Adrenaline (Super power movie screenplay)

8/11/2019 Adrenaline (Super power movie screenplay)

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-------------------------

Adrenaline

by

Adam Johnson

3336 Spruce lane

Grapevine, TX 76051

(214) 460-1526 [email protected]

FADE IN:

EXT. STREET, BUS ROUTE - MORNING

The street is deserted. One of the city's more rural

neighborhoods.

The leaves on all of the trees are turning a rich brown.

They cover the grass on the lawns.

INT. SCHOOL BUS - MORNING

The driver stares in the oversized rear-view mirror just

above him, looking back at the rowdiness of adolescence.

In the back of the bus the kids are going crazy. The bus is

filled with an utter chaos. Everyone struggles to talk over

one another, resulting in one massive unified shouting.


The bus edges around a corner on the single lane street.

A figure, at least eighteen, stands blurry in the distance,

awaiting the bus.

INT. SCHOOL BUS - MORNING

The bus's brakes SCREECH as it slowly comes to a stop.

The bus driver looks over to the door and opens it with his

free hand. He gets a good look at the kid - brown hair, not

cleanly cut, skinny, nerdy. The boy is DYLAN DANDRIDGE.

He stares at the bus driver. And waits. Beat.
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He takes a step onto the bus.


The air brakes hiss, and the bus drives off.

SUPERIMPOSE -- ADRENALINE

INT. SCHOOL BUS, BACK - SHORT TIME LATER

Dylan sits in the back of the bus. The bus is full of kids,

but Dylan is alone, the only empty seat is next to him. He's

busy reading an issue of "The Amazing Spider-Man".

Across the bus and up three rows a jock in a letter jacket

peers past the seat and smiles as he looks on.

2.

He turns back to his buddy in the seat next to him, another

jock, but bigger, and nudges him in the gut with his elbow.

The little jock motions to Dylan with his head.

One of them says something, but it's muffled by their

immediate laughter. They take another look over the seat,

and another burst of chuckles erupt.

Dylan is oblivious, still reading.

A moment later there is another loud burst of sound and the

bus slows to a stop, jerking suddenly near the end.

He continues to read.

After a pause the bus begins to pull away, jerking everyone

in the opposite direction.

The jolt forces his head up from the pages. He sees an

eighteen year-old GIRL, dressed to impress, beautiful,

speaking with the jocks, DEAN and WILL, from the aisle.

One of them says something to her and she looks around the

bus anxiously. She spots Dylan, with an open seat next to him.

As soon as she sees him Dylan averts his eyes, pretending

not to have seen her. He stares out the window, the comic

resting in his lap with his thumb stuck on his last page.

GIRL

Do you mind if I sit? There are no

other seats.

Dylan looks up at her and shakes his head "no."

She bends down and struggles to fit her bag underneath the

seat. Her shirt slides forward and her lower back is exposed.

Dylan stares, at her derriere.

He hears a chuckle and quickly breaks his gaze to see the

jocks smiling obnoxiously at him again.

He averts their gaze as well, and notices the comic still in

his lap.

He takes his thumb out of it and slides it into his open

backpack, trying to be unnoticed.

She sits down beside him. She avoids looking in his direction.

DYLAN

So, are you going to school?

She looks at him, a "duh" face.

3.

GIRL

Uh huh.

She quickly turns from him again.

DYLAN

It's my first day. My family just

moved here.

She forces a smile at him.

DYLAN

How long have you gone here?

She stares out the opposite window, looking away from him.

GIRL

(somber)

I've always gone here.

DYLAN

You sound like you don't --

GIRL

--Don't like it? No, it's not--

(warmer, smiling)

It's not that. It's just... school.


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DYLAN

(smiling)

Yeah.

She looks at him and sees the edge of the comic book

sticking out of his backpack.

GIRL

Oh. You like comic books?

DYLAN

Oh, yeah.

Embarrassed, he slowly pushes the exposed edge into his

backpack, trying not to let her see.

DYLAN

Do you? Do you read them?

Trying not to be too cruel,

GIRL

No. I just think they're so

ridiculous. So unreal.

4.

DYLAN

Everything's rooted in reality. No

matter how ridiculous.

GIRL

Still, don't you think you're a

little old to be reading those?

DYLAN You're never too old to dream.

There is an awkward silence as Dylan struggles for something

more to say.

He hears laughing and looks over at the jocks sneering again.

They beckon for her to join them. They tap their open palms

on a space they've made in between them.

DYLAN

(to Girl)

I'm Dylan Dandridge.

He extends his hand for a handshake.

His introduction draws her away from the others. She looks

at him, and takes his hand.

GIRL

Sarah.

After they disconnect she looks around. Dylan looks out the

window as a car pounds by.

His hand rests on his knee. SARAH watches it. She suddenly

feels too close to him.

She scoots over, trying not to be too obvious. She's ready

to fall off the edge of the small bus seats.

DYLAN

So, maybe I could walk you to class?

She looks up to him. Beat.

SARAH

(soft)

I have a boyfriend.

(beat)

I'm sorry, but he's right over there.

She starts to gather her things from beneath the seat.

5.

DYLAN

Wait. I thought we were just--

She gets up.

She sits down in the tight space with the two jocks, sitting

quickly.

Dylan watches as she shakes hands with the two jocks,

meeting for the first time.

Dylan rests his head on the window of the bus, watching the

world pass him by.

After a moment he reaches into his bag and pulls the comic

book out. He begins to read.

The bus sways and lulls as it drives on. Dylan can't

concentrate. He lifts his eyes out from the comic and sees a

girl, KELLY, blonde and beautiful, looking at him. When she


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sees his gaze she quickly turns her head, averting her gaze

from his.

Dylan keeps staring, he can't look away.

TYLER THOMPSON, her boyfriend, the same age, shouts at Dylan

as Dylan continues to ogle his girlfriend. Tyler wears a

dark red school jacket, made of a special velvet material

for him only, with an added insignia, an enormous bright

yellow "C" on one side, in it reads: CAPTAIN.

TYLER

Hey!

He looks at Dylan in an angry puzzlement. Dylan quickly

looks away.

Dylan hears them speaking softly to one another, from across

the bus.

KELLY

(distant)

Babe... don't.

TYLER

(distant)

What? I don't like anyone looking

at you like that.

KELLY

(distant)

He's just some kid.

Dylan delves back into his issue, suffering another humiliation.

6.

Soon the bus screeches to a stop, arriving at the school.

Dylan looks out the bus window on the other side, a long

look at his new home away from home for the first time.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL, 1ST FLOOR HALLWAY - MORNING

The tardy bell rings, billowing through every hallway. Kids

and teachers alike scatter across the hallways, struggling

to find their classrooms amidst the chaos.

The hall is filled with people, like rush hour traffic.

Dylan is the only one not moving, the only thing he can do

is search for the class he's supposed to be in.

He grabs someone by the arm.

DYLAN

Excuse me?

The man spins around, very angry. He jerks his arm back, and

walks away.

He steps in front of a teacher.

DYLAN

Can you--?

But the teacher pushes past him, not caring.

Dylan can only speak out, hoping someone will answer his plea.

DYLAN

Does anyone know where Health is?

But of course, no one answers him.

Will passes him.

WILL

Geek.

Surrounding people laugh.

The hallways begin to empty, and Dylan is left wondering.

INT. HEALTH CLASS - DAY

The bell rings, but Dylan is nowhere in sight. The class is

nearly full, only a few open desks remain. The female

teacher, MRS. LEVIN, begins to speak to the class. On the

board behind her, in the far corner, her name is scribbledin chalk.

7.

MRS. LEVIN

Ok, so--

Her sentence is cut off as she spots Dylan looming in the

doorway, trying to sneak by her.

MRS. LEVIN

You're late.

Embarrassed, he nods his head, "yes."


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He stands still in the doorway, his head lowered in shame,

further embarrassed.

MRS. LEVIN

Sit. I'm letting you off the hook.

DYLAN

Oh.

WILL (O.S.)

Geek.

Dylan looks over the seats and sees an open desk near Kelly.

He hurries over.

As he heads for the desk the teacher begins to talk, without

waiting for him to sit down.

Tyler fires a look at the kid behind the open desk,

demanding a very specific response.

Instantly the seat stealer throws his backpack into the chair.

Dylan quickly walks away towards another open desk, one

beside Kelly, the only open seats are seemingly near her.

Along with one in front of Tyler.

Tyler shoots another look at the kid next to the open desk,

he doesn't want him to sit anywhere near his girlfriend. The

kid next to the desk quickly plants his feet in it, smiling

arrogantly.

Dylan still stands as the teacher continues to talk. She

sees him and finally acknowledges his distress.

MRS. LEVIN

Well?

Dean raises his hand with great enthusiasm and signals thatthere is an open desk near him.

8.

MRS. LEVIN

(re: desk)

There you go.

He looks at her, pleading with his eyes.

MRS. LEVIN

Go on, we need to get on with class.

