Next Gen - Episode 1, Part 1

EPISODE 1, SCENE 1

A brightly costumed man, FANTASTIC JOE, flies through the morning air away from a large warehouse, carrying a glum teen, KIM, under one arm and an excited woman, DANA DREEM, under the other, as the warehouse explodes behind them. Close-up on JOE's face as he smiles winningly at his two passengers and says a glib line.

JOE
See, ladies? When you fight villainy for a living, you can have a blast!

KIM *deeply ashamed*
Seriously Dad?

*Joe laughs loudly, Dana joins in with her own shrill giggle and Kim just looks mortified as the three fly over-top several city shots. This continues for a few moments, then the three fly off-screen. Next we see Joe landing in a suburban park with a slide and swing-set. Joe puts Kim down on the ground, then places Dana in a more comfortable position, perched on his wide shoulder like a parrot.*

JOE
Now then young woman whom I've never met before, …

*Joe winks at Kim while adopting a lecturing tone.*

JOE (cont.)
… in the future, don't go wandering off into places where villains might be hiding. You wouldn't want to worry your parents, right?

KIM
Dad, there's no one around and Dana already knows, you can give that act a res-

*Joe ruffles Kim's hair benignly, but with enough force to make her close her mouth and stop her from saying anything more.*

JOE
What a rascal! Now, you said your parents lived around here, right? I still need to take Ms. Dreem home … uh, to her home, and then continue patrolling the city for danger! You run along now, okay? I'm sure your mother, whoever she is, was very worried about you! I'm off!

DANA *brightly at Kim*
Kisses!

*Joe gently lifts off the ground and turns around in the air, while Dana assumes a side-saddle position on his back; Joe quickly flies off into the distance. Kim watches them go angrily, then trudges to a nearby house and opens the front door. Inside, she walks down a hall festooned with happy family portraits featuring a warmly smiling WENDY, a sometimes happy sometimes glum Kim and a cheerful Joe wearing glasses. Halfway down the hall she turns left into a kitchen, where WENDY is cooking breakfast in a bathrobe. WENDY turns and smiles warmly as Kim walks in and slumps into a chair at the kitchen table, then returns to making breakfast.*

KIM *still a little ticked, complaining*
Dad never lets me help with fighting villains.

WENDY
Your father worries about you, sweetie. He doesn't think you're ready to –

KIM
I kicked Phantom's ass all around that 7-Eleven a couple of weeks ago! I can –

WENDY *less warmly*
Winged Phantom is an senile man in a cheap flying suit who should be living in a Care Facility! Both your father and I feel that it would be best for you to continue putting your full attention into schoolwork, and we are not backing down on that!

*Wendy is still cooking, but her shoulders make it clear that she means business and Kim doesn't try to say anything. After a pause, Wendy relaxes her shoulders and takes a more conciliatory tone.*

WENDY (cont.)
Your father and I both know that not all villains are like Winged Phantom; many of them can handle themselves when faced with the basic super strength you inherited from your father, and a few of them might even figure out that the young woman socking them in the nose is related to Fantastic Joe. And if that were to happen …

*Wendy selects a plate from above the sink, slides a golden omelet onto it from a frying pan, and places it in front of Kim.*

WENDY (cont.)
… there would be an open hunt among the city's villains to capture you and use you to hurt your father. Not to mention your secret identity would be lost and your father's would be in jeopardy, meaning that your life would become a lot more complicated and …

*Wendy pulls open a drawer and takes a fork from inside, handing it to a rebellious-looking Kim.*

WENDY (cont.)
… your schoolwork would most assuredly suffer. Now don't try to pull that face on me, eat up, and go upstairs to your room. You are hereby punished for running off into danger to do who knows what and for making me worried. I'm glad you're unhurt, but I'm sure you did not get any homework done last night so you better take care of that today while you are confined to your room. I do not want to get yet another note from your teacher tomorrow saying you didn't have anything to turn in, so I'll be coming upstairs to check on you later. Dinner is at six, I expect you downstairs and cheerful when your father comes home so we can all eat a meal together. Understood?

*Her lecture over, Wendy waits until Kim gives a glum nod before returning to the stove to make an omelet for herself. Kim eats, still moody, but not really able to stay angry for long. Kim is nearly halfway done when Wendy finishes making her own omelet and joins Kim at the kitchen table. There is a companionable silence, soon broken by Kim.*

KIM
Mom? I've been wondering … why is Dad always saving Dana? I mean, sure, she gets into trouble about as often as … well, as I do, but she should have learned to be more careful by now, right? And as for Dad, it's like he knows when she's in trouble; he just showed up at that warehouse while I was still sneaking around trying to get in, busted up Dr. Kem's Doombots, then grabbed the both of us and flew away before Kem's lab could blow.

