INT. JAMES' HOUSE — AFTERNOON

James steps into his lavish mansion. Matthew occupies the living room while Samual and Derek lounge on the couch by the corner chair. Their attention locks on James as he slams his bag down, entering with averted eyes.

MATTHEW: James. Everett. Knight!

Matthew greets James with a scowl and pats his foot on the floor.

JAMES: What?

MATTHEW (furious): You know damn-well what, James. You always get into more trouble than I can clean up.

JAMES: Dad, you don't know what happened.

James leans against the railing of the staircase, huffing.

MATTHEW (Scolding): James!

Samual and Derek part on the couch, and James sits snug between them.

JAMES (Mocking): Dad!

James bites his tongue for his own sake, keeping his anger inside. James and his dad lock eyes. They shoot glares at each other.

DEREK: I think he's right, James.

James glares at his brother.

JAMES (Angered mumbling): Of course, Dad's right.

James clutches his phone in his superhuman grip.

JAMES: He's always right.

James clenches his phone until it shatters, eliciting widened eyes from Samual and Derek. They swiftly grab the phone from his hand before his father spots it. Reluctantly, James lets go, and Derek conceals the phone on the couch as Samual distracts Matthew.

SAMUAL: When does your shift start?

MATTHEW: It started ten minutes ago.

James' father's eyes drift. Matthew adjusts his utility belt while Derek reluctantly watches James yanking on his gun holster.

DEREK (Whispering): You owe me.

James flips his hood above his shoulders, but Derek quickly pulls it back down before his dad can see him.

MATTHEW: I don't want to see you fight anymore, especially Mark Reignson.

Matthew adjusts his badge on his shoulder. With large, bloodshot eyes, James's father quickly steps to the door and leaves.

JAMES (Grunting): I don't owe you anything, Derek. I do a lot already.

James digs through the couch, feeling for his cell phone. Instead, Derek and Sam glare at James.

JAMES: What do you guys want from me?

SAMUAL: Maybe I should train you better to learn how to control this. Can I test you in the laboratory, James?

Derek's pout brightens. James yanks his phone from the couch cushions, watching Derek stand.

DEREK: I've got to go to work. Stay calm before you break something other than your phone.

Derek pats James' back comfortably and walks off towards the door.

SAMUAL: Then, there were two. What happens when your father, brother, or I can't save you, and you get into trouble with the sheriff? What happens if you lose control of your strength and your father notices? Or worse, if you accidentally hurt or kill someone?

JAMES (shouting): Samual!

James sucks in a sharp breath.

JAMES: What about Dad? If he finds out—

James' eyes shift to the floor. Samual chews on his nails, looking nervous.

SAMUAL: —Your powers are dangerous and not something you should mess with, not to mention—

JAMES: —I guess.

SAMUAL: Not, I guess. That attitude may work with your father, but not me. Take these powers seriously. Okay, bud?

JAMES: Alright, I get it.

SAMUAL: So, do you want to go down to the lab?

James nods, taking a deep breath.

JAMES: Yeah.

SAMUAL: Good, I'll meet you down there.

Samual smiles. James races off towards the basement.

INT. BASEMENT LABORATORY - DAY

In a well-organized room filled with scientific equipment, Samual operates between a computer and laptop, collecting data. James, with a metal band measuring his brainwave frequency, effortlessly hovers over an eight-hundred-pound fridge. Samual tests James's strength and endurance by tossing weights, and James gracefully catches them mid-air.

SAMUAL: You almost didn't catch those.

JAMES: Yeah.

SAMUAL: Come on. You're a natural.

Samual throws a small granola bar at James. He reluctantly catches it before plunging out of the air and everything else crashing to the ground.
James rubs his temples, feeling drained as he pushes his feet.

SAMUAL: Again!

James shoots Samual his best death glare, dusting debris from his shirt.

JAMES: Later. If I do any more, I might kill someone.

James raises an eyebrow in Samual's direction, but Samual is unappeased.

SAMUAL: I heard you and Derek made two more friends this morning.

JAMES: You mean the supers? Yeah, I may or may not have bumped into two of them. You know, they asked for you.