Dylan regrettably takes the seat just in front of Tyler, who

leans in close and speaks in his ear as the others watch on

with anticipation.

TYLER

Welcome to Health class. I'm Tyler.

(beat)

Just keep away from my girl-

Tyler looks across the room to Kelly, sitting in her desk

listening to the teacher.

TYLER

-and you won't need to know much

about maintaining physical health.

Dylan is quickly petrified. The teacher picks up where she

left off.

MRS. LEVIN

So, I'm going to pick up where we

left off on the internal organs.

But today I thought we'd talk about

something a little more interesting:

adrenaline.

She turns on the overhead projector and motions to one of

the students, who shuts off the lights. On the projector

transparency is a picture of the ADRENAL GLAND inside the

human body.

MRS. LEVIN

Adrenaline, also called Epinephrine,

is transported through the body's

bloodstream from the Adrenal Glands,

shown here.

Mrs. Levin points to the overhead. Dylan watches the slide

as she speaks.

MRS. LEVIN

Adrenaline courses through the body

when we're in danger, or if

something scares us, or even if

we're just excited.

9.

Some of the men in the class giggle obnoxiously.

MRS. LEVIN


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That's enough.

She gets back on track.

MRS. LEVIN

When it enters our bloodstream we

become stronger, faster, more agile.

Any of the body's physical

attributes can be heightened by

this natural chemical. Reptiles are

a great example.

She slips a picture of a crocodile in a deathroll.

MRS. LEVIN

Crocodiles, before they go into

what is called a "deathroll," shoot

adrenaline through their bodies.

It's such a rush that anyone

holding the croc as it's doing this

can actually feel the power

building in its muscles. But, just

like with all animals, adrenaline

is quite toxic. That's why these

guys here struggle to stop the

deathroll, crocodiles have a

tendency to overdo it, and they can

die if they're not controlled.

DEAN

(sarcastic)

Yeah, what a waste.

She snaps to anger.

MRS. LEVIN

Dean, shut up.

(back on track)

Like I was saying, the chemical is very toxic, even to humans. So any

prolonged exposure to any great

amounts of this would, in fact,

kill you dead.

Dylan glances at Kelly across the room. She looks at him,

but tries to look away before he sees her.

Beat.

10.

MRS. LEVIN

Now, I've talked about its effects

on humans - increased heartrate,

increased strength and speed - now

let me show you. Don't worry, I'm

not gonna hurt you.

She slips a transparency onto the projector. A photograph.

There is a middle-aged woman at the bumper of a Volkswagen

Beetle, clutching it with extreme exertion. Under the Bug is

a little girl, wedged between the front tire and a curb,

screaming in pain.

MRS. LEVIN

There are actual proven, well, not

proven, documented instances where

things like this happen.

(points to slide)

You've all heard the myth, maybe

seen it on TV: The helpless mother

lifting the two-ton car off of her

screaming child trapped underneath.

Dylan's attention is caught.

MRS. LEVIN

I know all of you here probably

think this picture is pure and

total crap, dreamt up in Photoshop.

You're all wrong. This happened in

Manchester, in December of last

year. The woman's name is Lisa

Hodgkinson, she's thirty. The child

underneath is seven.

(beat)

How is it even possible she lifted that car? Miracle of God? Is it all

just some hoax? A medical marvel?

Unfortunately, she spent the next

six months lying in a hospital bed

because she was in a coma brought

on by an overdoes of a toxic

chemical. But she saved that child.

You would have all done the same.

DEAN

(sarcastic)

How little you know me.

Levin and Dean start to argue, but Dylan's attention has now

completely changed focus, the noise behind him drowns out.

He sees Kelly, sitting in her desk, also trying to ignore

the boy's rantings. Dylan just stares at her.


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11.

The noise has already stopped and the teacher has begun

teaching again but he can only stare, completely lost in his

own hope.

Kelly looks away again, beginning to blush.

Tyler quickly leans in over Dylan's shoulder, speaking in

his ear.

TYLER

Don't stare again, friend, and I

won't have to catch up with you later.

INT. CAFETERIA - LUNCHTIME

Dylan steps out of the lunch line with a full tray of the

same cruddy cafeteria food.

He stands alone for a moment, and looks over the enormous

cafeteria.

He sees a couple of empty tables off in the corner.

He doesn't move.

He spots a full table with a single empty chair, just

begging him to sit in it. The open chair is next to Kelly.

He starts to walk over when Tyler sits down in the empty

chair. Dylan watches them for a moment. Kelly says something

and Tyler erupts in laughter, kissing his girlfriend on the

cheek with a mouthful of food in his mouth. Kelly laughs

with him.

Tyler looks up, and sees Dylan. Dylan quickly turns in the

opposite direction, spinning around, like a soldier.

Dylan quickly scans the area again. Finds another table with

several open seats, full of reasonably popular kids, judging

by the number of people at the table.

He hesitates.

He is completely torn, not knowing whether to try for the

popular table and tempt the rejection again, or go for

something less painful, like being alone.

He eyes another possibility: two kids, completely alone,

sitting at the table in the far corner, out of the light.

Both kids are outcasts, shunned away from the rest of the world.

After a moment, he walks over.

12.

DYLAN

Hi.

CONRAD and BEN look up at Dylan. Both of them are almost too

typical to be real. The thick glasses, the poorly cut greasy

hair. The school nerds. They look at each other.

CONRAD

Would you like to sit down?

Dylan sits.

DYLAN

Thanks.

Dylan hangs his head low. He doesn't say anything.

They look at each other again, confused.

BEN

Are you alright? You-

DYLAN

-No, I'm not alright.

Ben sits back and crosses his arms.

BEN This looks familiar.

Conrad nods in agreement.

Dylan looks up, curious.

CONRAD

Would you care to tell us who?

DYLAN

I don't know what you're asking.

CONRAD

Would you care to tell us who did

this to you?

Beat. Dylan motions across the cafeteria to Tyler.


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DYLAN

That walking tricep over there.

13.

BEN

As suspected.

(beat)

I'm Ben. That's Conrad. And THAT

(re: Tyler)

is Tyler.

DYLAN

I know who he is. I mean, I... I'm

Dylan. But I still don't understand.

You--

CONRAD

-There are two other people sitting

at this table. And both of us have

gone through exactly the same thing

that you are now.

BEN

Don't let it get you down though.

We're pretty cool.

(beat)

And God knows we can always use

another friend.

DYLAN

What did you do that was so horrible?

BEN

Nothing. Unless you consider

looking at someone for too long a banishable offense.

CONRAD

You know her: The naturally

highlighted blonde hair, curled

from end to end. The striking blue

eyes. The dimple on her right cheek,

but not the left.

(beat)

Kelly.

(beat)

We were caught and we were punished

for it.

DYLAN

You only looked at her?

CONRAD

Exactly. All we did was just--

Dylan's fork drops onto his tray, interrupting loudly.

14.

BEN

What did you do?

DYLAN

I looked. Alot.

CONRAD

A little bit of advice among losers:

Don't do it again and you'll be

alright. If you see her, you run.

DYLAN

(absent)

Yeah...

But he's no longer paying attention to his own words. He can

only stare at Kelly.

CONRAD

Are you listening?

DYLAN

(absent)

Uh huh.

CONRAD

(to Ben)

It's too late for this one.

CONRAD

I would suggest opening a spot at

the morgue but I don't think he'll

give our new friend the relief of

death.

The bell rings, lunch is over already, maybe too quickly, he

wants more time to stare at her in peace.

He gets up with his tray and spins around to leave, but

Tyler is directly in his path. Dylan knocks his tray all

over Tyler's pretty bright red letter jacket.


9/54


10/54

NURSE

You fell down the stairs during

lunch. Thank God that young man

Tyler was there to help you. He's

the heart 'n soul of this school

you know.

DYLAN

(confused)

What? No he-

NURSE

-He saved you son. He saved you.

She obviously knows the truth. Apparently Tyler's power as

the popular one takes hold of even faculty.

17.

NURSE

Now come on, if you don't think you

need to go to the Emergency Room

then I suggest you head home. Now.

DYLAN

Yeah. Yeah, I will.

He groggily gets off the table and walks out of the room,

muttering to himself once outside in the hallway.

INT. NURSE'S HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Classes are still in session, which explains why the halls

are so empty.

DYLAN I hate popular kids.

INT. CONCRETE HALLWAY - SHORT TIME LATER

Dylan takes slow, hesitant steps as he walks down a narrow

hallway somewhere in the bowels of the school. He's lost.

INT. MUSIC HALLWAY - SHORT TIME LATER

Somehow he's made his way into the music wing, near the band

rooms.

The sound of a piano becomes increasingly louder with each

step, beautiful, tranquil music being played by some unseen

person.

He follows the noise curiously, the sounds coming from a

very lonely room, in the farthest of corners.

He enters.

