Running head: THE FIRE ACROSS THE STREET 1 THE FIRE ACROSS THE STREET 8 The Fire across the Street By: Institution: FADE IN: INT. BRIGHT LIVING ROOM - DAY Sitting lazily on the dark couch and seeming drawn to her overgrown fingernails ROSE (13) does not notice that the neighborhood is not silent as it is the norm. Indistinctive voices of children from the house across the street can be heard but ROSE seems unmoved. The voices become distinctive and ROSE raises her head. With HASTE, she rises up and does not like what she sees. She does not pay attention to the children voices but to what she sees. ROSE She steps closer to her brother sitting and drawn to his newest comic books. EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD – DAY The neighborhood is no longer silent. Raging fire interrupts the quiet every member of the neighborhood valued. Smoke has begun filling the sky. INT. BRIGHT LIVING ROOM – DAY Rose seems ready to do something about the raging fire. JEAN (17) was Rose’ older brother who was mostly withdrawn and not ready to lend a hand as he held a strong belief that every person should have ways of helping themselves unless they were INCAPACITATED. For a few years now, Jean always seemed unmoved and did not seem to have an intentions of changing his beliefs. His beliefs and behaviors had made his relationship with Rose to seem broken and unrepairable. Rose had constantly shown efforts to mend it and make it what it was when they were younger when they could play together take care of each other whether out in the woods or in the backyard. ROSE Jean you must see this! Hey, don’t you want to see this? Rose pounced. His brother had been looking at his comic books and did not care much about what his sister was doing. Rose at this time had started thinking about what would happen to them now that their parents had gone to England for what they had said was a business trip. Mr. and Mrs. Stonebridge were successful business people who were able to make a fortune for themselves. This could even be seen in their house that had expensive furniture and jewelry. Their house was one of the big and well-constructed houses in MOUNTAIN HILL suburb that was widely regarded as a dwelling place for successful business people, politicians, and the rich immigrants that created jobs for the city’s poorest. As ROSE handled her thoughts and failed to conclude what was happening, Jean turned and shouted. JEAN Now what again, you coward. ROSE was not surprised by the words of her brother who was always mean with his words not only for her but also his parents and grandparents that lived around 58 miles in the South East. These are people Jean and Rose interacted with most of their time and their parents had enrolled them to a private school that did not offer much social life. Actually, both did not have friends they could interact with unless their parents had introduced new families who would come with their teen sons or daughters. This did .

1. Running head: THE FIRE ACROSS THE STREET
1
THE FIRE ACROSS THE STREET
8
The Fire across the Street
By:
Institution:
FADE IN:
INT. BRIGHT LIVING ROOM - DAY
Sitting lazily on the dark couch and seeming drawn to her
overgrown fingernails ROSE (13) does not notice that the
neighborhood is not silent as it is the norm.
Indistinctive voices of children from the house across the street
can be heard but ROSE seems unmoved. The voices become
distinctive and ROSE raises her head.
With HASTE, she rises up and does not like what she sees. She
does not pay attention to the children voices but to what she
sees.
ROSE
She steps closer to her brother sitting and drawn to his newest
comic books.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD – DAY

2. The neighborhood is no longer silent. Raging fire interrupts the
quiet every member of the neighborhood valued. Smoke has
begun filling the sky.
INT. BRIGHT LIVING ROOM – DAY
Rose seems ready to do something about the raging fire.
JEAN (17) was Rose’ older brother who was mostly withdrawn
and not ready to lend a hand as he held a strong belief that
every person should have ways of helping themselves unless
they were INCAPACITATED.
For a few years now, Jean always seemed unmoved and did not
seem to have an intentions of changing his beliefs. His beliefs
and behaviors had made his relationship with Rose to seem
broken and unrepairable.
Rose had constantly shown efforts to mend it and make it what
it was when they were younger when they could play together
take care of each other whether out in the woods or in the
backyard.
ROSE
Jean you must see this!
Hey, don’t you want to see this?
Rose pounced. His brother had been looking at his comic books
and did not care much about what his sister was doing. Rose at
this time had started thinking about what would happen to them
now that their parents had gone to England for what they had
said was a business trip.
Mr. and Mrs. Stonebridge were successful business people who
were able to make a fortune for themselves. This could even be
seen in their house that had expensive furniture and jewelry.
Their house was one of the big and well-constructed houses in

