All Nonfiction
- Bullying
- Books
- Academic
- Author Interviews
- Celebrity interviews
- College Articles
- College Essays
- Educator of the Year
- Heroes
- Interviews
- Memoir
- Personal Experience
- Sports
- Travel & Culture
All Opinions
- Bullying
- Current Events / Politics
- Discrimination
- Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking
- Entertainment / Celebrities
- Environment
- Love / Relationships
- Movies / Music / TV
- Pop Culture / Trends
- School / College
- Social Issues / Civics
- Spirituality / Religion
- Sports / Hobbies
All Hot Topics
- Bullying
- Community Service
- Environment
- Health
- Letters to the Editor
- Pride & Prejudice
- What Matters
- Back
Summer Guide
- Program Links
- Program Reviews
- Back
College Guide
- College Links
- College Reviews
- College Essays
- College Articles
- Back
Super Q
EXT. Main Street - Day
QUINN and ISAAC stroll down a sidewalk. Quinn, small and bespectacled, wears wet clothes, his hair matted down, stray feathers clinging to him. A "LOSER" sign taped to his back falls onto the sidewalk. He holds a couple comic books. Isaac, slightly larger, dry, carries a backpack.
QUINN
I detest life.
ISAAC
Here.
Isaac holds out a case of gum. Quinn pulls the piece and yelps. It's shock gum. Isaac puts it in his pocket, smiling at Quinn. A beat.
QUINN
I detest you.
ISAAC
Dude, I'm sorry. That was supposed to cheer you up.
QUINN
Your pranks are mean.
ISAAC
No they're not. Not all of them. What they did to you was mean.
QUINN
I'm a lone wolf-
ISAAC
(interrupting)
Dude-
QUINN
(continuing)
Outcast by society, a freak among mortals. And yet-
ISAAC
Stop it.
QUINN
(continuing)
I protect this retched city from villians who wish to destroy it and all who live.
Isaac takes a squirting flower out of his pocket and nails Quinn's face. Quinn squeals and flinches, shielding the comics.
ISAAC
Lighten up, will you? You're not a superhero. You're a kid with normal DNA, two living parents, and a five dollar allowance.
Quinn's face falls, eyes to the COMICS, wet and torn. A beat.
QUINN
(depressed)
They were mint condition.
ISAAC
I hate seeing you like this. You can't even stand up for yourself.
Quinn's eyes stay on the books.
QUINN
Sure I could.
ISAAC
Really? You think you're brave enough? You can't even sleep without a nightlight.
QUINN
Don't tell people that.
Isaac glances across the street spotting a dirty alleyway.
ISAAC
(pointing)
Here, look. If you stand in there for twenty seconds, I'll keep your nightlight secret.
QUINN
(stuttering)
But, sanitation, burglars-!
Isaac shoves Quinn, who glares back. Quinn looks both ways twice before crossing the street.
cut to:
ext. alleyway - day
He enters the alleyway and turns back to face Isaac. He motions Quinn to go further. Quinn walks past a dumpster, and turns back again. An unconscious teen NERD lies against the dumpster.
Quinn squeals and drops the comics. Arms flailing, he bolts out of the alleyway, a car nearly running him over.
ISAAC
What the-!
QUINN
(stuttering)
There's a dead guy!
ISAAC
Whoa man, chill.
Isaac peels Quinn off and crosses the street.
QUINN
Don't go over there!
Isaac kneels over the nerd. Quinn appears beside Isaac, hyperventilating. Isaac grabs the nerd's wrist, feeling for a pulse.
ISAAC
He's not dead. Looks like he passed out.
QUINN
Good, we can call the cops.
Isaac rolls his eyes. Quinn starts walking and trips over the nerd's legs. He sees a SUITCASE underneath the dumpster. He crawls under and reemerges with it. An envelope sticks out of the side.
Quinn takes the envelope. Isaac snatches the case while Quinn opens the letter.
INSERT: The letter's beginning: "I, Perry Page, declare this to be my last will and testament, and I revoke any and all wills and codicils I previously made."