INT. PIANO ROOM - AFTERNOON - CONTINUOUS

And to his surprise he finds Kelly, even more beautiful than

before, with her eyes closed, playing the piano, completely

lost in the music she's creating.

He lets her play, watching from just inside the doorway,

just listening to her beauty unfold itself as music.

She finally comes to the end of the song, finishing it with

incredible grace and beauty, never knowing he was watching

her. She hits the last key, but keeps her eyes closed, still

immersed in it.

18.

DYLAN

(soft)

Wow...

He doesn't even realize he's said anything. It just slipped out.

She jumps, startled by his sudden presence.

She turns to face him, surprised to see him again.

KELLY

I don't believe it.

(beat)

It's Dylan, isn't it?

DYLAN

How do you know my name?

KELLY

I think I overheard it in class, I

think.

Dylan comes through the doorway.

DYLAN

Your boyfriend around?

KELLY


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No. No one knows I play here.

Except you.

DYLAN

I guess it's safe to talk then?

KELLY

Yeah. Yeah, of course.

(beat)

I can't believe him.

(beat)

You know I don't have one guy

friend because of him? And his

jealousy.

DYLAN

No, I didn't know that.

KELLY

You're new here, aren't you? How

are you liking it so far?

Dylan holds his face.

KELLY

Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I just-

19.

DYLAN

-Really, I'm fine.

(beat, looks at the piano)

You play beautifully.

KELLY

I think you said 'wow.'

Dylan looks nervous standing before her.

KELLY

I always come down here and play.

At the same time, everyday. It just

relaxes me.

(beat)

No one even seems to notice I'm

gone an hour out of the day. It's

kind of depressing, really.

DYLAN

I think it's a relief.

KELLY

What do you mean?

DYLAN

With friends like those? I'd be

glad to get away from them once in

a while.

Kelly smiles. She lowers her head to try and hide it, but

she can't. She nods in agreement.

DYLAN

You actually like him?

KELLY

I don't know, really. I mean the

things he does... bother me, but

when he's with me it's like... like

he's a different person. He's sweet,

he's funny. Completely opposite of

the one you saw.

DYLAN

Which one do you think is the real one?

She doesn't know how to answer.

KELLY

Why are you here?

20.

DYLAN

I just got lost, coming out of the

Nurse's office--

KELLY

-No. I mean, why are you HERE?

Talking to me now.

DYLAN

I don't know. I heard you playing...

I guess I couldn't resist.

They kind of stalemate, both seemingly nervous now.

DYLAN

What can you play?

KELLY

Only a few pages. I'm still just

learning.


12/54

DYLAN

Do you know the Symphonies?

KELLY

Beethoven?

Dylan nods.

KELLY

No, I don't. They're... well,

they're too advanced.

(beat)

You sound like you know them. Do you play?

DYLAN

Advantages of being a dork.

KELLY

You really don't seem like that big

of a dork to me.

DYLAN

Give it some time.

Dylan sees an opening.

DYLAN

I could teach you.

KELLY

I really could use a teacher, but-

21.

DYLAN -Come on, he'll never know. You

said it yourself: He never comes

down here.

Dylan looks at her, his eyes slightly wide with anticipation.

KELLY

(hesitant)

Okay.

(beat)

Swing by tomorrow and we'll start

with the Symphonies.

DYLAN

It's a date.

(beat)

Maybe I shouldn't say that...

KELLY

Probably not.

DYLAN

I'll see you tomorrow then?

KELLY

I'll be here.

He leaves the same way he came.

After he exits, he jumps high into the air, clicking his

heels, and holds his head in agony when he lands.

Kelly watches from the window, a hint of a smile appears.

EXT. STREET, COMIC SHOP - DAY

Dylan walks down a lonely street, headed towards a lone

building. The building has on the side of it a painted mural

of all the great comic-book heroes.

INT. COMIC SHOP - SHORT TIME LATER

Like most comic shops this one appears entirely unorganized,

with books and issues strewn about in an almost careless

manner. It's very cluttered, and quite cramped.

Dylan is busy shuffling through one of the many rows of

comic books with his finger.

Elsewhere in the store a MOTHER and DAUGHTER break the

silence with their conversation.

22.

MOTHER

Ok well, you decide on what you

want while Mommy go gets the car

from across the street okay? We

shouldn't have walked from the

grocery store.

DAUGHTER

I'm sorry.

The mother bends down, smiling.


13/54

MOTHER

Don't be sorry, babe.

(kisses her forehead)

I'll be right back.

Dylan peeks his eyes up from the issue to look at them,

smiling a bit of his own.

He looks back at the issue, yet another of "Spider-Man."

INT. COMIC SHOP - SHORT TIME LATER

Dylan waits in line with only one other person in front of

him. When the person is finished Dylan starts to movetowards the counter. But the little girl gleefully rushes up

beside him with an issue in hand and heads straight for the

front of the line.

Dylan smiles as she struggles to reach over the counter to

place the issue on top. The OWNER looks at him, Dylan smiles,

happily relinquishing his spot in line.

DAUGHTER

Mommy's coming.

Without ringing her up,

OWNER

It's yours, honey.

She yanks the issue from the counter and without a look back

she's out the door.

EXT. COMIC SHOP - SHORT TIME LATER

The little girl sits on the sidewalk of the empty parking

lot to the comic shop in the middle of nowhere, smiling and

reading a comic book.

Dylan walks out, the bell on the door ringing, reading his

own issue while walking.

23.

He doesn't see the little girl sitting down on a long

concrete block designed to indicate where cars should stop

when parking. He turns the page, and continues to walk until

he rounds a corner, losing sight of her and the shop.

He soon finishes another page.

Suddenly, somewhere in the distance, tires squeal as they

struggle to grab the road. There is a sick thud seconds

later. And a little girl screams in agony.

Before Dylan even notices the comic is on the ground and his

feet patter as he races towards the accident. On the cover

of the issue, Spider-Man stops an 18-wheeler from colliding

with a young girl.

In the distance several different screams, both of terror

and of pain, echo past the many feet separating them.

A moment later Dylan is there, at the scene of the accident.

What he sees shocks him: The little girl, once reading a

simple comic-book, is now wedged under the tire of an SUV,

trapped awkwardly between it and the curb she was just

sitting on moments ago.

The woman driver leaps out, crying in horror, and tries to

pull the little girl out by her arm. But the little girl

screams even louder, the pain growing as the woman tries to

help.

Dylan runs over to the front bumper, and grabs it hard. He

struggles hopelessly to lift it enough to free her.

Nothing budges. He looks around to see if there is anyone

else to help him but there is not.

He struggles again to hoist the massive weight of the SUV,

but of course his scrawny body can do nothing to help the

little girl in trouble.

He lifts one last time, an incredible weight on his arms,

excruciating pain on his face.

From somewhere deep inside of him, a new strength fills his

muscles, he can feel the SUV moving. The metal bumper groans

and bends under his strength.

His struggle continues. His hands raise an inch, and another

inch, and another. Dylan fights the growing weight of the

SUV, as it continues to rise.

The woman driver finally slides the child out from under the

wheel. She clutches the girl in her arms.

24.

The SUV falls and slams to the ground.


14/54


15/54

-- The sound of his anguish.

26.

-- Dylan's heart, as he grabs as the bumper. Louder and

LOUDER it becomes, beating, pumping faster and faster,

booming like a drum.

INT. DYLAN'S BEDROOM - MORNING

The drum beat of his heart transforms into a banging on the

door, someone pounding. Dylan jumps up, face down in his bed,sweat dripping from his forehead.

MOM (O.S.)

(behind door)

You alive in there?

He looks around, still dazed.

MOM (O.S.)

(behind door)

Get up. Time for school.

He looks over at the clock, 7:06 AM.

DYLAN

Holy crap.

He throws himself out of bed, tearing on his shirt and pants.

In his rush he doesn't notice, but what yesterday was so

scrawny and skinny now is powerful, very muscular - toned to

perfection.

With clothes still hanging off of him,

DAD

(calling up)

YOU'RE LAAAAATE!

He dashes for the door.

INT. DYLAN'S HOUSE, DOWNSTAIRS - DAY

Dylan bolts down the stairs, taking two, sometimes three

steps at a time. His backpack on, his clothes on.

DYLAN

(rushing)

Bye Mom, bye Dad.

But before they can answer he has already left, bolting out

the door.

They just look at each other.

27.

DAD

I thought you said he was sick.

MOM

He's just changing so much.

EXT. STREET, SCHOOL ROUTE - DAY

Dylan runs as fast as his legs will carry him, late for school.

The track team is doing their usual run, all wearing their

uniforms saying TRACK TEAM, running in synchronized order.

They are all very fast runners.

Dylan rounds a corner, still in sprint. His backpack bounces

off his shoulders with each step.

He passes the first couple of them with ease, the back of

the pack.

Then he easily passes the majority of the pack, and takes a

glance back.

He takes another mad dash and passes the leader. Angry, the

leader pushes himself even harder, increasing his speed.