3. MOUNTAIN HILL suburb that was widely regarded as a
dwelling place for successful business people, politicians, and
the rich immigrants that created jobs for the city’s poorest.
As ROSE handled her thoughts and failed to conclude what was
happening, Jean turned and shouted.
JEAN
Now what again, you coward.
ROSE was not surprised by the words of her brother who was
always mean with his words not only for her but also his parents
and grandparents that lived around 58 miles in the South East.
These are people Jean and Rose interacted with most of their
time and their parents had enrolled them to a private school that
did not offer much social life.
Actually, both did not have friends they could interact with
unless their parents had introduced new families who would
come with their teen sons or daughters. This did not happen
frequently explaining why the two did not have friends they
could usually play or interact with.
Two blocks across the street, a house had caught fire and it
seemed big enough to cause an alarm in the quiet neighborhood.
By now, Rose had not seen anybody help with putting out the
fire and felt that there could more harm that might be caused.
She moved closer to her brother with a soft voice told him.
ROSE
Jean do you think we can do something?
Please be a good human just for once, Jean.

4. Jean seemed glued to his comics he had bought when their
parents had took them to a swimming class but they passed by a
popular COMIC STORE operated by an old man that had told
Jean he had looked like him when he was little. Jean kept quiet
and later before bed time told Rose.
JEAN
Do you think I will look like that old man at the comic store
when I grow old? Does he even look good?
Though Jean had seen the fire and thought it could do harm, he
felt that he and his sister could do nothing about it. He also
remembered that their parents had told them in case of fire they
should get out of the house as quick as possible and should not
go back even if they had forgotten their lives. Mrs. Stonebridge
had humor.
At this time, Jean thought whether it made sense for them to run
towards a burning house which was already being consumed by
daring flames. He also thought they did not have the proper gear
and resources for putting out fire. He now stood put his hands
on ROSE’ shoulders.
JEAN (CONT’D)
There is no way we can help put out the fire, it is big and we
might put ourselves in danger.
ROSE
But there is something we can always do, maybe there are
people inside the house that need our help. Jean! Please we can
do something about this!
This seemed to get the better of Jean but he was still reserved
and not ready to do anything. He paused and seemed to think
hard.
ROSE (CONT’D)

5. You called me a coward, but I am not one. I would always want
to help other people bravely. I will always do something.
Tears were now rolling down her cheeks and she had become
more disturbed by the fact that they were watching as the fire
consumed the house. Jean recollected himself.
JEAN
Sometimes there is nothing you can do and this is what it is! We
are just teens who have never put out any fires before can’t you
see that Rose.
He was now becoming emotional because he felt that his sister
wanted to take up a task that exposed her to risks. If anything
happened to Rose their parents could blame Jean and even
cancel a vacation they had promised to do two weeks from now.
Jean did not want to happen to his sister as that would mean the
vacation would not happen. Also, when getting in or out of the
house, he had not seen any children from the burning house
which made him certain that there were no children that had
been living in the house.
Rose took a few steps back took a deep breath.
ROSE
I must do something about it. I must Jean!
Before she even listened to her brother’s reply, she stormed to
her room and wore clothes she felt were heavy enough and
could protect her from any effects of the fire. Jean did not like
what his sister was up to.

6. JEAN
I will not let you. Not today sister!
Coming out of her room Rose was fuming, in rage.
ROSE (CONT’D)
What are you going to do? Lock me up?
Jean moved closer to the front door and yelled.
JEAN
You are not leaving this house. It is dangerous can’t you see
that?
ROSE
Am not a coward and there is nothing to see Jean! Just let me do
this! Just let me!
Jean locked the front door from the inside and stood there
looking at his sister as if she was up to something that would
ultimately kill her. For around four minutes, both Jean and Rose
exchanged words and threatened each other. Jean did not allow
her to leave the house when Rose got an idea.
She reached for Jean’s collection of comic books and the gas
lighter.
ROSE (CONT’D)