Isaac turns the case over.
ISAAC
Fancy looking suitcase.
Quinn flips the page, finding a highlighted section.
INSERT: Highlighted: "And to my grandson, Simon Page, I leave my SuperComix store, and one of my greatest treasures in my old travel case."
Isaac shakes the case.
ISAAC
Sounds like paper. Paper moneeeeey.
QUINN
(to himself)
Perry Page. (beat) I know him-
The NERD gasps, scaring the boys. He looks at Quinn, then the suitcase.
NERD
Are they gone?
ISAAC
Who-?
voice
Hey nerd!
The two boys look up and see THREE BULLIES standing at the alley entrance. The nerd huddles in the corner. The LEADER cracks his knuckles, eyeing the CASE.
leader
(menacing)
What's yours is mine. Hand it over.
Quinn and Isaac bolt, other two bullies giving chase. Isaac carries the case. The nerd peeks over his knees.
cut to:
ext. alley crossroad - day
Quinn and Isaac each duck behind a column. They whisper to each other.
ISAAC
Crap! Craaaap!
QUINN
I knew that was a bad idea!
ISAAC
Why didn't you stop me?!
QUINN
I said call the cops!
ISAAC
Shut up!
The boys look back, hearing the bullies coming.
ISAAC
What do we do?
Quinn bites his lip and eyes Isaac's backpack.
QUINN
What's in there?
ISAAC
(shrugs)
Usual stuff.
Quinn looks down the alley and back at the backpack.
cut to:
EXT. ALLEYWAY - DAY
The bullies hurtle boxes and curbs, knocking over trash cans, searching for their prey.
cut to:
EXT. ALLEY CROSSROAD - DAY
INSERT: Quinn's HANDS take a roll of plastic wrap out of a box and peel it from the roll.
Quinn hurries around the two columns, making a strong bond around the top. He hums the Spiderman theme. The bullies approach. Isaac pulls Quinn behind another wall and shushes him.
The bullies run into the crossroads. Their heads slam into the wrap-trap, and they fall on their backs.
QUINN
HA!
Isaac covers Quinn's mouth and the two rush off again, the bullies getting up to follow. Once they're up, they run past the pillars and down another alley.
cut to:
ext. dark alley - day
Hear a door slam, and the bullies appear at the alley entrance. They run towards the door.
Bully #1
We got 'em now!
He opens the door and two giant rubber spiders fall to the ground. They screech and leap backward, running over the leader. The leader stands up and brushes himself off, picking up a spider.
leader
You twits! Scared of a bug?
bully #2
(cowering)
Well, actually, y'know, they're not-
LEADER
(throws spider)
I don't care! Come on.
They continue down the alley, searching for the boys.
cut to:
EXT. storefront - day
The bullies come out of the alley. A ways away, the boys see them and duck into a clothing store.
cut to:
Int. Thrift store - day
Clothes and mannequins fill the inside of the shop. Isaac stares out the window.
ISAAC
Dude, they're coming.
Quinn takes a gun from a toy shelf and switches his glasses for a mannequin's sunglasses.
QUINN
Disguise time.
cut to:
INT. thrift STORE - DAY
The bullies burst into the store. They tear through the racks, throwing clothes everywhere, searching for the boys.
The leader spots a mannequin covered with jackets and hats, wearing glasses. He casually starts walking past it, then turns and grabs it in a headlock.
LEADER
Gotcha!
The head falls off. He throws the mannequin down.
A SECURITY GUARD approaches.
guard
You hooligans get outta my store, or I'm calling the police!
The bullies leave in a huff. Behind the guard, the boys peek over a clothing rack.
ISAAC
Coast is clear.
The guard turns as they emerge. Quinn wears a trench coat, sunglasses, and a fedora. Isaac wears green pants and feather boa.
GUARD
What is this?
QUINN
(stuttering)
Oh, well, you see, it's a movie. We're filming a movie.
GUARD
A movie?
