Screenplay
SUPERHERO TRAINING
Written by
Catherine Wignall
FADE IN:
INT. DARKENED BEDROOM - DAY
A curtain’s drawn across the window, daylight struggling through into the gloom where AISHA (19) is huddled under the cover, drooling in her sleep.
The sound of general DESTRUCTION and CHAOS filters through from outside. People are SCREAMING. Aisha continues to sleep.
The building SHAKES. Dust pours down from the ceiling, coating Aisha where she sleeps. She huffs, turning over.
BURNING FUSELAGE comes CRASHING through the window, soaring over Aisha and landing on the floor.
Finally, Aisha awakes. She shoots up with lightning fast reflexes, automatically launching herself out of bed and extinguishing the fire with her blankets.
She blinks, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Her singed curtain flaps in the breeze.
AISHA What the -
She reaches for the curtain, pulling it back in time to see -
EXT. CITY - DAY
A BLASTWAVE engulfs the city. Buildings crumble. Smoke fills the sky. Civilians scream.
An ARMADA OF SPACESHIPS hovers above it all. This is an invasion.
INT. DARKENED BEDROOM - DAY
Aisha swears.
We BLEEP it out.
EXT. KITCHEN - DAY
TRENT (23) is at the end of his rope.
The apartment SHAKES around him. Lights FRITZ on and off. Through the WINDOWS we can see a continuation of the general chaos and destruction.
He’s oblivious though. There’s something much worse in front of him.
The kitchen sink is piled with a tower of dirty dishes. It sways as the building shakes. A laundry basket, still full of unwashed clothes, has been seemingly abandoned nearby.
His bulky muscles tense, practically rippling before our eyes. He grits his teeth.
Aisha stumbles out of her bedroom, trying to shove her boots on without tripping. She doesn’t quite manage it.
AISHA Why the hell didn’t you wake me?
Trent doesn’t turn around. If he had, he’d have seen that she appeared to be wearing a futuristic jumpsuit.
AISHA (CONT’D) Trent? Do you realise how hard it is to get into this thing on short notice?
She gestures to the jumpsuit, clipping a utility belt around her waist.
AISHA (CONT’D) I have underwear up my butt right now. Do you understand how uncomfortable it is to fight bad guys like that? And why the hell aren’t you dressed? The city needs saving!
Trent doesn’t move. Whatever. Aisha’s not waiting around for him. She strides toward the door. She only manages to open it an inch before the door SLAMS closed, the handle pulled out of her grip.
She reaches for the door again. The same thing happens.
AISHA (CONT’D) Trent! Stop playing around. We need to go!
Trent SIGHS.
TRENT I had one condition when you moved in. One.
Oh god. Not this again. Aisha barely manages to refrain from rolling her eyes.
2.
AISHA Seriously? You’re going to bring this up now?
TRENT Why? Does it bother you, Aisha? Are you inconvenienced?
AISHA A few dirty dishes is hardly comparable to a goddamn city crumbling around us.
TRENT It is to me.
AISHA Oh for God’s sake.
TRENT No. Don’t make me out to be the unreasonable one here.
Another BLASTWAVE erupts outside. The apartment shakes violently.
TRENT (CONT’D) You’re the one who wanted to learn how to be a superhero. All I asked is that you kept this place clean in return. Tell me: have you kept up your part of the deal?
Aisha turns back to the door, tugging futilely.
TRENT (CONT’D) Have you?
AISHA (mumbling)
No.
TRENT What was that?
AISHA (louder)
No!
TRENT Exactly. You can learn to fight bad guys again when you start pulling your weight.
3.
AISHA You can’t be serious. You have to let me out of here right now.
TRENT No. You wanted to learn from me. Now you’re learning.
AISHA I’m not learning anything! Let me out!
TRENT No. You’re staying here.
Aisha’s practically stomping her feet like a child. This is totally not fair.
TRENT (CONT’D) You need to learn that actions have consequences. Otherwise I’m just sending you out there to become a supervillain.
AISHA That doesn’t even make any sense!
TRENT I’m done arguing. You’re staying here.
AISHA You’re treating me like a prisoner.
TRENT You and I both know you could burn a hole in the wall if you really wanted to get out of here. But you’re not going to because at least I’ve trained you better than that.
Aisha sulks, but doesn’t deny it.
AISHA So the city needs saving and you’re just going to turn your back?
Trent shrugs.
TRENT The city always needs saving. Someone else will do it today.
4.
A GIRL (22) flies past the window.
TRENT (CONT’D) Look. Dove Girl’s at it right now.
DOVE GIRL launches an ALIEN INVADER into space while hovering nearby. She makes it look effortless. She waves through the window, winking at Aisha and Trent, before diving back into the fray.
Aisha’s jaw drops. She stomps her feet this time. A small spurt of FLAME erupts around one of her boots. Trent arches a disapproving eyebrow, tutting at the newly-singed carpet.
AISHA It’s not fair. She’s going to be on the news. They’ll say she saved the city. Again.
TRENT Your turn will come.
AISHA Not if you don’t let me out of here.
TRENT I’m not letting you leave until you tidy up. I’m not asking for much.
Glass SHATTERS as more flaming debris smashes into the apartment.
TRENT (CONT’D) Make sure you get that while you’re at it too.
Aisha glares mutinously at his departing back, before extinguishing the flames.
She runs the water in the sink and begins to wash the dishes.
Outside, superheroes swarm the streets and skies. The fighting slows. They’ve won.
And she missed it.
CUT TO BLACK.
THE END
5.