7. They will go up in frames if you do not let me do something.
Make a choice Jean! And do it quick!
He tried to make her understand that the fire had already caused
damage and her efforts could absolutely mean nothing.
However, Rose still stuck to her initial claim that she could do
something about it.
Jean had loved his collection of comic books and was now torn
between letting his sister leave or have his comic books go up
in flames.
JEAN
Rose my comic books are a no go zone for you and everybody
else, please don’t test the limits of my anger.
ROSE
You know what to do to save them! Do it!
Jean seemed extremely angered and moved closer to his sister
and gave her the last warning.
JEAN (CONT’D)
You cannot burn my comic books and you are not leaving.
This had a finality tone but Rose was still rebellious and
unshaken. She quickly dropped the comic books and the gas
lighter and run for the front door but Jean was quick enough and
grabbed her.
Jean did not want to lay a hand on his sister. At this moment he
was focusing on making sure she did not go out. Rose was
angered that her brother made her immobile and she responded
by grabbing his neck and unknowingly strangled him.

8. Jean lost consciousness and fell over. Rose realized that her
brother was not well and tried to respond by pumping his chest
but it was too late.
ROSE
What now? What…….I am sorry Jean.
In this neighborhood, fire and homicide were reported but
nobody ever knew whether the two were related even though
they happened at the same time.
SUPERHERO TRAINING
Written by
Catherine Wignall
FADE IN:
INT. DARKENED BEDROOM - DAY
A curtain’s drawn across the window, daylight struggling
through into the gloom where AISHA (19) is huddled under the
cover, drooling in her sleep.
The sound of general DESTRUCTION and CHAOS filters
through
from outside. People are SCREAMING. Aisha continues to
sleep.
The building SHAKES. Dust pours down from the ceiling,
coating Aisha where she sleeps. She huffs, turning over.

9. BURNING FUSELAGE comes CRASHING through the window,
soaring
over Aisha and landing on the floor.
Finally, Aisha awakes. She shoots up with lightning fast
reflexes, automatically launching herself out of bed and
extinguishing the fire with her blankets.
She blinks, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Her singed
curtain flaps in the breeze.
AISHA
What the -
She reaches for the curtain, pulling it back in time to see -
EXT. CITY - DAY
A BLASTWAVE engulfs the city. Buildings crumble. Smoke
fills
the sky. Civilians scream.
An ARMADA OF SPACESHIPS hovers above it all. This is an
invasion.
INT. DARKENED BEDROOM - DAY
Aisha swears.
We BLEEP it out.
EXT. KITCHEN - DAY
TRENT (23) is at the end of his rope.

10. The apartment SHAKES around him. Lights FRITZ on and off.
Through the WINDOWS we can see a continuation of the
general
chaos and destruction.
He’s oblivious though. There’s something much worse in front
of him.
The kitchen sink is piled with a tower of dirty dishes. It
sways as the building shakes. A laundry basket, still full of
unwashed clothes, has been seemingly abandoned nearby.
His bulky muscles tense, practically rippling before our
eyes. He grits his teeth.
Aisha stumbles out of her bedroom, trying to shove her boots
on without tripping. She doesn’t quite manage it.
AISHA
Why the hell didn’t you wake me?
Trent doesn’t turn around. If he had, he’d have seen that she
appeared to be wearing a futuristic jumpsuit.
AISHA (CONT’D)
Trent? Do you realise how hard it
is to get into this thing on short
notice?
She gestures to the jumpsuit, clipping a utility belt around
her waist.
AISHA (CONT’D)
I have underwear up my butt right

11. now. Do you understand how
uncomfortable it is to fight bad
guys like that? And why the hell
aren’t you dressed? The city needs
saving!
Trent doesn’t move. Whatever. Aisha’s not waiting around for
him. She strides toward the door. She only manages to open it
an inch before the door SLAMS closed, the handle pulled out
of her grip.
She reaches for the door again. The same thing happens.
AISHA (CONT’D)
Trent! Stop playing around. We need
to go!
Trent SIGHS.
TRENT
I had one condition when you moved
in. One.
Oh god. Not this again. Aisha barely manages to refrain from
rolling her eyes.
2.
AISHA
Seriously? You’re going to bring
this up now?
TRENT
Why? Does it bother you, Aisha? Are

12. you inconvenienced?
AISHA
A few dirty dishes is hardly
comparable to a goddamn city
crumbling around us.
TRENT
It is to me.
AISHA
Oh for God’s sake.
TRENT
No. Don’t make me out to be the
unreasonable one here.
Another BLASTWAVE erupts outside. The apartment shakes
violently.
TRENT (CONT’D)
You’re the one who wanted to learn
how to be a superhero. All I asked
is that you kept this place clean
in return. Tell me: have you kept
up your part of the deal?
Aisha turns back to the door, tugging futilely.
TRENT (CONT’D)
Have you?
AISHA
(mumbling)
No.