Samual quivers and pauses his work.

SAMUAL: What did they want?

JAMES: One guy nearly kicked my ass, and the other saved me from a hardcore beating. I don't know if that should relieve me or not.

Samual points a pen at James. Then he drops it to the desk.

SAMUAL: You're going to stop those kids.

Samual intensifies, forcing himself to look up from the safety of his desk.

JAMES: Do you want to bet? Dad told me you still talk to that ex-superhero, Golden Goliath, back in Los Angeles. Maybe he could help, too.

James glares at Samual, lifting him from his seat—unfazed, Samual hovers, pulling his arms over his chest.

SAMUAL: Put me down, James.

James pushes up, pulling Samual closer until the two are face-to-face.

JAMES (Mocking): You're going to talk to Golden Goliath and help, too.

James drops from the sky, landing gracefully on the floor, letting Samual fall into his arms.

SAMUAL: I'm sure I can help, but Golden Goliath is retired. He is proud of you, though.

JAMES: Is he, now?

Samual shrugs.

SAMUAL: Yep... Get your homework done before your father gets home. I've got some work to do downstairs.

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

James hovers in the air in the ceiling's corner, halfway above his bed. His feet dangle, and he flips through his social media feed. His head swivels to the doorway. Derek knocks, letting himself in the room, and James slowly lowers onto the bed.

JAMES: Any news on the supers?

Derek shakes his head.

DEREK: Not much. The supers disappeared again. I haven't heard of any significant super-crime since this morning.

James nods.

JAMES: Sure.

Derek settles at James' desk, a jumble of papers, comic drawings, and a newly received laptop with a bow. He taps his fingers on the wooden surface, picking up one of James's superhero comic pages featuring a hooded and masked character soaring above city buildings.

DEREK: What do you want to do when you're older?

James scoffs, floating his phone in the air, rolling it repeatedly. Derek puts the page down on the desk again.

JAMES: You mean when I'm eighteen in about a year?

Derek sighs.

DEREK: Yep.

Derek sits back in his seat.

JAMES: I don't know.

DEREK: Don't you feel like your fate is to save people? I mean, you have powers, James.

James shrugs.

JAMES: Maybe.

Derek's eyes widen.

DEREK: Maybe?

JAMES: Yeah.

Derek pats the page and rises from his seat.

DEREK: Think about it.

Derek watches his brother as he leaves the room. James drops the phone from the air and flattens it against the bed.

INT. GROCERY STORE - NOON

James shops with his cart full of snacks, noticing Mark and Mia with their cart of groceries. He veers away to avoid them, grabbing some chips and pulling up his hoodie. When he nearly collides with Mia while she looks at cookie dough, he blushes.

JAMES: I'm sorry, Mia.

MIA: It's okay.

James rolls away when Mia grabs the front of the cart, stopping James in his tracks.

MIA: I need your opinion.

James' eyes widen, and he leans against the cart.

JAMES: Sure. I'm happy to help.

Mia points to the cookie selection in front of her.

MIA: What are your favorite cookies?

James pretends to think with his hand on his chin.

JAMES: I like brookies, but a classic chocolate chip is great, too, if you prefer plain cookies.

Mia laughs to herself.

MIA: What's a brookie?

James's smile turns to a grimace.

JAMES: A brookie? It's a cross between a brownie and a chocolate chip cookie? It's divine, especially when Samual makes it.

James smiles again when Mia smiles.

MIA: I may have to try that.

Mia grabs a pack of chocolate chip cookie dough mixes off the rack.

MIA: How are Samual and your dad? (beat) And your brother?

Mia and James glance at each other.

JAMES: They're hanging in there. Samual is lonely like always, and my brother and dad are busy at work.

Suddenly, Mark rounds the corner, finding Mia standing with James. Mark grunts.

MARK: Mia, come here.

Mia looks at James, slapping the cookie mix against her palm.

MIA: That's my cue.

James chuckles nervously.

JAMES: I'll talk to you at school.

MIA: Yeah. Bye, James.