WENDY
Mind telling me what you were doing there in the first place?

KIM *nonchalantly*
Oh, you know, I kinda saw the Doombots flying by with her when I was at J's house, and I followed them cause Dad is always saving her … and I wanted to show him I could save her too?

WENDY
I suppose as long as you had an upstanding motive like that sweetie. Hmm, well … you know Ms. Dreem is a reporter, right? And in a city full of superheroes and villains, newspaper reporters sometimes have to get in a little danger to tell the big stories? Well, that's reason number one why your father is always saving Ms. Dreem. She's just danger prone, no mistake.

*Kim continues eating unawares while Wendy tries to figure out how to put reason number two as gently as possible. Finally she just goes ahead with it, matter-a-factually.*

WENDY (cont.)
Reason number two? Well, your father has been having … sexual intercourse with Ms. Dreem for about five years or so now.

*Kim nearly chokes at this, now suddenly listening intently, and Wendy continues on bravely.*

WENDY (cont.)
Actually, they're probably doing it right now, as we eat. That's something kids say these days, "doing it?" Or is it something else? "Boned?" "Boning?"

KIM *trying to cope with her world just shattering*
Dad is … Dad's … That bastards been cheating on you!? What the hel…

WENDY *stern*
Language, young lady!

KIM *chastised, dumbfounded*
… what … the heck? What, do you mean, he's been … been … How did you find out? Why don't you seem mad? Why didn't you divorce his ass? What the … What?

WENDY *brightly*
Well, I'm not mad because I'd been cheating on him for about a year or two before he even considered doing so, with Mr. Fenton.

KIM *mind completely blown*
My … my Principal?!

WENDY
Yes dear, him. With you in school and your father always so busy, I got … restless. And Mr. Fenton was having such a hard time with his wife in those days … Oh, you see his wife had just decided she was a lesbian, and was … You know what a lesbian is, right dear?

KIM *taken aback*
… Yes?

WENDY
Wonderful, it's nice to hear they teach you what's what at that school of yours. Anyways, … Oh, are you a lesbian sweetie? It's okay if you are, your father and I …

KIM *resolute*
So not a lesbian Mom.

WENDY
Well … if you say so sweetie. Now, where was I? Oh, Mr. Fenton! So, that lasted up until last year or so … you remember when I came home all teary about midway through last summer? … well, Mr. Fenton's wife had decided being a lesbian wasn't for her, and took him back, and it turns out I was just a fling of his. Humph! And … let's see, I've been with lovely Mr. Bart from down the street almost since then.

*Wendy takes a large bite while Kim stares at her still dumbfounded. Wendy chews thoughtfully, then continues.*

WENDY (cont.)
Let's see, your father … well, you know what an upstanding man he is, right? So about a week into his affair he sits me down and tells me straight out that he is the worst guy in the world, that he can't stand it any longer and he has to tell me. I just sat there, thinking about Mr. Fenton's lovely abs, and was quite surprised when he spilled the beans. I suppose … Yes, I was a little terse with him for a moment, but I couldn't stand those big puppy dog eyes, all guilty and sad, so I forgave him and told him my own little secret. He just looked at me, about the same as you're looking at me now, then started laughing and crying and rolling around on the floor like a maniac. I was a little worried I'd pushed him off the deep end right then and there, but then he got back up, told me that he forgave me too, and flew right out the door to go save the world like usual!

*Wendy laughs uproariously, then takes another big bite while Kim just tries to make words come out of her own mouth.*

KIM
So … so that's it? You guys just sleep around like … like slutty cheerleaders?

WENDY *still laughing a little*
Kimberly, I'm going to have to ask you not to call your father and I "slutty cheerleaders," okay? It's not very polite. But yes, we have what you would call an open relationship. It's a secret from others, mostly, but we have decided to be very honest with each other about it and that's what's important.

*Wendy, finished with her omelet, takes her plate and fork over to the sink and begins washing, speaking over her shoulder at Kim.*

WENDY (cont.)
As for why we haven't had a divorce, convenience I suppose. Your father gets to say he's married when he does his civilian identity's taxes, as well as a loving home to return to. And yes, I do still love him young lady; I can feel you glaring over there! I just … One day I just realized I didn't love him as much as I used to, and that I was tired of waiting for him to return from saving the world from meteors or mad scientists or whatever. It was exciting, a long time ago, being the secret wife of Fantastic Joe, world's greatest superhero. And your father's civilian identity was quite the catch as well, working at that nice government job every day. I suppose … I guess I'm still married to your father because I like my life as it is. And of course there's creating a nice stable home for you, sweetie!