13. TRENT
What was that?
AISHA
(louder)
No!
TRENT
Exactly. You can learn to fight bad
guys again when you start pulling
your weight.
3.
AISHA
You can’t be serious. You have to
let me out of here right now.
TRENT
No. You wanted to learn from me.
Now you’re learning.
AISHA
I’m not learning anything! Let me
out!
TRENT
No. You’re staying here.
Aisha’s practically stomping her feet like a child. This is
totally not fair.

14. TRENT (CONT’D)
You need to learn that actions have
consequences. Otherwise I’m just
sending you out there to become a
supervillain.
AISHA
That doesn’t even make any sense!
TRENT
I’m done arguing. You’re staying
here.
AISHA
You’re treating me like a prisoner.
TRENT
You and I both know you could burn
a hole in the wall if you really
wanted to get out of here. But
you’re not going to because at
least I’ve trained you better than
that.
Aisha sulks, but doesn’t deny it.
AISHA
So the city needs saving and you’re
just going to turn your back?
Trent shrugs.
TRENT
The city always needs saving.
Someone else will do it today.

15. 4.
A GIRL (22) flies past the window.
TRENT (CONT’D)
Look. Dove Girl’s at it right now.
DOVE GIRL launches an ALIEN INVADER into space while
hovering
nearby. She makes it look effortless. She waves through the
window, winking at Aisha and Trent, before diving back into
the fray.
Aisha’s jaw drops. She stomps her feet this time. A small
spurt of FLAME erupts around one of her boots. Trent arches a
disapproving eyebrow, tutting at the newly-singed carpet.
AISHA
It’s not fair. She’s going to be on
the news. They’ll say she saved the
city. Again.
TRENT
Your turn will come.
AISHA
Not if you don’t let me out of
here.
TRENT
I’m not letting you leave until you
tidy up. I’m not asking for much.
Glass SHATTERS as more flaming debris smashes into the

16. apartment.
TRENT (CONT’D)
Make sure you get that while you’re
at it too.
Aisha glares mutinously at his departing back, before
extinguishing the flames.
She runs the water in the sink and begins to wash the dishes.
Outside, superheroes swarm the streets and skies. The
fighting slows. They’ve won.
And she missed it.
CUT TO BLACK.
THE END
5.
SUPERHERO TRAINING
Written by
Catherine Wignall
FADE IN:
INT. DARKENED BEDROOM - DAY

17. A curtain’s drawn across the window, daylight struggling
through into the gloom where AISHA (19) is huddled under the
cover, drooling in her sleep.
The sound of general DESTRUCTION and CHAOS filters
through
from outside. People are SCREAMING. Aisha continues to
sleep.
The building SHAKES. Dust pours down from the ceiling,
coating Aisha where she sleeps. She huffs, turning over.
BURNING FUSELAGE comes CRASHING through the window,
soaring
over Aisha and landing on the floor.
Finally, Aisha awakes. She shoots up with lightning fast
reflexes, automatically launching herself out of bed and
extinguishing the fire with her blankets.
She blinks, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Her singed
curtain flaps in the breeze.
AISHA
What the -
She reaches for the curtain, pulling it back in time to see -
EXT. CITY - DAY
A BLASTWAVE engulfs the city. Buildings crumble. Smoke
fills
the sky. Civilians scream.
An ARMADA OF SPACESHIPS hovers above it all. This is an

18. invasion.
INT. DARKENED BEDROOM - DAY
Aisha swears.
We BLEEP it out.
EXT. KITCHEN - DAY
TRENT (23) is at the end of his rope.
The apartment SHAKES around him. Lights FRITZ on and off.
Through the WINDOWS we can see a continuation of the
general
chaos and destruction.
He’s oblivious though. There’s something much worse in front
of him.
The kitchen sink is piled with a tower of dirty dishes. It
sways as the building shakes. A laundry basket, still full of
unwashed clothes, has been seemingly abandoned nearby.
His bulky muscles tense, practically rippling before our
eyes. He grits his teeth.
Aisha stumbles out of her bedroom, trying to shove her boots
on without tripping. She doesn’t quite manage it.
AISHA
Why the hell didn’t you wake me?
Trent doesn’t turn around. If he had, he’d have seen that she