James sighs. Mia walks over to Mark, who is glaring at James. Mark whispers in Mia's ear, and they walk off arguing. James stares at the cookies before grabbing two chocolate chip cookie dough packages and throwing them into the cart. Then he walks off.

EXT. ROOF - NIGHT

James sits on the roof, gazing up at the stars, his legs tucked into his chest and his hands in his hoodie. Derek slides through James' window and sits beside him on the roof.

DEREK: You okay?

James sucks in a breath.

JAMES: Nope.

James exhales a sharp breath. Derek wraps his arm around James' shoulder.

DEREK: What's wrong?

James shifts on the roof, his breath freezing the cool air.

JAMES: Why couldn't Dad, even Samual, or you get superpowers?

Derek was silent for another moment, and his grip tightened around James's shoulder, offering brotherly comfort.

DEREK: Do you believe everything happens for a reason? Maybe you have these superpowers for a purpose, and maybe the rest of us didn't get them because that was meant to happen as well—

Derek sighs.

DEREK: —Besides, being normal sucks too.
Matthew stands below, looking up at his two young sons.

MATTHEW: What are you two doing on the roof?
Derek and James both look down at their tired father. They don't even notice when he pulls into the driveway.

DEREK
We were talking. Do you need help with groceries, Dad?

MATTHEW: Sure.

Matthew waves his sons down. Derek races to the window and into the house, and James peers over the side of our two-story home. His father yells at him when he flips off the roof.

MATTHEW (Yelling): Don't jump off the roof, James.

James lands on the pavement with a superhero-like stance, just inches away from his father, catching him by surprise. Derek rushes out of the doorway and snatches the grocery bags from his father's hands.
James strides over to his father's Suburban, removing four bags from the back seat. Behind their father, he rolls his eyes at Derek and slams the car door forcefully, triggering the car alarm.

JAMES: Shit.

Matthew spins around to see what has happened. Fortunately, James doesn't scratch the door's metal, but the car rocks. He silenced the vehicle, pressing a button on his keys.

MATTHEW: Seriously, James?!

His hands rest on the car's hood, attempting to stop it from swaying. James presses his fingertips on the car's roof, and it quickly stops moving.

MATTHEW: In the house, now.

Derek shrugs and winks as James meets Derek's gaze. He still clutches his grocery bags tightly.

JAMES: Don't even think about it.

Derek shrugs once more, a smug look on his face, and he leads James into the house.

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

Samual pulls brookies from the oven with a potholder and places them on the stove. Derek and James sit at the countertop while their dad stands in the doorway, his hip resting against the doorframe.

DEREK: How much do you want to bet, Mark is losing it.

Derek and James chuckle.

DEREK: I heard he got braces.

JAMES: Good. Hopefully, they wired his mouth shut, too.

MATTHEW: Both of you, knock it off.

Matthew walks into the kitchen to the fridge, where he pulls out two beers while Samual loosens the brookies from the pan and takes a bite, setting it on the counter.

SAMUAL: Mark is a dick, but that doesn't mean he can't protect his cousin. Do you remember when I punched Jack McCoy for Henry?

Matthew snorts and gulps a swig of his drink.

MATTHEW: Yeah. You're lucky Jack's Dad didn't sue. Dad was so pissed, but that son of a bitch deserved it.

Before Matthew exchanges a beer bottle for a brookie, Samual gives him the "See what I mean" look. He then turns to face James. Matthew looks James in the eyes. Samual sets two brookies in front of Derek and James.

MATTHEW: Don't get any ideas.

James gives his father an anxious grimace and bites into his cookie.

JAMES: I wasn't planning on it.

DEREK: I'm out.

Seizing his cookie from the counter, Derek heads toward the doorway. He swiftly devours his "brookie" and playfully fires finger guns at James.

JAMES: I guess I'm out, too.

Derek stops him in the hallway as James leaves the room.

DEREK: You're not coming with me tonight. I need some time for myself.

James turned to the wide staircase and stomps up the steps.

JAMES (From the top stair): Sounds like a plan. Good night.

DEREK: I'll be back in a few hours.

JAMES: Cool.

Then, James races to his bedroom while Derek leaves to patrol.