But somehow, Dylan still passes him with ease. Dylan spinsaround, backpedaling, but still in sprint. Still beating

that runner by a large distance. He can't believe himself.

He turns around again and runs hard, losing them in the

distance.

INT. SCHOOL, ENTRANCE - DAY, 10 MIN BEFORE BELL

The halls aren't cluttered this time around.

Dylan looks at his watch. Surprised by what he sees he looks

up at the school clock hanging in the hallway.

He's early.

Someone comes running up to him through the crowd. It's Tyler.


16/54

Dylan looks a bit surprised.

TYLER

Hey.

Dylan looks at him, not knowing what to think or say.

TYLER

No hard feelings about yesterday?

It was an accident.

28.

Dylan shakes his head tentatively, "no."

TYLER

Just making sure you're still intact.

He starts to back away.

TYLER

And don't forget about Phys. Ed.

You missed it yesterday.

Dean and Will pass him from behind.

DEAN

Nice to see you on time today.

WILL

Yeah, good job there geek.


Dylan quickly locates his only friends in their usual spot

and sits down.

Ben and Conrad look at him, suddenly surprised.

BEN

I was going to ask if you were

alright, but I guess I don't have to.

CONRAD

It would seem our friend is a quick

healer.

DYLAN

Just tough I guess.

CONRAD

I must admit, I am rather impressed.

He laughs, but shrugs it off.

DYLAN

Can we please talk about something

else here?

Conrad nods once, "Yes."

BEN

Oh yeah, sure.

After an awkward beat,

29.

BEN

Sooo, what do you want to talk

about then? I didn't have anything

else lined up.

DYLAN

Just find something else.

Conrad suddenly looks surprised about something. He looks

curiously across the cafeteria.

Ben looks as well. Dylan has to turn completely around to see.

They look across the cafeteria, seeing Kelly casually shift

her eyes in their direction, trying not to make it obvious.

Dylan turns back to Conrad.

BEN

What's that about?

They sit in wonder for a moment.

DYLAN

(casually)

I'm giving her a piano lesson today.

Both sets of eyes jump on him.

DYLAN

What?

BEN

You're giving her a piano lesson?


17/54

DYLAN

Yeah?

BEN

Do you have some kind of deathwish

in life? Do we forget what happened

when you merely looked at her? Now

you're giving her a lesson?

CONRAD

Which includes contact and

socializing. A feat never before

accomplished at this school.

BEN

I mean, he was nice to you n' all

so he could look good, but if you

go through with this...

30.

DYLAN

It's not that important. She IS a

person too.

BEN

Not just any person. She's Kelly.

You're going to need to get that

through your head. She's off limits

here.

Conrad just looks at Ben.

CONRAD

(to Ben)

I think YOU should date her.

BEN

Look, what time is it at?

DYLAN

Why?

BEN

So I can alert the paramedics ahead

of time.

DYLAN

It's after PE. Which, I gotta say,

I'm not looking too forward to.

BEN

That's when it's gonna happen.

That's when you're gonna die.

DYLAN

What?

CONRAD

He has it next period as well.

DYLAN

He doesn't even know.

BEN

Tyler's the Captain of the

basketball team.

CONRAD

Trust us... Enjoy your last game. Ever.

The bell rings, signaling the end of lunch.

31.

DYLAN

(sarcastic)

Yippee.

INT. AUDITORIUM, BASKETBALL TRYOUTS - DAY

Tyler stands, lecturing to all the new basketball prospects

sitting on the bench in front of him, decked out in full

basketball attire.

TYLER

I see a lot of new faces. All of

you... newbies

(crowd laughter)

will address me as "Captain Tyler."

Standard rookie issue.

(crowd laughter)

Today is basketball tryouts. Make

the team and I promise you your

senior year is set.

Dylan emerges from the tunnel.

Tyler sees him walking and claps his hands.

TYLER

(to team)


18/54

Break into pairs.

Everyone breaks up into pairs, instantly everyone already

has a partner. Everyone except for Dylan.

The COACH emerges from the sideline as Tyler watches. He

can't hear what is being said, but at the end Coach points

to Tyler. And Dylan then starts towards him.

TYLER

Looks like you're with me.

INT. AUDITORIUM - LATER

Dylan dresses out on the side of the court. He leaves his

shirt on without thinking.

TYLER

You alright to play?

DYLAN

As I'll ever be.

With a shrug, Tyler throws the ball to Dylan. Dylan begins

to dribble.

32.

He tries to pass Tyler once, twice, but is unsuccessful both

times. Tyler is still reluctant to advance.

Dylan takes a step back and shoots it from the 3-point line.

It sails in.

Dylan looks genuinely surprised. Tyler does as well,

impressed... almost.

Dylan tosses it to Tyler, who immediately rushes towards the

goal.

As Tyler comes in Dylan steals the ball and heads back to

the backcourt line. He tries to rush past Tyler as he heads

for the goal, but Tyler keeps up with him, guarding him from

the side.

Dylan goes for a lay-up anyway. Tyler jumps with him, ready

to block the shot. Instead Dylan and Tyler collide in midair,

as Tyler delivers a very hard foul to keep Dylan from scoring.

He lands stiffly on his neck and back. Tyler looks annoyed

at his fragility.

TYLER

I guess that's game.

In pain, Dylan lets his head and collapses onto the gym floor.

Dylan can only lie on the ground as Tyler rounds up the

other players into the locker room.

INT. PIANO ROOM - DAY

Dylan just stares at the door handle, still incredibly

nervous about going in.

After a while, he pulls on the handle and enters, not

bothering to knock.

There she is, at the piano again. She senses his entrance

and greets him quickly.

KELLY

Oh hey. There you are. Wasn't sure

if you were gonna show.

DYLAN

I'm a man of my word.

KELLY

You look better.

33.

DYLAN

I've been getting that alot today.

KELLY

I hope today's going better for you.

DYLAN

I made the basketball team.

She is truly stunned.

KELLY

Really?

(beat)

You know, Tyler's the Captain.

DYLAN

(sarcastic)

Really?


19/54

KELLY

Let me guess. He rolled you up into

a little basketball and dunked you?

He avoids the subject.

DYLAN

Are you ready to start?

She nods, "Yes."

They both go over and sit on the piano bench, it's small so

they have to sit slightly close together.

He begins to play Beethoven, almost perfectly, his eyes

close as he loses himself. She can only watch him, amazed.

She doesn't watch his hands, but looks into his closed eyes,

looking past the lids. Trying to figure out what's going on

inside.

The music crescendos and finishes. He stops.

DYLAN

There. Now, you give it a try.

KELLY

Whoa. That was a mouthful you just

played there.

DYLAN

Alright. Sorry. I'll play it slower.

He begins to play only the first stanza of the song.

34.

But he falters, hitting a wrong note.

He looks at his hand. It's beginning to shake.

KELLY

Are... are you okay?

DYLAN

Yeah I... Just gimme a second.

He puts his hands on the keys, ready to play again. But they

won't stop shaking.

He balls them into fists, hoping it will help. But it only

makes things worse.

He suddenly feels cold. He wraps his arms around himself.

The faint sound of his teeth chattering can be heard.

He shakes his head, "No."

DYLAN

No, I think I... I need to go.

He gets up and heads for the door.

KELLY

Well... Wait. What about our lesson?

He can't answer. The door shuts behind him.

INT. DYLAN'S HOUSE - EVENING

He stumbles in through the door, trying to keep his hands

from shaking by stuffing them into his armpits.

There is no movement or sound inside the house. It's empty.

INT. DYLAN'S HOUSE, KITCHEN - EVENING - CONTINUOUS

Dylan sees a note on the counter. He picks it up and reads

it: WENT TO GET DINNER - MOM

He lets it fall onto the counter.

Dylan goes to the medicine cabinet and takes out a bottle of

Advil. He pops a few down.

One of the pills doesn't make it into his mouth and it falls

onto the counter, bouncing on top of it until it lands on

the newspaper and stops.

Dylan cocks his head and looks down at the newspaper. The

headline: "HERO" SAVES 8 YEAR-OLD GIRL TRAPPED UNDER VAN.

35.

Dylan quickly picks it up and starts to read.

The sub-headline: Girl was saved as man lifted van. Rescuer

still unidentified.

There is a picture, an artist's rendering of the events. The

black and white stenciled drawing shows a figure lifting a

van nearly a foot off the ground.

Dylan just stares at it, practically open-mouthed. He can't


20/54

take his eyes off the word "HERO".

Suddenly the front door opens, breaking him out of his

trance. He tosses the newspaper back down onto the counter.

His mother and father enter, carrying several grocery bags.

DAD

Oh hey son.

Dylan acknowledges only with a movement of his head.

Dylan stares down at the newspaper again.

INT. DYLAN'S HOUSE, ATTIC - NIGHT

Dylan, upstairs in the attic/storage room, is rifling

through one of the huge fire-proof cabinets where he houses

all of his comic books.