ISAAC
Yeah, we're the cameramen. It's a new thing: incognito filming.
GUARD
Get out.
QUINN
But the clothes-
GUARD
Just leave.
The boys start leaving. Before Quinn heads out the door he digs around in his pocket and pulls out a handful of change. Eyes locked on the guard, he squats slowly, dumping the coins on the mat. He returns to standing position for a beat, then rushes out.
cut to:
EXT. STOREFRONT - DAY
The boys, back outside, make an easy spot for the bullies. They run into another alley, and after a few turns come to a dark dead end.
EXT. DEAD END - DAY
Quinn and Isaac flounder for a way out.
ISAAC
(freaking out)
That's it. We're done. Biting the dust, buying the farm, kicking the bucket, giving up the ghost. We're gonna be food for worms!
Isaac falls to his knees.
ISAAC
Oh why must the good die so young?
Quinn shakes his head, rolling his eyes. He grabs Isaac's backpack and roots through it. He takes out boxes of BANG SNAPS and starts covering the floor with tons of them.
ISAAC
What are you doing?!
QUINN
I have an idea!
Isaac hesitates. Quinn stops, looks up.
QUINN
Do you want to go home alive?
Isaac nods.
QUINN
Then you'll play dead.
cut to:
EXT. ALLEYWAY - DAY
The bullies jog through.
BULLY #1
It's getting kinda dark.
BULLY #2
Yeah, maybe someone else got them already, and we can go get pizza or something.
LEADER
Quit being prissies!
Isaac's terrified screech echoes through the alley. The bullies freeze. They continue cautiously.
cut to:
EXT. DEAD END - DAY
They find the entrance to the dead end. Isaac lays in front of Quinn, fake blood decorating his shirt and pooling around his body.
Quinn eyes the bullies.
QUINN
Come to join the party?
LEADER
What the hell?
QUINN
You know, I tried to be nice. I ran away. Gave a couple warnings. And yet you still follow me.
BULLY #1
(motions to Isaac)
But, but-
QUINN
Every villain needs an identity, one that no one will ever guess. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. As are you.
Quinn pulls the TOY GUN from his coat. The bullies' eyes widen.
QUINN
(gesturing to gun)
Nice, isn't she? I call her Snapper. Makes the job as easy as snapping your fingers.
Quinn trains the gun on the bullies.
QUINN
Now I'm gonna count to three. Either you back down, or I'll send you where scum belong.
LEADER
(scared)
I'm not scared of you.
QUINN
One.
LEADER
You better watch yourself!
QUINN
Two.
The leader lunges over Isaac at Quinn. Quinn shuts his eyes and pulls the trigger. The snap bombs go off under the leader's feet, echoing off the walls. The two other bullies bolt, squealing.
The leader turns to run, tripping on Isaac. Isaac screeches and thrashes. The leader screams, and hurries after his henchmen. Isaac sits up, looking after them. He turns to Quinn, a goofy grin on his face. Quinn blows on the gun's muzzle.
QUINN
Three.
cut to:
EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY
Quinn walks down the street in his normal clothes, the briefcase under his arm. He steps into a comic book store. A sign is taped to the door.
INSERT: Sign "We wish Perry Page the best as he leaves this world to enter the next. Condolences may be sent to supercomix@redmail.net"
cut to:
INT. comic store - day
Quinn sets the case on the counter. The nerd is there, bandage around his head, name-tag "SIMON" on his chest.
SIMON
Man, I really appreciate this. Granddad would've been devastated if I'd lost it.
QUINN
No problem. It's what heroes do.
Quinn turns to leave.
SIMON
Wait!
Quinn turns again as Simon opens the case. Inside are two stacks of mint-condition comic books. Simon takes a couple out and hands them to Quinn.
SIMON
He would want you to have these.
Quinn takes the comics and smiles. He thanks Simon and leaves. Simon closes the case.
Fade to Black
Similar Articles
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
This article has 0 comments.
A 10-minute screenplay I wrote for creative writing this year.