT

1.01 | "FORMATION"

Written by
Alex Matthews

Based on “Smallville”, developed for
television by Alfred Gough, and Miles Miller

Based on DC Comics Characters




Executive Producer
Alex Matthews
METROPOLIS : SPECIAL CRIMES UNIT
"FORMATION"

CAST

CAPTAIN MAGGIE SAWYER .................. Jill Teed
OFFICER DAN TURPIN ..................... David Paetkau
DR. BETH CHAPEL ........................ Tembi Locke
WALLY WEST ............................. Fran Kranz
KATE SPENCER ........................... Deanna Russo
DR. EMIL HAMILTON ...................... Alessandro Juliani

GUEST CAST
TODD RICE .............................. Chris Lowell
MIKE HENDERSON ......................... Avery Brooks
VANESSA KAPATELIS ...................... Hayden Panitierre
TOBY RAINES ............................ Kelly Rowan
MAYOR FRANK BERKOWITZ .................. Bruce Davison
ERIC MARSH ............................. Zachary Ty Bryan
WHISPER A’DAIRE ........................ Kate Walsh
DANIEL BRICKWELL ....................... Richard T. Jones
OFFICER GARRETT ........................ Noah Danby
OWEN RICHARDS .......................... ?
TROY WALSH ............................. ?
MARIO GONZALES ......................... ?

orbingmasterscripts.weebly.com/

Heya everyone,

one the Watchtower Season 3 discussion thread, I briefly hijacked it with a video I made, and talk about an idea for a 'virtual series' I have been bouncing around for a few years.
With encouragement from Mr. Chris Davies, I finally sat down and wrote the damn thing, well the premiere at least
After some final tweaks, this is the finished product - it doesn't fit into the Trinity/Watchtower universe, because I wanted to do my own take on Emil Hamilton and where his destiny might lead, but I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions.
This is my first proper attempt at a live-action script, so forgive the layout, although I tried to match existing VS script layout as much as possible.
Hope to hear from you all soon!