Windy City (season 1)

Why so Parentless? (Part 1)

*The story of Ryan's orphaned journey begins as he meets new friends at an Illinois high school*

INT. NOTEBOOK
(The scene opens up with a notebook opening to a blank page as a pencil starts sketching out the storyline.)
NARRATOR: (voice-over) Long ago, in the bustling city of Chicago, Illinois, there was a young college student named Moira Harris. Although she loved school just the way it was, Moira was isolated and lonely. (The notebook flips to a new page.) Then, a few years later, a man named Owen Flaherty came into her life, which changed Moira's world forever. (The notebook flips to another new page.) On Christmas Day, 1999, Moira and Owen got married and bought themselves a new car and a new house for their future children to grow up in. (The notebook flips again.) The couple had been praying for a few years to have a child, and their prayers have been answered. (The notebook flips once again.) On the morning hours of April 19th, 2002, the couple was blessed with their first son, Ryan Flaherty. (It flips once more.) The couple cherished their son's love and affection every single day. (It flips again.) Then, on night of July 31st, 2002, a terrible thing happened.

EXT. BURNING HOUSE
(The camera zooms in on the burning house)
NARRATOR: (voice-over) A fire broke out in the middle of the night, due to an unexpected gas leak.
(Firefighters arrive at the scene)

INT. BURNING HOUSE - KITCHEN
(MOIRA, 24, is holding a CRYING BABY, 3 m.o., in her arms)
OWEN: Moira, the firemen have arrived!!!
We have to get out of here!!!!
MOIRA: No, Owen!! I have to protect
Ryan!!! (The baby continues to cry) Hush little one.
OWEN: If we don't get out of here, we'll die!!!
(The FIREFIGHTERS arrive in the kitchen)
FIREMAN 1: Alright, hand over the child!!!
MOIRA: I refuse!!!
(A piece of RUBBLE is about to COLLAPSE.)
OWEN: MOIRA, LOOK OUT!!!
(OWEN ,28, grabs MOIRA and pulls her towards him. She drops RYAN to the ground. The rubble collapses. The baby continues to cry.)
MOIRA: Ryan!!! (She struggles to lift the rubble. She fails.)
OWEN: It's too late now, Moira. There's
nothing we can do.
(The rubble shakes)
MOIRA: Owen, wait!! (She takes off her LOCKET NECKLACE and tosses it to the baby.) Ryan, mommy, and daddy love you. Make sure nothing bad happens to
it.
OWEN: Moira, are you-?!
MOIRA: It's for his own good!!
(The rubble falls on Moira and Owen, crushing them to death. The baby cries loudly.)

EXT. BURNING HOUSE
NARRATOR: (voice-over) Ryan's parents, unfortunately, did not make it out alive. They were trapped in the kitchen and died in the blaze. Poor Ryan was all alone.

INT. NOTEBOOK
(The locket is drawn in the notebook)
NARRATOR: (voice-over) The only thing left from both of his parents was a golden locket necklace with their wedding picture inside of it. (The notebook flips one more time.) And as for Ryan himself, he currently lives with his Aunt, Uncle, and cousin during his lifetime. In Chicago, or as they call it: The Windy City.
(The camera zooms in)

EXT. CHICAGO SKYLINES
(The Chicago Flag turns into the logo of the show.)
TITLE: Windy City
TITLE: 14 years later...

INT. RYAN'S ROOM - MORNING
(It's morning. The sun rises as a rooster crows. A TEENAGER'S bedroom has a blue wall, a desk, a bed next to a window, a Chicago flag hung on the wall etc. In the bed, lies TEENAGER RYAN, 14. He is still asleep. His cousin DARIAN, 23, a punk rock look alike reminiscence, enters the room with an air horn and gets closer to Ryan.)
DARIAN: (Blows the airhorn, waking and startling Ryan.) Wake up cousin!!! It's your first day of High School!!!
(RYAN wakes up wearing his mother's necklace, a plain white T-shirt, and red pajama pants. He has a pretty adorable look. He is shown to have raven black hair, piercing bright blue eyes, and speaks in a youthful voice.)
RYAN: (yawns and rubs his eyes) Darian, you do that at the beginning of every school year. Ever since my first day of pre-K.
DARIAN: Whatever, it's your first day of Freshman year! So it's time to get ready for the day! (He leaves the room, leaving Ryan to get dressed by himself.)