EXT. HOSPITAL
An enormous hospital stands before COLE THOMPSON (17) A young man, 5’6 with dirty blonde hair. A great big future ahead of himself.
CLAIRE THOMPSON (22) A young woman, 5’9 with long blonde hair, rushes out of the building to greet her younger brother.
CLAIRE
There you are. You’re late.
COLE
Sorry about that.
CLAIRE
It’s okay. Are you ready?
COLE
(nervous)
I think so.
CLAIRE
Come on, you’ll be fine!
A hint of excitement bleeds through his anxiety and he smiles.
He follows her into the building.
INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY
Claire and Cole move through the immaculate halls of the hospital. Cole notices a TV playing the news in the distance.
A headline about a gang of “hero killers” is the main story of Watch Tower News.
CLAIRE
Don’t worry. We’re safe here.
COLE
So there’s no one special in here?
CLAIRE
You mean like, anyone with powers?
COLE
Yeah.
(quietly)
Like you.
Claire looks around to see if anyone is listening. She whispers.
CLAIRE
Well, we’re not supposed to talk about it, but yeah. There’s been a few. Actually there was someone brought in last night. He was beaten up pretty bad.
COLE
Is he going to be okay?
CLAIRE
Of course. We’ve got the best doctors in the country.
COLE
That’s good.
CLAIRE
That’s why you wanted to come here, isn’t it? To see someone with powers.
COLE
Kind of, yeah. They’re like real superheroes!
CLAIRE
You think so?
COLE
Yeah they’re awesome! Why don’t you become a superhero?
CLAIRE
My power isn’t all that useful. Plus I don't know how to fight.
COLE
Your power is awesome! What are you talking about?
CLAIRE
If you say so.
Claire notices the anticipation on her brothers face.
CLAIRE (CONT’D)
You want to see it again don’t you?
Claire rechecks her surroundings.
CLAIRE (CONT’D)
Why not.
She picks up a pen off of a trolley and waves her other hand over it. The pen changes into a plastic scalpel with ink engraved throughout.
COLE
Whoa! See? That's so cool!
She hands it to him.
CLAIRE
Here, you can have it.
COLE
Thanks.
After a few moments.
COLE (CONT’D)
I wish I had a power like yours. Then I could be a real superhero.
CLAIRE
You know, not everyone with powers are superheroes, right?
COLE
I know. But if I had one, I would be.
CLAIRE
You don’t need superpowers to be a hero.
COLE
Yeah, but you do to be a superhero.
Cole smirks and Claire smiles, shaking her head.
They continue walking through the empty hall.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM #1
An older woman is seen in her bed. MS. WILLIAMS (79) Claire walks into the room, followed by her brother.
CLAIRE
And how are you doing today Ms. Williams?
MS. WILLIAMS
Oh, I’m doing okay.
CLAIRE
Is the back pain any better?
MS. WILLIAMS
Still the same, dear.
CLAIRE
Okay, I’ll talk to your doctor to see if we can get you on something a little stronger.
Claire smiles.
MS. WILLIAMS
Thank you, And who’s this little cutie?
CLAIRE
This is Cole, he’s my little brother.
MS. WILLIAMS
Hello Cole.
She extends her hand. Cole hesitates for a moment and then shakes her hand.
COLE
Hi. It’s nice to meet you.
MS. WILLIAMS
Isn’t he a little gentleman.
CLAIRE
Cole’s studying to be a doctor.
MS. WILLIAMS
My my. Isn’t that wonderful!
Claire ruffles his hair.
CLAIRE
Yeah, he’s a little genius.
Cole looks annoyed and fixes his hair. His sister laughs.
CLAIRE (CONT’D)
Well we better get going. There’s a lot to do. Have a good day Ms. Williams.
MS. WILLIAMS
You too my dear.
INT. HOSPITAL HALLS #2
Claire and Cole stand by a nurses desk as she goes through her clipboard. A man approaches. He wears a dirty trench coat.