*Wendy smiles happily at Kim then goes back to washing dishes, humming something cheerful. Kim, unable to do much else, finishes the omelet then wordlessly places her plate and fork on the counter near the sink and heads for the kitchen door. She exits, then returns momentarily.*

KIM
Mom?

WENDY
Yes Kim?

KIM
I don't think I can come down for dinner. Is … is that okay?

WENDY *kindly*
I suppose. Do your homework, that will take your mind off things. Get a good night's sleep and you'll feel right as rain tomorrow. Goodness knows you didn't get any sleep last night.

*Kim nods and exits, leaving Wendy with the dishes.*

END SCENE 1

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SCENE 2

Wendy and Joe are in bed, a clear distance between them but not a hostile one. Wendy is reading a book with reading glasses on and Joe, a.k.a. TIM DARL, is doing a Sudoku puzzle with his tongue between his teeth and a pencil held carefully in his right hand. Matching bed-side lamps light the room. Both are wearing matching bathrobes, and the scene is very chaste. Wendy looks over at TIM, smiles, and puts down her book.

WENDY *gently*
Tim?

TIM
Yes, Wendy?

WENDY
Kimberly knows about … us, I told her earlier today.

*The pencil Tim was holding breaks cleanly in two, and he looks up in surprise. Still, like many superheroes he has something of another personality when in his civilian guise, and "Tim" is quite mild-mannered.*

TIM
Shoot, that was a good pencil. Oh? Well darn, I was hoping she wouldn't learn our little secret for a while longer. Is that why she didn't feel well for dinner?

WENDY
Yes, I believe so. She took it quite hard, but I think she'll be fine.

TIM
I suppose she'll refuse to speak to me for a week or two. Well, why tell her now?

WENDY
It seems you were a little too obvious with Ms. Dreem, and she was starting to wonder about it. I didn't want her jumping to any strange conclusions … and besides, she's old enough to learn.

TIM *a little hurt*
Well, I suppose. Still, you know how ashamed I am of the family secret.

WENDY *consoling*
Yes Tim, I know. Still, she's a part of this family and deserves to know.

TIM
Okay Wendy, I'm sure you're right like always.

WENDY *confidant*
Of course I am.

*A moment's silence, then Wendy continues speaking.*

WENDY (cont.) *teasing*
And how was Ms. Dreem today?

TIM *flabbergasted*
I … I … Really, Wendy!

WENDY *smiling*
Oh Tim, you're just too easy. Now, let's see, there was something else … Oh, right, Kim might be a lesbian.

TIM *his feelings are hurt, but he's recovering*
Really? I wouldn't have guessed, I thought she was close with that James boy.

WENDY
His name's Jack dear, not James. And that's what I thought too, but she was quite defensive when I mentioned Ms. Fenton … You remember her right? … when I mentioned Ms. Fenton having been a temporary lesbian and asked her if she knew what it meant.

TIM
Jack huh? Well … do you want me to talk with her? Or Falcon Captain! He's been gay for years, I bet she'd love to meet him. And if she met an good guy like him, she might be less defensive about it, might tell us right out.

WENDY *considering*
Hmm … no, that's probably a bad idea, we are trying to keep her out of the superhero lifestyle. Having her meet some famous hero like that would only encourage her. But maybe there's someone at your civilian job she could meet?

TIM
Hah, not that I know of. I hardly see those guys, I'm out patrolling so often. The guys at the office probably think I've got the best job in the world, with how little time I spend behind that big desk. Uncle Sam sure loves his personal superhero. I suppose Ms. Fenton is out of the question?

WENDY *madly giggling*
I think … I think Ms. Fenton would be … no, no, that's just too absurd! … Oh my goodness, that's … Captain Falcon would be better … Oh my, that was … Wow!

*Tim, smiling, goes back to his puzzle, pulling a fresh pencil from a big tray full of them next to the bed. Wendy tries to go back to her book, but must stop every few moments to laugh and eventually puts it away and turns over to sleep, turning off the lamp on her side of the bed. Tim, still doing his puzzle, suddenly breaks another pencil as he hears something that no normal human could; his body melts into a thick mist which flies to the bedroom closet. Wearing his full costume, Joe steps out from the closet and flies out the window into the night, after carefully turning off his bedside lamp and closing the window behind him.*

END SCENE 2