He finds one and pulls it out.

An issue of "Spider-Man". On the cover: Spider-Man lifts the

front bumper of an 18-wheeler off the ground, saving it from

hitting a woman just a few feet in front.

Dylan looks over into his other hand, where he has the

artist rendering from the newspaper, cut out of the magazine.

He looks back at the comic book. He looks at them both.

The pictures look nearly identical.

Suddenly there is a knock at the door, and Dylan looks up to

see his dad, in a bath robe, standing in the doorway.

DAD

How you doing?

Dylan nods slowly. He stuffs the clipping from the paper

into his pocket slowly, trying to not let his father see it.

His dad comes into the room.

36.

DAD

Is everything alright? You've

looked bad this week.

Dylan shakes his head, "no".

His dad sighs.

DAD

Something happened. Tell me what

happened. Did something happen?

Dylan looks down at the comic in his lap. The line on it

reads: CAN HE KEEP HIS SECRET IDENTITY?

DYLAN

Nothing happened.

His father looks at him, waits.

DAD

Good night son.

INT. DYLAN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

The shower runs in the background. The room is steaming from

the heat.

Dylan turns on the T.V. The "High School Sports Extra" is on.

Dylan, o.s., starts to undress.

H.S.S.E. BROADCASTER(T.V.)

This month's "Student of the Month"

is Tyler Thompson. Tyler won three

District Titles last year: one for

football, one for basketball, and

one for track.

Dylan, shirt off, sits down on his bed on front of the TV.

H.S.S.E. BROADCASTER(T.V.)

He's done nearly the same thing all four years of his tenure. Tyler

also ranks in the top five percent

of his class. But, more important

than any of those accomplishments,

Tyler has become the backbone of

his community. Before he arrived

the school's bleachers were nearly

empty. Now nearly half of the

school's funding is raked in by

ticket sales for the games he

participates in alone.

(MORE)

37.


21/54

H.S.S.E. BROADCASTER(T.V.; CONT'D)

And ever since those tickets

started selling the town has been

booming. Population is up, and

development is growing in the now

not so small town that was once on

the verge of collapsing. I guess

one person really can make a

difference.

(beat)

This has been another edition of

"The High School Sports Extra

Student of the Month."

Dylan, nearly disgusted, switches the channel to anything

and nearly turns the volume all the way down. He steps into

the bathroom. The news is on.

NEWSCASTER(T.V.)

...The little girl was rescued from

beneath the wheel of the van by a

stranger who ran to the rescue

after the woman's brakes failed,

and caused her to hit her own child.

Eyewitness reports say that the man,

thought to be around twenty,

grabbed the van by its bumper and

lifted it from her until the mother

of the girl could pull her out from

beneath the tire. This "hero" still

has not stepped forth to identify

himself.

MOTHER(T.V.)

Whoever you are, thank you for

saving my little girl.

INT. DYLAN'S BEDROOM, BATHROOM - NIGHT

He steps into the shower.

Amidst the steam and the falling water Dylan looks at his

arms. No longer frail like they once were.

Incredibly slowly he raises one arm, stretching it out like

a wing, to shoulder height. He looks over and stares at it,

glistening in the steam and water.

He turns it, slowly, looking at the muscles underneath.

He raises the other the same way, looking it over as he very

slowly raises it.

38.

His head lowers, his eyes close, his arms still raised. He

just stands there.

He moves his head into the hot water raining from the head.

He lowers his arms.

INT. DYLAN'S BEDROOM, BATHROOM - LATER

The shower's stopped.

Dylan wipes off the steam from the mirror, to see his

reflection, soaking wet.

He stares at his face.

Beat.

Incredibly subtly, he nods, beginning to understand.

INT. AUDITORIUM - WEIGHT ROOM

The weight room is massive with all types of weight training

equipment, the pride and joy of the athletics department.

The members of the basketball team are already hurrying

around the weight room. The CLANK of weights and the groan

of the athletes mesh until they almost become one harmonious,

rhythmic score.

Dylan stares on from the doorway, through the walking crowd,

staring only at the bench press.

He moves through the crowd, past the players, to a part ofthe room that is not occupied by anyone, except by the bench

press.

He lays down on the bench, careful not to knock his head. He

looks around, checking to make sure no one is watching him.

Some are doing nothing, others are completely immersed in

their training.

No one notices the scrawny nerd sitting at the massive bench

press.

He checks the weights.

DYLAN

One hundred...

Even at that weight Dylan looks nervous.


22/54

Dylan puts his arms up and grabs the bar, holding his breath

he lifts up, expecting the worst to happen. Never before has

he even been able to lift the measly weight of a hundred.

39.

No one sees Dylan ready to struggle against the weight.

He struggles at first, but the weights soon lift easily.

With each repetition the weight seems to be lighter.

He sets it back on the bar.

As everyone moves around him, never so much as acknowledging

his presence, Dylan Dandridge slides a twenty pound weight

onto the bar. And another on the opposite side.

Dylan climbs underneath them again. He grabs the bar and

pushes up, like before. But it's more difficult this time.

Dylan's arms are beginning to shake.

He brings it down to his chest slowly, his face turning red.

He forces it up, exhaling loudly as he does. It goes up. He

forces it down and back up again. His arms shake even more.

The bar lands on the armrests with a crash. The weight was

almost too much for him to hold anymore.

Just as before Dylan places another set of twenty pound

disks onto the bar as well as a set of ten pound disks,

completely oblivious to everyone.

Dylan heaves the bar from his chest. His hands are shaking

from the struggle, they're sweating.

He struggles mightily to lift the bar to its apex. His faceis bright red. He's not breathing. His arms are shaking

terribly. But the bar continues to slowly rise.

His veins bulge, his muscles swell. Until Dylan exhales

powerfully as he straightens his arms, the metal clanking

from the force.

Dylan uncurls his fingers, gathers his thoughts, as he looks

around to see if anyone saw the scrawny kid bench 200 pounds.

They are all immersed in their own training. No one saw.

But there is someone watching, Tyler, looking through the

crowd, unnoticed. Tyler saw it all, his eyes focused,

incredibly angry.

His watch suddenly beeps, and draws him out of his trance.

TYLER

Time for the run. Three miles. Go!

The place empties quick. Tyler keeps his eyes focused on

Dylan, who is already jogging out the door.

40.

EXT. TRACK - DAY

Dylan is already doing fairly well in the run. He's near the

front of the pack, breathing hard, but not in the lead.

After a few minutes Tyler rushes past him, sprinting from

somewhere o.s.

Dylan gives in. He stops completely and bends over, panting

as he grabs his knees to steady himself. He goes onto one

knee, still panting.

Everyone passes him. Soon even the fat kids run past his

exhausted body.

After a few seconds of exhaustion Dylan quickly stands up.

He's stopped panting.

He looks surprised, he can't believe it. He takes a deep

breath, testing it. It's fine.

He takes off again. Faster than before. Alot faster.

He pushes his body as hard as he can. Sprinting.

Soon he starts flooring past people. But this isn't about

them - it's about him.

He picks up even more speed, faster than the front of the pack.

He passes the rest of the pack. He sees Tyler ahead of him,

the leader.

A few moments later they're nearly side by side. Dylan tries

to pass Tyler on the inside but there isn't much room. Dylan

tries to squeeze by, but Tyler moves over even further,

eliminating the gap.

Their feet become entangled. Dylan tries to muscle his way

past but he can't. He crashes to the ground at high velocity.


23/54

Dylan can only watch as Tyler crosses the finish line and

blows the whistle. The race is over, Tyler is the victor.

Dylan reaches out and grabs the finish line tape lying on

the ground in front of his face.

INT. DRESSING ROOM - DAY

A poorly lit changing room. A row of ugly lime-green lockers

line the walls. A wooden bench divides the rows.

Everyone on the track team is changing. Most of them are

talking, some are even laughing, having fun.

41.

Dylan is silent.

He opens the locker door to reach inside for something. On

the inside of the door is a mirror. He catches his reflection.

And an odd spot of red.

He opens the door wider, and inspects his reflection. His

nose is bleeding.

He wipes it off and slams the locker door.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. DYLAN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Dylan sits on the edge of his bed, lost in thought.

His phone suddenly rings, startling him out of his thought.

He goes over to it and answers it. Beat.

KELLY(ON PHONE)

Is this Dylan Dandridge?

Dylan's confused. He knows it's Kelly. Beat.

DYLAN

Kelly?

KELLY(ON PHONE)

We met at school the other day.

DYLAN

Kelly, what are you-

KELLY(ON PHONE)

-You were kind of cute so I thought

I might call you.

Dylan smiles.

He lays back on the bed.

DYLAN

Yeah, I remember you.

Dylan hears laughing from the other end of the phone. He

laughs with her.


Dylan sits down with his only friends.

Conrad and Ben stare at him.

42.

Dylan looks back and forth at each of them.