INT. BEDROOM - MORNING

Samual sits on the edge of James' bed, his eyes on his cellphone screen, his tongue poking out between his bottom and top lips as he concentrates on something.

JAMES: Samual!

James prods Samual with his toes to get his attention.

SAMUAL: What's up, James?

Samual puts his hand on James' foot and looks over at James after he prods him one more time.

SAMUAL: You know, Mark could have pressed charges, right?

JAMES (smirking): He could have, but he didn't.

Samual sighs.

SAMUAL: Why do you think he didn't?

James reaches across his bed and grabs his phone off his side dresser.

JAMES: I'm not sure, Samual. Maybe the son of a bitch is waiting for the right time to tell everyone I'm Alpha? You know he knows my secret.

SAMUAL: You don't say.

Samual cocks his head to the side, lips pressed together in a smug grimace. Samual then exhales deeply and pats James' ankle as he sinks into the mattress's side.

SAMUAL: Bullies all have a deeper motivation for bullying. If he knows about your abilities and hasn't mentioned them or blackmailed you yet, he's probably not as horrible as you think.

JAMES: You don't know Mark that well.

James hurriedly scrolls through his social media page before turning off the screen, listening for a click, and putting it aside.

SAMUAL: And you think you do? I know Mark is a jerk, but it could be worse.

Samual pats James' shins and stands up—long beat.

SAMUAL: I'm working on something that I need to get back to doing. You're welcome to come down and observe.

James exhales and relaxes into his mattress, tucking his legs.

JAMES: Give me a minute, and I'll be down there.
Samual moves to the door with a nod in his head.

SAMUAL: I'll meet you downstairs.

James nods. Samual then closes the door.

INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT

James hurries down to the basement, capturing Samual's delighted attention as he juggles between his laptop and liquid experiments. Samual smiles broadly as James enters.

James tries to grab a test tube from Samual's hand, but Samual quickly pulls it out of his reach.

SAMUAL: Don't do that again unless you want to wind up with more superpowers.

James backs down as his hands rocket into the sky.

JAMES: What were you thinking?

Samual licks his lips and sighs, quickly peeking at his computer screen.

SAMUAL: I thought I could reverse-engineer it.
Samual defended himself with a shrug.

SAMUAL: I have half of the genetic coding research from - - I also have part of the cure. With all these new supers appearing and you not wanting your powers, I've also considered giving Derek powers.

JAMES (snapping): That's not happening.

Samual takes a step back, his hands in the air this time.

SAMUAL: Alright, I won't.

Samual gives in.

JAMES: I'm sure he could handle superpowers, but that's not your call, Sam—

Samual shrugs it off, dropping his hands to his sides and returning to his laptop.

SAMUAL: —It's not yours either.

With a glare, James silences him.

JAMES: Not happening.

SAMUAL: You're a little grumpy tonight.

JAMES: Yeah, I'm tired.

James rolls his eyes.

SAMUAL: Then go to bed.

Samual doesn't dare to look away when James locks eyes with him, challenging him.

JAMES: Only if you swear not to do something as stupid as giving Derek powers.

Samual grimaces and nods. He returned his stare after pressing a button on his laptop.

SAMUAL: Not even if I make it look like an accident?

JAMES: Sam!

Samual laughs.

SAMUAL: Kidding. I promise Derek will remain power-free.

JAMES: Now that this nightmare headache is over, I guess I'll go to bed.

James yawns and stretches his arms above my head.

JAMES: Night!

SAMUAL: Goodnight, James.

Samual returns to his research, leaving James to stroll up the open stairwell.

INT. DEREK'S COP CAR - DAY

James slumps against Derek's car. He looks up at his brother as he pulls up to the school.

James's eyes wander to NICHOLAS GRANT, standing before the double doors. He talks to NOAH (Knight) KINLEY, 15. The boys exchange a few words before Nick walks off into the building.
James looks over at Derek. Derek shrugs.

DEREK: At least it's not Mark.

James shoves Derek against his door before opening it, watching him shoot James a dirty look. James walks off towards the school building.

NOAH: Hey. Do you know that guy?

Noah greets James at the door, stopping him as his hand curls around the door handle.

