The Berlin 88 : EXT HOUSE DAY

EXT HOUSE DAY

BRUCE, a dark-haired man in his early 20’s, VICKY, a 20’s redhead walking towards the door

VICKY
Your parents will like me, right?

BRUCE
No(sarcastically)

VICKY
Thanks

Fred walks by

BRUCE
I love you though.

VICKY
I know.

Bruce knocks on the door; the door opens on its own. They walk in and no one is there and suddenly GRANDMASTER, a middle-aged woman who looks normal except for the goggles, leather trench coat, multi-colored neon hair.

GRANDMASTER
Bruce, is this Vicky the intrepid reporter?

Grandmaster hugs Vicky

VICKY
No. I mean I took a class.

GRANDMASTER
I’m sure that you have the insatiable desire to expose the innate corruption of society.

VICKY
OK, I guess.

BRUCE
So dad is where?

GRANDMASTER
In his lair.

INT. CAPTAIN CRIMSON’S LAIR. DAY
Captain Crimson stands in silhouette.

CAPTAIN CRIMSON (O.S.)
I here my name being called.

BRUCE
Not playing this game. Come down.

Captain Crimson, a middle aged man in a superhero wig, enters as heroically as he can muster

CAPTAIN CRIMSON
Is this the intrepid reporter?

GRANDMASTER
Honey.

Grandmaster and Captain Crimson start whispering guiltily.

CAPTAIN CRIMSON
My God.

They continue whispering as Captain Crimson takes off his glasses.

CAPTAIN CRIMSON (CONT’D)
Vicky, do you believe in justice?

VICKY
I guess.

Captain Crimson is pacing in the background.

GRANDMASTER
We’re very big believers in justice.

BRUCE
Everyone believes in justice.

CAPTAIN CRIMSON
It’s not just a word though, Vicky. Justice is the sandwich of the leanest and juiciest variety. It is not just any some sandwich with say bacon, lettuce, and tomato. No, justice is black tomato, fresh figs, red amaranth and slices of quail egg, which are just a few of the fillings held between three slices of sourdough bread. The cheese itself is West Country vintage farmhouse cheddar blended with white truffle, estimated retail price 170 dollars. That is the type of sandwich justice is. It is finally my duty to sling the sacred sandwich at evil.

GRANDMASTER
So what your father is trying to say in his way is that we have become those that the cowardly and superstitious lot fear.

CAPTAIN CRIMSON
Superheroes!

They both pose.

BRUCE
I have no idea what you just said to me.

CAPTAIN CRIMSON
Well, your mother and I have decided to become noble avengers of justice, known in layman’s terms as superheroes.

GRANDMASTER
Not me, my arthritis precludes me from doing avenging, so I became a master hacker.

BRUCE
What’s e-mail?

GRANDMASTER
I’m taking a class. I can copy things.

BRUCE
(beat)Okay, still can’t think of a right word - sufuidlong. No, that’stoo pacific.

VICKY
Specific.

BRUCE
Specific, so I’m just going to say dumb, dumb, dumb, and you will very definitely die, and if you don’t you will end up in prison. What are you two even thinking? This is the most irresponsible thing I have ever heard. This is not the right thing to do. It just isn’t. I mean right, right?

VICKY
Actually I think it’s neat, very ambitious.

BRUCE
Right. It is neat, sort of.

CAPTAIN CRIMSON
Now you can join us in our never ending battle for truth and justice.  Like a family should.

BRUCE
Great.

GRANDMASTER
And Vicky will be using the power of the pen to bring Argo Archimides down.

VICKY
I’m more of an academic.