BEN

Come on man, you're killing me here.

I tried to be nice and waited a few

days. But I can't take it anymore.

Dylan looks to Connie, who's leaning back with his arms

crossed across his chest.

He looks back at Ben.

DYLAN

What are you talking about?

BEN

Only the single most important

moment in your life.

Dylan can only stare at him.

CONRAD

He wants to know about your date

with Kelly.

BEN

Careful not to say that too loud.

"Her" or "She." "Her" or "She."


24/54

Dylan untenses. He looks somewhat annoyed.

DYLAN

I only gave her a piano lesson.

CONRAD

(re: Ben)

He's obviously more intrigued than

I am, but I would like to know how

it went.

DYLAN

It didn't go at all.

Ben looks at Conrad, overly anticipatory.

CONRAD

What happened?

DYLAN

Something... came up. I had to leave.

Ben's excitement leaves him.

43.

DYLAN

I know.

(beat)

The next one went pretty well though.

Ben's excitement floods back.

BEN

There was another one?

Connie says nothing, but slowly pulls Ben's soda, sitting in

front of him, away from his excited friend.

BEN

How much are you paying this woman

to go out with you?

DYLAN

Stop with the Goddess act. She's a

normal person. Like you or me.

He looks at their glasses, sparkling in the sun, their zit-

filled faces, and their runny noses.

DYLAN

Well, maybe not quite like you.

CONRAD

So, are you dating

(quotation fingers)

"officially" then?

DYLAN

We're not dating at all. I'm just

an instructor.

CONRAD

Regardless, there is an element of

danger in this course of action.

Beat.

They see Tyler across the cafeteria.

DYLAN

I'll be fine.

The bell rings.

INT. LOCKER ROOM - AFTER GAME

Dylan, sweating, sits on the old wooden bench in front of

his locker. He's just finished a practice game. He wipes the

sweat from his face with a towel.

44.

A few of his teammates are finishing up in the background as

well. They're still pumped from the game, laughing, energetic.

Dylan just sits on the bench, deep in thought for some

reason. He opens his locker and tosses in the towel.

KELLY (O.S.)

Nice performance out there.

Dylan turns around to see Kelly, standing just behind him.

Surprised,

DYLAN

Kel, what are you-

KELLY

-That foul on Tyler though. Not too

sure about that one.


25/54

DYLAN

(sarcastic)

I think he'll be fine.

She sits down on the bench next to him.

KELLY

You did good.

DYLAN

I'm still getting used to all of this.

KELLY

Basketball?

DYLAN

I hadn't really played before we moved.

KELLY

That's sort of hard to believe.

DYLAN

Why?

KELLY

You play so well.

(beat)

Maybe it's just beginner's luck.

Beat. He suddenly realizes where they are.

DYLAN

Kel, what are you doing in here?

This IS the men's locker room.

45.

KELLY

Rules are meant to be broken.

Somewhat stunned,

DYLAN

Okay.

(beat)

It's good to see you outside that

piano room.

KELLY

Which, by the way, you are late for.

Again.

DYLAN

I had the game.

KELLY

Game's over.

Beat.

INT. LOCKER ROOM EXIT - SHORT TIME LATER

Dylan and Kelly leave through a set of big double doors at

the end of the locker room.

Tyler, at the other end of the dressing room, spots them.

His face fills with fury, but then a group of guys behind

him erupt in laughter. He turns instinctively to see their

childishness, and when he looks back to the door, Dylan and

Kelly are gone.

EXT. AUDITORIUM - DAY

Dylan heads toward the piano room but Kelly keeps going

forward, not even heading for the music room.

DYLAN

Hey. Where you going? The music

room is this way.

KELLY

We're not going to the music room.

EXT. PARK WALKWAY - EVENING

They are on the park walkway, surrounded by the park's

beautiful scenery.

DYLAN

What are we doing here?

46.

KELLY

All that time teaching I just

thought it would be nice if we

could just... talk.

DYLAN

What do you want to talk about?

KELLY

How about the game?


26/54

Dylan looks down, shakes his head, "No." She just stares at him.

KELLY

You aren't at all what I expected

you to be.

(beat)

Back on that bus.

(beat)

You seemed so, I don't know, just

different I guess.

DYLAN

People change.

KELLY

I guess.

He looks down again, he doesn't know what to say next.

KELLY

Uh oh.

Dylan looks up, confused.

DYLAN

Uh oh? What uh oh?

KELLY

I think I see Ty chasing after us.

He is. Running towards them from very far in the distance.

Dylan begins to leave.

KELLY

Wait. You're leaving?

DYLAN Yeah. It's easier for you this way.

He's already started running, disappearing fast with his

speed. He's gone just as Tyler catches up to her, not out of

breath at all.

47.

TYLER

What are you doing?

KELLY

What do you mean?

TYLER

With that geek Dylan?

KELLY

I wasn't with Dylan.

TYLER

I just saw you leave with him.

KELLY

Ty, I have no idea what you're

talking about.

TYLER

I saw you, you stupid bitch!

She is incredibly angry, yet she doesn't yell.

KELLY

Don't you yell at me. I'm tired of

this horseshit. Don't you ever,

ever, try to talk to me again.

She storms off. Tyler can't speak. He can only stand there,

staring as she walks away.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. DYLAN'S HOUSE, GARAGE - DAY

Dylan and his father are carrying a massive cardboard box

into the garage.

DYLAN

(struggling) So Dad, tell me again why we're not

unpacked yet.

DAD

(struggling)

Because, son, unlike you your

mother and I don't have the

strength of an adolescent.

They drop the box down at the end of the garage.

They go across the garage to get another box.

48.


27/54

DAD

You grab that one.

They both lift up a box of their own from outside.

DYLAN

So what happened? At the interview?

DAD

If there's one thing I don't know

it's how to do an interview.

DYLAN

You don't think you got it?

DAD

You'd think they'd want a New York

cop with twenty years experience

behind him as a security guard.

DYLAN

What does that mean?

DAD

It means-

He drops the box down.

DAD

-It means we're here. And we're not

going anywhere in the meantime.

His dad sits down on one of the boxes, looking a little dizzy.

DYLAN

What's wrong?

DAD

(dizzy) Just... got a little head rush.

Made me a little dizzy.

DYLAN

Yeah.

Dylan drops the box in his hands. Beat.

DYLAN

Wait. What did you say?

INT. HEALTH CLASS - DAY

Dylan catches Mrs. Levin before her first class, as she's

getting ready. The room is empty.

49.

DYLAN

Mrs. Levin?

MRS. LEVIN

Oh, yes, Dylan?

DYLAN

There's something I need to ask you.

Something from class.

She looks at him, confused.

INT. HEALTH CLASS - SHORT TIME LATER

DYLAN

How would it even be possible?

MRS. LEVIN

That's just it. I have no idea.

(beat)

A genetic defect. Some kind of

mutation. Or some kind of accident

could have caused it, maybe.

That causes Dylan to be even more intrigued.

MRS. LEVIN

I just know that if the adrenal

gland became enlarged the host body

would die.

DYLAN

Because it's so toxic.

MRS. LEVIN

That's why we DON'T do this kind of

thing. That's why... that's why

what you're talking about isn't

even possible.

(beat)

Human beings weren't meant to do

the things you describe. Most of us

fall into a line, an order, that

makes us all the same. All-

DYLAN

-Normal.


28/54

She nods, "Yes."

50.

MRS. LEVIN

Adrenaline is too toxic, Dylan.

It's like poison. You get sick, you

feel weak, and then you die.

There's a reason our bodies work

the way they do.

DYLAN

What if it were introduced slowly,

at a constant rate? So you could

get used to it.

MRS. LEVIN

I wouldn't even begin to know where

to start. I don't see any way you

could manufacture that in a specimen.

DYLAN

But it could be done?

MRS. LEVIN

This isn't something the body gets

used to. It will just wear you out

after a while, not make you

stronger. The only way it's

possible is if the entire DNA

structure is altered so the body

can actually absorb all that energy,

not just fizzle it out uselessly.

She looks at him. The hallways are beginning to fill up.

MRS. LEVIN

It's a good project Dylan, but it's

just not possible.

Students start to filter into the classroom. Mrs. Levin

walks off, going behind her desk.


Dylan sits. He starts eating.

BEN

What have you been doing while we

were away?

He stops eating.

DYLAN

Guys, I'm getting tired of all these-

51.

BEN

-We heard about that game. He

pulled himself out just after.

CONRAD

And I suspect you know of their

recent separation?

DYLAN

What?

BEN

You DON'T know? Odd, since you were

the cause.

DYLAN

I think there's a little more to it

than that.

BEN

Are you gonna go after her now or what?

CONRAD

Even I can see it's prime pickin's.

BEN

Go for it.

DYLAN

What about Tyler?

BEN

I thought you weren't afraid of him.

DYLAN

That's not the point. It's still

wrong to do that to him.

BEN

What are you, Captain America?