19. appeared to be wearing a futuristic jumpsuit.
AISHA (CONT’D)
Trent? Do you realise how hard it
is to get into this thing on short
notice?
She gestures to the jumpsuit, clipping a utility belt around
her waist.
AISHA (CONT’D)
I have underwear up my butt right
now. Do you understand how
uncomfortable it is to fight bad
guys like that? And why the hell
aren’t you dressed? The city needs
saving!
Trent doesn’t move. Whatever. Aisha’s not waiting around for
him. She strides toward the door. She only manages to open it
an inch before the door SLAMS closed, the handle pulled out
of her grip.
She reaches for the door again. The same thing happens.
AISHA (CONT’D)
Trent! Stop playing around. We need
to go!
Trent SIGHS.
TRENT
I had one condition when you moved
in. One.
Oh god. Not this again. Aisha barely manages to refrain from

20. rolling her eyes.
2.
AISHA
Seriously? You’re going to bring
this up now?
TRENT
Why? Does it bother you, Aisha? Are
you inconvenienced?
AISHA
A few dirty dishes is hardly
comparable to a goddamn city
crumbling around us.
TRENT
It is to me.
AISHA
Oh for God’s sake.
TRENT
No. Don’t make me out to be the
unreasonable one here.
Another BLASTWAVE erupts outside. The apartment shakes
violently.
TRENT (CONT’D)
You’re the one who wanted to learn
how to be a superhero. All I asked
is that you kept this place clean

21. in return. Tell me: have you kept
up your part of the deal?
Aisha turns back to the door, tugging futilely.
TRENT (CONT’D)
Have you?
AISHA
(mumbling)
No.
TRENT
What was that?
AISHA
(louder)
No!
TRENT
Exactly. You can learn to fight bad
guys again when you start pulling
your weight.
3.
AISHA
You can’t be serious. You have to
let me out of here right now.
TRENT
No. You wanted to learn from me.

22. Now you’re learning.
AISHA
I’m not learning anything! Let me
out!
TRENT
No. You’re staying here.
Aisha’s practically stomping her feet like a child. This is
totally not fair.
TRENT (CONT’D)
You need to learn that actions have
consequences. Otherwise I’m just
sending you out there to become a
supervillain.
AISHA
That doesn’t even make any sense!
TRENT
I’m done arguing. You’re staying
here.
AISHA
You’re treating me like a prisoner.
TRENT
You and I both know you could burn
a hole in the wall if you really
wanted to get out of here. But
you’re not going to because at
least I’ve trained you better than
that.

23. Aisha sulks, but doesn’t deny it.
AISHA
So the city needs saving and you’re
just going to turn your back?
Trent shrugs.
TRENT
The city always needs saving.
Someone else will do it today.
4.
A GIRL (22) flies past the window.
TRENT (CONT’D)
Look. Dove Girl’s at it right now.
DOVE GIRL launches an ALIEN INVADER into space while
hovering
nearby. She makes it look effortless. She waves through the
window, winking at Aisha and Trent, before diving back into
the fray.
Aisha’s jaw drops. She stomps her feet this time. A small
spurt of FLAME erupts around one of her boots. Trent arches a
disapproving eyebrow, tutting at the newly-singed carpet.
AISHA
It’s not fair. She’s going to be on
the news. They’ll say she saved the
city. Again.

24. TRENT
Your turn will come.
AISHA
Not if you don’t let me out of
here.
TRENT
I’m not letting you leave until you
tidy up. I’m not asking for much.
Glass SHATTERS as more flaming debris smashes into the
apartment.
TRENT (CONT’D)
Make sure you get that while you’re
at it too.
Aisha glares mutinously at his departing back, before
extinguishing the flames.
She runs the water in the sink and begins to wash the dishes.
Outside, superheroes swarm the streets and skies. The
fighting slows. They’ve won.
And she missed it.
CUT TO BLACK.
THE END
5.