SUPERZERO

Episode 1

EXT. CITY TRAFFIC JAM – DAY.

Dr. MARK COLE, (31, too stressed for his age) HONKS car horn repeatedly. Noise of BACKGROUND TRAFFIC swells in the background. SIRENS in the distance. Mark DIALS his office while MUTTERING to himself about traffic.

MARK:
Can you people at least pretend you know how to drive?! Let's go!

Mark SLAMS his fist against the horn. MUFFLED shouts and insults ring out in return. Phone RINGS through to SHIRLEY WALTERS (65, quaint secretary) who answers the phone.

SHIRLEY:
Thank you for calling Hero Therapy Institute, everyday help for everyday heroes, how may I direct your call?

MARK:
Hey, Shirl? It's Mark. There's been some kind of major accident on Main, and I'm stuck in wall-to-wall traffic. I hate to ask this, but can you move my first appointment to 10:30? It's gonna be at least another hour before I make it to the office.

SHIRLEY:
Not a problem. I'll hold down the fort until you get here.

MARK:
You're an angel, Shirley. Any of my patients in?

SHIRLEY:
Well, your 9:00 with Marty "The Flamethrower" Robertson was cancelled.

MARK:
Again? What is it this time?

SHIRLEY:
Well, his mother called--

MARK:
Please, don't tell me he—

SHIRLEY:
--ended up in the hospital after a minor fire-related incident in his dorm. Apparently, he injured himself trying to make his roommate believe he had real powers.

MARK:
Geeze. I thought we were making progress with that kid. I'm gonna lose my job and all of our funding at this rate. We're supposed to talk these kids out of hero delusions, not encourage them. What am I doing wrong, Shirl?

SHIRLEY:
Nothing, Dr. Cole. You're helping a lot of people down here.

MARK:
I'm trying to, but we're running out of time, and Marty's not even my worst case. Speaking of trouble, has Donnie Walsh called this morning?

SHIRLEY:
Not that I know of.

MARK:
You sure? The kid called my house fourteen times last night saying he urgently needed to talk to me, but I got home too late to call him back. I don't know if he's going through another manic phase or what, but his voicemails were off.

SHIRLEY:
How so?

MARK:
I don't know. Donnie was rattling off about having some kind of major breakthrough, but I don't think he's headed in the right direction. The kid's a tech genius. Lots of potential. Bad family situation which is why I've been trying to get him to apply for a scholarship so he can re-enroll and finish up college. But last night he said he didn't need the money anymore. That he was working on something bigger.

SHIRLEY:
Maybe that's a good thing.

MARK:
Maybe. But he didn't sound like himself. He's been desperate for that scholarship since his parents forced him to drop out, Shirl. We gotta give him a call and see if we can get him in this morning. Was Marty the only person I had scheduled before lunch?