CONRAD

When it comes to doing something to

Tyler nothing is wrong.


29/54

Dylan sees someone waving at him from another table, one of

the cooler tables. He is gesturing emphatically for Dylan to

come sit with them.

Ben and Conrad look to where Dylan's eyes are fixed now, and

immediately turn back to him.

BEN

Friends of yours?

52.

CONRAD

Impressive.

DYLAN

How'd that happen?

BEN

You kidding? Being on the basketball

team did that, that's what.

The kid over at the other table raises his arms in confusion,

becoming impatient.

Dylan gets up, ready to go over.

CONRAD

You're not actually going over

there are you?

DYLAN

Why not?

BEN

What about us?

DYLAN

You're coming with me.

CONRAD

They don't want us over there.

DYLAN

You don't know that.

BEN

I don't think so.

DYLAN

Well, I'm going. See you guys over

there.

BEN

Yeah. Right.

He goes over and sits with some of the cool kids.

BEN

I can't believe he's selling us out.

CONRAD

You'd think you were used to it by now.

They look on as one of the kids hands Dylan a blue letter

jacket with a basketball nametag.

53.

The sound is muffled by the distance but they can still

understand he is being congratulated, and welcomed into

their group. He sits down and starts to talk it up with the

other people at the table.

He looks over at Conrad and Ben. He doesn't look sorry.

Our view catches Kelly, looking on, saddened.

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY, DYLAN'S LOCKER - AFTERNOON

Dylan opens up his locker.

Amidst all the noise of the school Dylan can hear a group of

girls behind him whispering loudly.

GOSSIP GIRL 1

(loud whisper)

I know! I heard. I cannot believe

she dumped him for that geekwad.

GOSSIP GIRL 2

(loud whisper)

I used to adore him, but now I just

feel sorry for the guy.

GOSSIP GIRL 1

(loud whisper)

I know. So, you gonna go... console

him?

GOSSIP GIRL 2

(loud whisper)


30/54

No way. Don't get me anywhere near

that loser. If Tyler got dumped for

that geek, he must have been doing

something wrong.

Dylan shuts his locker.

INT. SCHOOL, MAIN ENTRANCE AREA - DAY

Tyler enters through the front entrance, he's carrying a

sport bag over his shoulder.

He looks over at the wall. On it is a glass encasement where

news clippings etc are posted for the school to see. It'sopen, and someone is changing all of the images and

clippings out.

The man is removing a montage of pictures of him, Tyler

Thompson. One after the other the pictures disappear from

the encasement, along with a slogan, "Be Like Tyler."

54.

They're quickly being replaced with another montage of

pictures, but they are of Dylan. Soon, it's all Dylan.

Nothing of Tyler remains. Even the slogan has changed. "Be

Like Dylan."

Tyler goes up a few short steps and looks above the

Attendance Office where his "Student of the Month" picture

is placed. It too is switched out for an image of Dylan.

Tyler is drawn out of the image's trance over him as he

hears muttering to his side. He looks at them, they're

staring at him. Everyone is staring at him. Some of them

lower their heads when he looks at them, they can't look him

in the eye.

Their faces are filled with pity.

INT. DRESSING ROOM - BEFORE PRACTICE

Tyler sits by himself in the locker room. The gym is

relatively quiet elsewhere. Tyler is still, lost in thought.

One of Tyler's TEAMMATEs walks up to him. He looks up at him.

TEAMMATE

Hey man. I heard about what

happened. I know she was important.

Tyler doesn't say anything. The boy looks around nervously.

TEAMMATE

Is it true what they said? That she

broke up with you for that new guy?

Tyler lowers his head, still silent.

TEAMMATE

That's rough.

Beat. The boy doesn't know what to say.

TEAMMATE

Well, get dressed. We still got

practice.

The boy walks off.

After he's gone Tyler raises his head and opens his locker.

Inside, on the door, is a picture of Kelly.

TYLER

(softly)

I hit her.

55.

The boy spins around, bewildered.

TYLER

I hit her, man. She tried to break

up with me before, and I just...

slapped her. I wanted to take her

head off. And... she just looked at me, like I was a different person.

The boy doesn't know what to say.

TYLER

I don't know why she stayed with me.

She was already gone anyway but...

I think, I think she saw... how

much I needed her. How much I still

need her. And she pitied me.

TEAMMATE

Ty...

After a few moments, Tyler comes out of a daze.

TYLER


31/54

Hey, I'm just messin' with you, man.

Tyler stifles back tears.

TYLER

I would never do that. I'm the

Captain. I was just kidding. Now go

on, I gotta get ready.

Hesitantly, the teammate leaves.

Tyler stares into his locker, at the picture of Kelly.

Tyler breaks down. Tears erupt from his eyes.

The tears eventually turn into anger. He throws his bag into

his locker and storms out of the locker room, still in his

street clothes, ditching the game.

INT. AUDITORIUM - BASKETBALL PRACTICE

The team is in a scrimmage. Teammate against teammate.

Dylan dominates, now without Tyler in the game he is the leader.

He seems cocky as he plays. And with good reason, he's out

of their league. But he doesn't even want to win. He just

wants to look good.

56.

INT. PIANO ROOM - DAY

Kelly is alone, sitting at the piano, alone on the bench,

waiting for Dylan to show, to go on their usual date, but

he's not coming. He's too busy being popular.

INT. AUDITORIUM - BASKETBALL PRACTICE

One of his opponents somehow manages to sneak by him and

steal the ball. Dylan is in shock. As Dylan stands there the

kid runs it up and scores. The kid celebrates at Dylan's

expense. All of his teammates pat him on the back.

Dylan's team has the ball again. But as his teammate passes

it to him one of the payers on the opposing team steals the

pass. They run it in for a fast break. The player who stole

it quickly passes it to the player who stole it from Dylan

initially, who leaps for the easy lay up.

But Dylan leaps alongside him, going for the blocked shot.

They collide hard in mid-air, Dylan doesn't even go for the

ball, he swings his arm at the player's head.

The kid goes flying into the ground, landing very hard.

Instantly unconscious.

Everyone instantly stops, the other teammates in shock,

including Dylan, his eyes wide.

EXT. DYLAN'S HOUSE - EVENING

He's on his usual walk home, it's dark, cold, and it begins

to rain. He walks up the few short steps to the door.

INT. DYLAN'S HOUSE - EVENING

He's weary, lost in thought. His father notices his bad mood,

sitting in the den, perched in his chair.

DAD

Everything all right Dylan?

The sound of his voice breaks him out of his trance,

redirecting him from going upstairs, instead he goes into

the den.

DYLAN

Sure.

DAD

No, come on, spill it. Is this

about the game?

57.

DYLAN

How did you know about the game?

DAD

His parents called. They thought it

necessary to vocalize their anger.

DYLAN

I'm sorry about that.

DAD

Don't you worry about it for a

second. You handle the girls, I get

the parents, that's the way it works.

DYLAN


32/54

I didn't even know what happened

until he...

(beat)

I just lost my temper.

DAD

It's okay to lose your temper once

in a while. You just have to

remember to learn from your

mistakes. Trust me, coming from

experience, you can't let this kind

of thing get you down. You just

have to let everything take its course.

DYLAN

What if it's already run its course?

His father can't answer.

DYLAN

I'm going to go for a walk.

(beat)

I have to go to the library... for

school.

DAD

It's raining.

DYLAN

I'll take my coat.

He grabs his father's leather trenchcoat off the stair

banister. Underneath it is his father's Port Authority

Police cap, he takes it as well.

DAD

That's not yours.

58.

He goes for the door and leaves, off into the darkness.

MOM

Where is he going?

DAD

He just needs to clear his head, I

guess.

MOM

He'll catch his death out in that

weather.

DAD

Don't worry about him.

(beat)

He's tougher than he looks.

INT. LIBRARY BASEMENT, HEADLINE REEL ROOM - DAY

Fingers riffle through the news films in a drawer as fast as

possible.

The drawer closes but another below it quickly opens. The

fingers continue to search rapidly. They pull out several

films, so fast it looks random.

Dylan takes the films and sits at the projection screen in a

small room in the library basement.

He inserts one of the films and browses quickly past some

erroneous dates.

He stops.

"Three rescued from burning building"

In the picture a man pulls three women out the front door of

an engulfed office building.

Dylan zooms in on the text.

"Unidentified man later confirmed to be Richard Dalby. He

declined comment."

Dylan slides over to the computer and pulls up the internet.

He types in "Richard Dalby".

Several more newspaper headlines pop up.

"Local man rescues three"

"He does it again"

59.

"Hero prevents disaster"

Dylan's eyes focus, gazing tighter and tighter on the word

"Hero."

DYLAN


33/54

Hero...

He slides over and inserts another film.

He searches through more pages on the reel. He finds a page

called "World News".

