PSYCHO & PSYCHE (Television pilot script)
Logline:
A man who lives at a mental institution and believes he has a superpower must convince his police detective sister that the villain who he says framed him for murder is real and killing again...or be transferred to a secure lockdown facility. Unbeknownst to everyone else, his power is real.
PSYCHO & PSYCHE
"PILOT"
TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. POOL OF BLOOD - DAY
Red liquid shimmers on hardwood. WE PULL BACK TO REVEAL:
INT. LIVING ROOM FLOOR – CONTINUOUS
A BODY is motionless with a wooden spike through his temple.
INT. SUBURBAN HOME – CONTINUOUS
A CSI TEAM takes pictures of the dead man in the living room. The camera pulls back through the house and out the front door to:
EXT. SUBURBAN HOME/WALKWAY - CONTINUOUS - DAY
The camera tracks under a line of yellow police tape. A team of POLICE OFFICERS interviewing the dead man's neighbors and enforcing security. On the sidewalk, a NEWS REPORTER is covering the story.
NEWS REPORTER
Police have identified the victim as 55-year-old Charles Lanning. It appears to have been a home invasion.
INT. ERIC’S APARTMENT/BEDROOM – THE NEXT DAY
ERIC KLAVEN (30s), frantically enters his bedroom. He has a narrow face and intense eyes. He checks under his bed, then rips the comforter off.
ERIC
Damnit!
He checks under his nightstand, hurling a stack of comic books onto the floor haphazardly. He raids his closet, pulling shirts off the rack and throwing them to the floor.
INT. ERIC'S APARTMENT/KITCHEN - DAY
Eric goes to the refrigerator, opens the freezer and scans it. He opens several cabinets and fumbles with the mugs inside. One falls to the floor and shatters.
ERIC
Where is it?
As he shoves aside the microwave, we hear...
LAB ANALYST (PRE-LAP)
Sir, this was found at the crime scene.
INT. POLICE STATION BULLPEN – DAY
A LAB ANALYST with glasses approaches a grizzled DETECTIVE at his desk. In the analyst's hand is a BLACK BACKPACK with a large tiger's face on it.
DETECTIVE
Was there anything inside it?
ANALYST
An engagement ring in a box.
DETECTIVE
Someone will be missing that.
ANALYST
We also found some wooden splinters in the bag. They match the wooden spike used to kill Charles Lanning.
INT. ERIC’S APARTMENT/KITCHEN - DAY
Eric rakes a hand through his hair. In the background, the kitchen is a mess: Broken ceramic plates and mugs line the counter and floor.
There's a heavy knock at the door to the apartment.
MALE VOICE
Eric Klaven? This is the police.
Eric's face becomes flushed as he looks toward the front door. He heaves several breaths.
The knocking continues.
ERIC
I'll be right there!
Eric answers the door to find the Detective and several officers in the hall. The Detective shows his badge.
DETECTIVE
Are you Eric Klaven?
ERIC
Yeah, what's going on?
DETECTIVE
Mr. Klaven, were you at the residence of one Charles Lanning this morning?
ERIC
Yes. Why?
DETECTIVE
We found your fingerprints on the murder weapon and--
ERIC
Mr. Lanning is dead?
DETECTIVE
Yes. We have a warrant for your arrest.
Eric looks shocked as he backs away from the door.
INT. ERIC'S APARTMENT/KITCHEN - DAY
The Detective and officers follow Eric inside.
DETECTIVE
Jensen, cuff him and read him his rights.
Several cops surround Eric. One of them places Eric's hands behind his back. Eric tries to fight back, shifting his arms so they can't cuff him.
COP
You have the right to remain silent--
ERIC
No! It was Mr. Black, not me!
He--he must have overheard me. And--and I forgot my backpack at the coffee shop. He must have stolen it and killed Mr. Lanning!
Two cops exchange confused looks. A large cop pins Eric's arms and the first cuffs him. Eric goes ballistic, struggling against the cops.
ERIC
Listen! I was at work--I teach eighth grade history--and I couldn't find my engagement ring. It's for my girlfriend, Beth, and--
DETECTIVE
That's enough out of you. Now come quietly, or else--
Eric leans his weight into the larger cop and kicks his legs clumsily in the air. The Detective draws his weapon and points it at Eric.
ERIC
IT WASN'T ME!
Eric grows pale. His breathing becomes labored. He's having a PANIC ATTACK.
Eric's POV: Eric's vision grows fuzzy, then everything goes black.
BACK TO SCENE
Eric collapses onto the floor and the cops look toward the Detective.
DETECTIVE
Williams, check for a pulse and make sure he's unconscious.
Just as one cop kneels down in front of Eric, Eric's eyes snap open. His stare is oddly calm as he jumps to his feet. With skill, he lunges toward the nearest cop, taking him out with a headbutt. Eric wrestles the next cop to the ground.
At a distance, the Detective pulls out a taser and fires it at Eric. Eric is jolted until he collapses once more. He does not get up this time. A cop on the ground gapes at the Detective.
COP
Did you see how fast he moved?
FADE TO BLACK.
TITLE: PSYCHO & PSYCHE
END TEASER
ACT ONE
SUPER: NINE MONTHS LATER
EXT. TALL BUILDING - NIGHT
Eric climbs up a drainpipe on the side of a building. He's athletic and wears a navy blue trench coat, a green bandana around his head, and his tiger backpack. His face is covered in camo paint. He talks to himself as he climbs.
ERIC
Applying his training, Psycho heroically ascends the building. It takes all of his stamina, but he's trained for months for this very purpose.
Eric momentarily loses his grip, but he steadies himself on a nearby window ledge. He keeps climbing.
ERIC
The madman Mr. Black is wreaking havoc on the city once more. Psycho is the only one who can stop him.
Using his superb detective skills, Psycho will comb the scene of the crime.
EXT. ROOFTOP - NIGHT
Eric reaches the rooftop and climbs onto the edge. He collapses onto the cement and heaves several deep breaths. He closes his eyes.
Behind him, MALCOLM (30's), an overweight African-American security guard with a droll expression, approaches. He stares down at Eric.
MALCOLM
Like hell you will.
Eric opens his eyes and groans.
ERIC
How long have you been standing there?
MALCOLM
Long enough. Did you climb that drainpipe all by yourself?
ERIC
Yeah.
MALCOLM
Damn. How did you manage that?
ERIC
Plyometrics. I've been training in my room the last six months for this.
MALCOLM
And who is Psycho?
ERIC
My alter ego, except I can't get him to come out. I was pretending to be him.
(Beat)
I suppose you're going to report me to Dr. O now?
MALCOLM
It's my job. Unless you have a rare comic for me?
ERIC
That depends what you're looking for.
MALCOLM
You got issue 133 of X-Men?
ERIC
I've got issue number 433.
MALCOLM
Ugh, the Chuck Austin run? Pass.
(sighs)
Man, you know I have to report you.
Eric extends a hand and Malcolm helps him up. The entrance to a staircase that leads into the building is nearby. Malcolm opens the door and gives Eric a light push through.
ERIC
Hey, watch the coat. It's new.
To read the rest, please inquire at brian.beneventi@gmail.com