James sucks in a breath and does a once-over.

JAMES: Sure, we've spoken.

NOAH: He's a cop.

Noah's eyes dragged to Derek's patrol vehicle, parked in the drop-off zone. The front bumper is pushed in from the night before.

JAMES: Yeah, He's also my brother.

Before James opens the door, the two boys stare at each other, walking in.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Mark pushes through the double doors with his friends trailing behind. James' fist curls around his locker door, creating grooves, and he lets go, avoiding stares.

Two of Mark's friends stuff James's head inside his locker. Another kid sweeps James' feet from beneath him. James falls to the floor, sitting on his bottom.
Mark grins, showing off his brand new TOP AND BOTTOM braces.

MARK: Good morning.

Mark ruffles James' hair and slams James's head against the back of the lockers. James looks up at him, digging his nails into his fists, avoiding blood while taking reluctant breaths.

JAMES: What do you want?

Mark's lips grow wide into a grin. James slides his knees into his chest.

MARK: We're just having some fun. Since I got my Toreador shots and can't go to the gym, you're the next best thing.

JAMES (Mumbling): Great.

James breathes in heavily and shuts his eyes, balling his fists again.

MARK: Why don't you tell people the truth? Why you're so freakishly strong?

Mark pushes James's head hard with his fist.

MARK (Demanding): Do it, Knight.
Mark's knee pinned James's chest against the lockers.

MARK: Or do you need me to tell them?

The bell practically saves James. Mark smacks James' head into the lockers one last time. James's hands push into the ground, creating grooves in the concrete floor.

MARK: Bye, Knight.

Mark chuckles, leading his comrades off to class.

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY

Mr. Branden monitors James as he walks into the homeroom.

MR. BRANDEN: Glad to see you, Mr. Knight.
James slams his bag onto a desk in the front row.

JAMES: Yep.

James pulls out his notebook and pen. Mr. Branden looks towards the door as Mark barrels through just as the bell rings. His friends follow close behind.
Mr. Branden stares at Mark from under his paper for a moment. Mr. Branden adjusts some papers on his desk and pushes his glasses into place.

MR. BRANDEN: Take a seat, Mr. Reignson.

Mark and his schoolmates watch James as they return to their seats.

James twirls his pencil aimlessly above the paper, unnoticed and disregarded by everyone—except MAXIMUS (Max Knight) KINLEY, the new student with an imposing Australian accent. As Max enters, his gaze meets James, who instinctively tightens his grip on the pencil.

MR. BRANDEN: You must be Maximus.

Maximus dodges James' eyes. His brown eyes stay trained on Mark.

MAX: Yeah, and you must be Mr. Branden.

Mr. Branden looks up from his papers to look at Max.

MR. BRANDEN: Yeah.

Max walks off, taking refuge in an empty area near Mark.

MR. BRANDEN: Morning announcements! As I can see, everything seems normal, other than a blood drive that the lovely Marina and Miss Reignson have been putting together.

James looks back at Mia, catching a glance from her before her eyes draw towards the door with everyone else. James' eyes lock on Noah. Noah glares at James before averting his eyes as he approaches Mr. Branden's desk.

NOAH: Mr. Branden, right?

Mr. Branden looked up at the boy.

MR. BRANDEN: Yep. Take a seat, Mr... Uh...

Mr. Branden checks his papers.

MR. BRANDEN: Kinley, right? Are you and Maximus related?

Noah sighs.

NOAH (annoyed): Yep.

Walking to the desk next to James, Noah throws his stuff down. He glances over at James, digging his palms into his desk. James ignores Noah.
The bell rings not long after. James arranges his notebooks in his bag and walks out, feeling he's being followed.

INT. HALLWAY - LOCKER - NOON

Mark reaches out, shoving James back against the rows of lockers, and he chuckles.

MARK: Freak. You're lucky my Toradol shots are wearing off, or I would kick your ass, Knight. 
James grabs the back of his head and ducks as the new boy comes in for a second round.

MAX: A bit of a bloody idiot, too.