He sees a headline: "Man fights tiger, saves one"

Past more. "Australian man sets new un-official world record,

shattering it by nearly a minute"

More. "Firefighter in Russia rescues seventeen"

"New Zealand cop takes bullet to head, survives"

He flips through them until he finds the picture, the

picture Levin showed him in class.

He goes through his backpack and finds the newspaper from

the day of the accident. He sees the image of him lifting up

the van.

They look so similar. He just stares at it...

There is a sudden pounding on the door behind Dylan. He

turns to the door.

EXT. AUDITORIUM - NIGHT - RAIN

He stands in the rain, unmoving as it bounces off the black

leather all over him. He doesn't have the hood pulled up. He

just lets the rain drench his head and hair.

Dylan stares at the door handles to the weight room. He

tries the handle. Surprisingly, it isn't locked.

INT. AUDITORIUM - WEIGHT ROOM

He enters as quietly as he can, the rain still shedding off

his coat.

He heads straight for the weight bench and just stares at it

again, the 200 pounds still on from days before. He examines

the weight amount.

60.

DYLAN

(soft)

Two hundred pounds...

He walks over to the stack of weights, picks up another

twenty, but he pauses and sets it back down. He grabs a

fifty instead.

He puts one on each side, careful not to make any noise.

He stands back and looks at it. Three hundred pounds.

He sits underneath the bar, the bar actually bends from the

weight. He wraps his hands around it and takes in a deep breath.

He pushes against the weight. His face turns bright red. His

arms shake.

But the bar doesn't move.

He stops. Sits up.

He doesn't look surprised.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT.DYLAN'S HOUSE - ATTIC - NIGHT

Dylan stands, peering down at something in his hand. A comic.

The headline reads "A HERO'S DECISION."

Instantly, Dylan erupts with anger.

He rips the issue in his hand into tiny pieces. Then he move

son to the rest.

He tips over the container, spilling issues over the entire

attic floor.

His anger is incredible.

He bends down amidst the pile of comics. Ripping every issue

he can get his hands on. A few tears fly from his eyes.

He kicks and tears; gnaws and bites; rips and plunders -

until there's nothing left but little boxes tossed everywhere.

The anger leaves him. The tears come. He slumps down, on his

knees, holding his weeping face in his hands.

DISSOLVE TO:

61.


34/54

INT. DYLAN'S HOUSE - ATTIC - NIGHT

Dylan sits, surrounded by discarded comic books. Full trash

bags lay on the floor.

DYLAN

(soft)

I dreamed a dream... But now my

world is lost to me...

MOM (O.S.)

I know you're upset.

Dylan looks up, surprised to see her.

MOM

About what you did.

DYLAN

Mom, what are you doing up? It's late.

She sits down next to him.

MOM

You're one to talk. Strolling in at

all hours of the night.

(beat)

Where'd you go?

Dylan shakes his head, "No," and looks down.

MOM

You're just like the rest of us,

Dylan: We're only human.

He looks at her.

MOM

(beat) We all make mistakes. There is no

one in this world any different

that you or me. We're normal. Just

plain old human beings. Nothing

exceptional about any of us.

(beat)

It's how we make ourselves better

that matters. And I know how good

you already are.

Beat. She stands up.

62.

MOM

So go to bed. I know you're too

good a person to let bad things

happen for very long.

She leaves. Leaving Dylan to his thoughts.

INT. OUTSIDE COACH'S OFFICE - DAY

Dylan walks up to a door. On the door, in black letters:

COACH'S OFFICE. He stands there for a moment. He then lifts

up his hand to look at something, and reveals a note, folded

over, inside it.

He bends down and slides it under the door to the Coach's

office. And walks away.

INT. AUDITORIUM - BEFORE PRACTICE

Dylan is sitting down on a bench in front of his locker. He

is lost in thought, staring straight ahead, at nothing.

With a heavy sigh he stands up and goes towards his locker.

He works at the combination but it isn't working. Dylan

looks puzzled.

COACH (O.S.)

I changed it this morning.

Dylan spins around. Coach is standing there, with a folded

piece of yellow paper in his hand.

Dylan doesn't understand.

COACH You're too much of a liability for

this school. That stunt you

pulled?... We can't afford to keep

you on the team anymore. Parents

are getting upset.

He holds up the piece of paper.

COACH

I don't know why you wanted to quit,

but after what happened to that

boy...

(beat)

Your things are in the office.

He turns, and leaves.


35/54

63.

COACH

(walking away)

Pick them up or I'll have to toss 'em.

INT. PIANO ROOM

Kelly is at the piano playing, it's a portion of the Beethoven.

She stops suddenly, and without acknowledging him at all,

speaks to Dylan, who is looming in the doorway.

KELLY

How'd you know I was here?

DYLAN

Because I wanted to be here too.

(beat)

You finished it.

KELLY

I brought the sheets yesterday. I

thought it might be fun. But

instead I had plenty of time to

teach myself, sitting here... alone.

Dylan's head lowers, shamed.

KELLY

You skipped out on the only time we

spend together for some stupid game.

DYLAN

You don't have to worry about that

anymore.

KELLY

What are you talking about?

DYLAN

I quit the team.

She finally turns to him.

KELLY

Why?

DYLAN

I didn't want to miss any more lessons.

KELLY

Why the sudden change of heart?

64.

DYLAN

Things have been happening. Things

I'm not sure I understand. I had to

figure some of them out, and... it

felt wrong without my friends there.

KELLY

Is that all I am to you? A friend?

DYLAN

I was told you belonged to someone.

KELLY

Not anymore.

DYLAN

What happened?

He moves in closer to her.

KELLY

You hurt me, Dylan.

(soft)

Everyone hurts me.

(beat)

You can't expect to get off that easy.

DYLAN

Kelly, I-

KELLY

-I played in this room every day,

every single day, and nothing ever

changed. But the first time you

weren't there after we started I

saw it. I saw how dark and hollow

and cold this room is. I was lost

in here. And I hated it. But you

know why I stayed? Why I came back

the next day? Because I knew that

if you came back it would be

brighter, and warmer, than ever,

and I could find my way out.

(beat)

Why did it take you so long to find

me, Dylan?


36/54

DYLAN

It took me a long time to realize.

KELLY

Realize what?

65.

DYLAN

Dreams aren't real. Life is real.

And some things are just more

important.

Beat. She stands up, and looks at him.

KELLY

If we're going to keep going... we

have to be honest with one another.

He waits a moment.

DYLAN

I have no secrets.

INT. SUBWAY - NIGHT

Dylan sits on a bench in the corner, waiting for the train

to arrive. He looks incredibly bored.

From somewhere deep beneath him the ground begins to rumble.

The entire bench shakes, but not too violently. In a moment

it's passed, without anyone else even taking notice.

Dylan sits back once again, still waiting.

He watches the people in the subway with him. Most of them

are quiet and unmoving, but some talk with people they know.

As Dylan continues to watch he can understand more and more

of what they're saying. Like his focus is improving.

A few moments later another rumble bubbles from beneath the

ground where he's sitting.

INT. CONRAD'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Connie, Ben, and Dylan all sit around a round dinner table.

They're playing cards. Connie and Ben seem to be enjoying

themselves, Dylan does not share their mood. Dylan's wearing

his Port Authority cap.

Dylan looks at Ben, in the middle of a question.

DYLAN

A model, huh?

(to Connie)

So, what about you?

CONRAD

Bodybuilder.

66.

DYLAN

Interesting.

(beat)

Okay, I have one:... Can people be

stronger than they look?

CONRAD

Sure.

BEN

Yeah.

DYLAN

You're the bodybuilder, you should

know. I don't mean just a little, I

am talking about a considerable

rise in strength, to almost

extraordinary capacity.

BEN

I'm not sure what you mean, Dylan.

DYLAN Okay, how about this?

(beat)

Do you think I could bench 300 pounds?

CONRAD

Have you?

DYLAN

That's not the game. Come on, answer.

BEN

You certainly don't LOOK like you

could.

CONRAD

How much, theoretically, of course,

have you benched before attempting


37/54

this?

DYLAN

I've never benched anything.

Beat. No one speaks for a long moment.

CONRAD

That changes everything.

BEN

Yeah.

67.

DYLAN

How so?

CONRAD

When you don't even know your

limitations how can you expect to

surpass them?

DYLAN

So... you're saying I COULD bench 300?

CONRAD

I'm not saying that, but-

BEN

-I see lots o' guys your size bench

even more. They have the guns to

show for it, but, like you said,

stronger than you look.

DYLAN

What about run a three-mile in 11 minutes?

BEN

Same principle.

CONRAD

You're light on your feet.

Beat.

CONRAD

This IS still hypothetical, right?

Beat. No one says anything.

INT. KELLY'S HOUSE - DAY

Kelly opens her front door, revealing Dylan, dressed for

their date.

EXT. PARK - DAY

Kelly and Dylan sit on a bench in the center of the park,

facing each other.

They laugh.

Adrenaline (Super power movie screenplay)

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Transcript of Adrenaline (Super power movie screenplay)