MAN #1
Excuse me Miss. Have you seen Dr. Nielson?
CLAIRE
What’s the problem sir?
MAN #1
No problem. I just wanted to thank him. He saved my little girls life last week and I just wanted to give my thanks.
CLAIRE
That’s sweet.
She looks around and notices the doctor down the hall.
CLAIRE (CONT’D)
Umm... he’s just over there.
MAN #1
Thanks.
CLAIRE
Anytime.
The man walks away.
Claire looks through her clipboard, figuring out where they are going to next when--
MAN #1 (V.O.)
WHERE ARE THEY!?
Claire turns toward the commotion. It’s the man she just spoke to struggling with the doctor.
BANG! A gunshot. Screams and panic ensue.
Dr. Nielson falls to the ground, dead. The man grabs a nurse and holds his gun to her head.
The man looks at Claire and her brother. Claire looks to the phone on the next a few feet away.
MAN #1
Ah, ah ah. Don’t even think about it.
COLE
(whisper)
We have to help her.
CLAIRE
(whisper)
I know.
(to man)
What do you want?
MAN #1
I want to know where he is. Then this will all be over.
CLAIRE
Who?
MAN #1
I know he’s hiding here somewhere.
CLAIRE
I don’t know who--
MAN #1
DON’T BULLSHIT ME!
He aims his gun at Claire. Cole steps in front of his sister, quickly throwing the scalpel at the man, hitting his hand, allowing his hostage to escape.
MAN #1 (CONT’D)
You little shit!
The man re-aims and fires.
We see Cole’s face in shock. He looks down and touches his chest. He notices his body is distorted, somewhat ghost-like. It then solidifies again.
The bullet went right through him.
Claire collapses behind him and he turns around, confused and worried.
COLE
NO!
Another man walks up to the gunman. The same outfit as the gang on the news that kills people with powers.
MAN #1
Find him. I’ll deal with the kid.
He moves over to Cole who is knelt down by his sister. Cole looks up at the man.
MAN #1 (CONT’D)
By the look on your face it seems like you didn’t know you had this power till now. Too bad. Now I’m going to have to kill both of you. No witnesses after all.
Cole shields his sister. They both phase through the floor as the gunman fires.
MAN #1 (CONT’D)
Dammit!
INT. BASEMENT CLOSET
Cole and Claire fall through the floor, landing in a basement closet.
Claire screams in pain as they land. Cole sits up.
COLE
You’re okay! Thank god!
He hugs his sister. She winces in pain.
COLE (CONT’D)
Sorry! You’re, you’re bleeding... I don’t, I don’t know what to do...
CLAIRE
Yes, you do.
COLE
Okay, I think... pressure on the wound.
She screams.
COLE (CONT’D)
Exit wound.
He feels her back for any wounds. Nothing.
COLE (CONT’D)
Damn. Means the bullet’s still inside... shit.
Claire tries to stay conscious in her weakened state.
CLAIRE
I... I trust you. You can do this...
Cole looks at her, worried. She passes out.
COLE
No! Stay with me. I can’t lose you too.
Frantic, he looks around for something, anything he can use to help. Nothing in sight.
He pauses for a moment and remembers. His power. He lifts his hand and looks at it. He shifts his arm out of phase for a moment, then back.
Gunfire and explosions can be heard from above.
COLE (CONT’D)
I have to do something...
He looks at his sister once more. A worried but determined look crosses his face. He takes a breath and then exhales. His arm phases out.
INT. THOMPSON HOUSE - KITCHEN
Cole sits at his kitchen counter. He has a sad look on his face while moving his cereal around. A new silver necklace is brandished around his neck. A half heart, made from the same bullet that shot his sister.
He’s all alone in the kitchen, then--
CLAIRE (V.O.)
Well don’t you look chipper this morning?
Claire appears, brandishing the other half of the necklace.
COLE
Yeah, just thinking about stuff.
CLAIRE
Well hurry up. We’re late!
She hurries off into the next room. A smile brightens his face.
END