Mark and Max leave James stunned on the floor. Through blurred vision, James watches Noah, who grumbles something incoherent at him. Confused, James recovers from the ringing in his ears, looking up at Noah.

JAMES: What?

James is thrown back against the lockers hard again. His head swims in a sea of colors as he dives to the ground. Noah walks on while James catches his breath, confused.

Noah slams James's head against the lockers again. James slumps to the ground. His head fills with a kaleidoscope of colors.

NOAH (yelling): Get up!

James barely moves a muscle.

NOAH: Get up, James!

James sits up, leaning against the lockers, while Noah disappears before his eyes as the overhead warning bell rings.

INT. ENGLISH CLASS - DAY

MRS. ROOKE, in her 30s and resembling an aged belle, reads a book as James enters. James slams his bag on his desk and sits down. Mark, a few rows behind James, keeps a close watch while LUCAS, a senior seated directly behind James, attempts to distract him with whispered calls.

LUCAS: James... (beat) James... (beat) James...
(beat) JAMES...

James doodles in his notebook, ignoring Lucas.

LUCAS: James...

Lucas jabs his pencil into James's neck, making James pivot in his seat while Mark chuckles. James pulls his hoodie over his head. Mrs. Rooke, unaware of the commotion, reads her schedule aloud. James lays his head on his desk and suddenly sits up when an eraser hits his back.

JAMES (Mumbling): Damn, it.

Mark sneers at James and Mrs. Rooke continues reading her book, paying no attention. While James reaches for an eraser on the floor, Lucas pulls his chair out from under him. James catches himself in a plank position, prompting Mrs. Rooke to get up and approach James reluctantly.

MRS. ROOKE: Mr. Knight, are you okay?

Mrs. Rooke yanks on James' sleeve, attempting to pull him from the floor.

JAMES: Yeah, I'm good.

Mrs. Rooke yanks James off the floor.

MRS. ROOKE: Go to the nurse.

James' eyes dart towards Mark, and he clasps the eraser, crushing it to dust.

JAMES (Irritated): I-I don't think that's necessary.

MARK (Laughing): Just go, wimp.

James snatches the teacher's note from Mrs. Rooke, grabs his backpack off the desk, and storms out of the classroom angrily.

INT. NURSES OFFICE - DAY

James sits at a table. His shirt sits on a cabinet side, and NURSE MARINA examines James's health.

MARINA: I don't see a scratch, Mr. Knight.

JAMES: Thanks, I guess.

Mia walks in from the opposite room, juggling a pile of papers, and smiles at James.

MIA: Hey, James.

JAMES: Hey Mia. Do you need help?

James anxiously drags his fingernails through the back of his dark blonde roots. The stack of papers Mia carries along is roughly fifty files thick. She barely balances them in her thin arms and places them beside the counter.

MIA: I got it, but thank you.

Mia curls her hair with her index finger. James follows her eyes to his broad chest, grabbing his t-shirt from the table beside him and slipping it over his head. James blushes anxiously.

INT. HOME - NIGHT

James enters the kitchen, steals a half-eaten sandwich from Derek's fingertips, and takes a bite.

DEREK: I was eating that.

Samual stands in the opposing corner of the room, assessing the scene with an exhale. James bites into the sandwich and opens the fridge, digging for a soda. He grips the bottle tight in his fist and flicks the cap from the top. Derek snatches the soda from James's fingertips before he can sip.

DEREK: This is mine now.

James nods in agreement and lets the soda bottle go.

JAMES: Anything new?

James takes another bite of his sandwich. Samual leans against the countertop, intrigued but quiet, observing his nephews. Derek sips his soda, breaking the science.

DEREK: Radio silence for now.

Derek looks at Samual.

DEREK: What's up with you, Samual? You're quiet today.

James looks at Samual. He is smiling wide and leans gently against the countertop.

SAMUAL: You tell me? Are you happy about something or just in a good mood, James?

JAMES (excited): Mia talked to me.

DEREK: That's what this is?

James' smile grows.

JAMES: Yep.

DEREK: Super Boy has a crush? I didn't think that was possible.

Derek takes another sip of his beverage.

JAMES: Don't call me that.

Derek grins wide-eyed and pats James's shoulder.

DEREK: Alright, Alpha.

Derek raises his hands, a cocky smirk forming across his lips.

JAMES: Sure.

SAMUAL: Any power gain?

James grins, taking one more bite of the sandwich before he lays it off to the side.

JAMES: Maybe?

James rests his palm harder against the countertop, trying to pull himself onto a stool. An unintentional chunk of the marble countertop breaks off in one piece. Samual and Derek wince.

DEREK: Dad is going to kill you. Did you already have caffeine or something today?

JAMES: Yeah, why?

Derek groans.

DEREK: JAMES!

Derek gestures at the chunks of marble and debris covering the floor.

DEREK: You become the goddamn Incredible Hulk when you consume caffeine!

JAMES: Yeah, no shit, genius.

Derek and Samual frown.

SAMUAL: Alright, Mr. High-and-mighty. Why do you keep sabotaging your powers if you don't like them?

JAMES: Samual!

Samual shifts, pulling himself upright.

SAMUAL: You need to calm down before you hurt someone, bud.

JAMES: I'm working on it.

James unintentionally tears off another chunk of the marble slab.

JAMES (Panicked): I can't control it!

DEREK: Take a deep breath, James. Do you need to go for a walk?

James takes in a huge breath and lets air from his lungs. Derek and Samual sigh.

JAMES: Is right now a good time?

DEREK: I'm free right now if you want to go. Just don't break anything else.

James laughs.

JAMES: Sure.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT

Derek humbles himself, stretching his calves as he joins James at his side. The two young men are nearly halfway into the city, walking three miles downtown in a quiet neighborhood.

JAMES: What's up?

DEREK: I was going to ask you the same question.

Derek breathes, letting his breath fog the cold, breezy late afternoon night atmosphere.

JAMES: You know how you and Samual know my secret, but Dad doesn't?

Derek sighs, acknowledging James, and they proceed with their light jog.

DEREK: I'm sure Dad knows your secret. He doesn't want to accept it yet. Remember when you were eight, and he caught both of us in the garage? You lifted his car, and that's how you smashed the back end of Dad's police cruiser?

James shakes his head, but he can picture the scene for a moment.

INT. GARAGE — FLASHBACK — DAY

Derek and James quietly open the back garage door and sneak in. James is roughly eight, and Derek is about 12.

They first spot their dad's police cruiser parked in the middle of the garage.

DEREK: I bet you can't lift the back of Dad's car.

JAMES: You'll owe me a week's worth of allowance if I can.

DEREK: Deal, but you have to use your super strength. It doesn't count if you use your...

JAMES: Telekinesis?

DEREK: Yeah. Something like that.

James grabs the back bumper of his dad's cruiser. He lifts with his legs and upper body. The rear end of the bumper screeches and bends as it pulls off the ground with ease.

DEREK: Holy—

Derek stares in shock. He backs up. James lifts the car further until the vehicle's front lifts from the floor.
Footsteps pound the floor from inside. Derek panics, and James still lifts the car higher and higher. The back door swings open, and a shocked Matthew opens the garage door; his face flushes with shock as a coffee mug slips from his hand in slow motion.

MATTHEW: Son of a bitch.

He freezes in place. Derek chuckles, and James drops the back of the car. The car aggressively slams to the ground, bouncing on the tires.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - AFTERNOON

Derek kicks a pebble into the middle of the street.

JAMES: Does Dad know?

DEREK: Have a seat.

Derek gestures to the curbside, and James walks over. He sits next to James on the roadside.

DEREK: James, you can do the impossible, and sometimes, when people don't want to believe the impossible can happen, people ignore it... You may be invincible, James, but you can still get hurt, and I don't want to see that, and neither does Dad nor Samual. That's why Dad doesn't want to admit you have powers.

JAMES: Thanks.

Both guys stand and witness a hooded person hurtling from above, crashing onto the pavement like a missile.

Derek: What the—

The impact leaves the boy unconscious, but the ground remains steady. Derek and James quickly dash towards the fallen figure.

JAMES: What do we do?

Derek: Go home. I gotta call this in.

TO BE CONTINUED...