Episode 6 - Weight of the World

An oath is taken. Memories are shared. The torch is passed.

Created, Written and Directed by Austin Lee Matthews

Produced by Mark Allen Jr. and Austin Lee Matthews

Featuring the voices of

Amanda Kay as Connie

Michelle Deco as Laurel

Jason Marnocha as Kirby

PM Seymour as Captain Valiant

Alex Weitzman as Moishe

Bill Butts as Christopher

Deven Mack as Adam  Christopher Smith as Julian

Additional Voices by Mark Allen Jr., Alex Weitzman and Austin Lee Matthews

Art and character design by Austin Lee Matthews, Jeremy Mackrell and Ama Schwindenhammer

Music and Sound Mixing by Austin Lee Matthews

Extra Special Thanks to the Heroes over at Patreon.Com/MegatonGirl
Bubbly 'Bubs' Lemon, Cappybara, Brandon West, George Stankow, Mia Portnoy, Daniel Gore, tucker maltby, Glitchy, Pocketsquatch, HylianDerp, BigMountainCat, Jazzy Oliver, Jackie O'Bryan, Seriously Funny, Liam Ware, Steven Anderson, Maybe_A_Cat, Christopher Craft, Isla Edmond, LookWhosFhtagn, Matthew Byas, Saiou, Warzy Raptor, Nikki S

Please consider becoming a Patron today to support the future production of this series.

Be sure to let us know what you think on social media with the #MegatonGirl hashtag, follow us on Twitter, and join the Megaton Girl Fans Discord Server

Megaton Girl is copyright Austin Lee Matthews 2022

Thank you for listening, and thank you for being you

Episode 7 will be released on Patreon April 24, 2022

Transcript

RECAP (1 minute 2 seconds)

1 SOUND: LIGHT RAIN SKITTERS ON THE PAVEMENT

2 SOUND: ROULETTE, A LOWER LEVEL VILLAIN, IS RUNNING FROM

SOMETHING

3 ROULETTE

(PANTING, TERRIFIED)

4 SOUND: HE TURNS A CORNER AND SKIDS TO A STOP

5 ROULETTE

(PANTING, TERRIFIED)

Oh shit. Shit shit shit.

6 BLOOD OATH

What’s wrong, Roulette? Winning streak run out?

7 ROULETTE

(TURNS, ALERT/STARTLED)

8 BLOOD OATH

Well, your loss is gonna be a big payout for me.

9 ROULETTE

Who the fuck are you?!

10 SOUND: A WHISTLE AND A CAPE WHOOSHES BY

11 ROULETTE

12 SOUND: BLOOD OATH WALKS UP TO ROULETTE

13 BLOOD OATH

Let’s just say you pissed off the wrong person.

14 ROULETTE

Oh s-sh-shit...! Blood Oath...? Look- I don’t know what

they’re paying you, but- But I’ll double it! You know

I’m good for it!

15 SOUND: GUNSHOT

17 ROULETTE

AGGH!! F-FUCK!

18 BLOOD OATH

If you know who I am, you know that once I take an

oath...

19 SOUND: CELL PHONE RING

20 BLOOD OATH

...Once I take an oath, I-

21 SOUND: CELL PHONE RING

22 BLOOD OATH

...Once...

23 SOUND: CELL PHONE RING

24 ROULETTE

A-Are you gonna take that...?

25 SOUND: BLOOD OATH PULLS OUT A CELL PHONE

26 BLOOD OATH

Can this wait?

27 JULIAN

(OVER PHONE)

Oh, by all means finish your business.

28 BLOOD OATH

’Preciate it.

29 SOUND: GUN COCK

30 ROULETTE

Wait-...!

31 SOUND: GUN SHOT

32 SOUND: ROULETTE SLUMPS TO THE GROUND

33 BLOOD OATH

Julian.

34 JULIAN

Blood Oath. How has the new armor been

treating you?

35 BLOOD OATH

It makes my job easier, but it takes some of the thrill

out of the kill.

36 JULIAN

I can always take it away, if you’re tired of it.

37 BLOOD OATH

...Well, I didn’t say that.

38 JULIAN

Good. You’re going to need it for this job I have.

39 BLOOD OATH

Who’s the target?

40 JULIAN

A superhero by the name of Megaton Girl.

41 BLOOD OATH

Not interested.

42 JULIAN

What’s wrong? Not hunting heroes any more?

43 BLOOD OATH

She’s in Los Dioses. I told you I’m never going back

there. Besides, that’s Valiant’s turf. Don’t need him

on my ass for killing a hero.

44 CHUCK

(OVER PHONE)

CAPTAIN Valiant. And trust me. I ain’t coming after you

for this one. Just kill her somewhere abandoned and

dramatic.

45 BLOOD OATH

...Hey, Cap. You know how much money for your head I’ve

had to turn down?

46 CHUCK

50 Billion?

47 BLOOD OATH

60 Billion. You’re way out of my league, power wise.

And so is Megaton Girl. No deal.

48 JULIAN

What if I told you that I had a way to make her as

human as you are?

49 BLOOD OATH

...I’m listening.

50 JULIAN

I have a power dampener that was used to subdue J’Harl

the Conqueror. It will render her powers useless and

make her easy prey. If you accept this oath, I have a

private jet on the way to your location that will

supply you with the device, and take you across the

country to Los Dioses.

51 BLOOD OATH

I said I’m not going back there.

52 JULIAN

How much do I have to offer you?

53 BLOOD OATH

...70 Billion.

54 JULIAN

Preposterous.

55 BLOOD OATH

I think it’s a fair price. 10 billion for the body. 60

billion to make up for all the times I missed out on

killing Valiant.

56 CHUCK

Captain!!

57 JULIAN

Shut up, "Captain."

You’re right. Fair is fair. 70 billion and the power

dampener. Do we have a deal?

58 BLOOD OATH

You’ve got yourself an oath.

59 JULIAN

Excellent. Meet the private jet atop Titan Industries

East within the hour, and I will wire the money to you

posthaste. There’s even a bottle of the finest

champagne money can buy waiting for you in the cooler.

Good luck, Blood Oath.

60 CHUCK

And make it messy!!!

61 SOUND: PHONE HANGS UP

62 BLOOD OATH

(SIGH)

Time to come home.

SCENE 2

63 LAUREL

(NARRATION)

In the month since the prison break, things have slowly

gotten back to normal. Well, as normal as they can be

when you’re dating a superhero. Our apartment was

completely trashed in the riot, so I stayed with Kirby

at the gym while the mess was cleaned up.

My parents offered to let me stay with them, but I

couldn’t be too far from Connie. When they asked why,

well... I had to dodge the question. A lot. I don’t

think I’m brave enough to come out to them yet. And

even if I could come out, if they found out I was

dating a superhero?? Jeez. I don’t want them to worry

any more than they already do.

Work at Olympus has gotten a bit easier, oddly enough.

Chuck hasn’t been hounding me nearly as much. Probably

has to do with the lack of Megaton Girl news this

month. He’s been in a good mood, which sucks to see,

but if it keeps him from screaming at me, I’ll take it.

Any free time that I had was spent with Connie. As

soon as I got out of work until visiting hours ended, I

stayed with her and did what I could to help her

recover. After three weeks, she was finally allowed to

come home. We stayed one last night at Kirby’s, and

came home the next morning.

64 CONNIE

And broke in the new bed!

65 LAUREL

(FLUSTERED STAMMERING)

Connie!!

66 CONNIE

We did!

67 LAUREL

I can’t write that in my journal!

68 CONNIE

Why not? Who’s gonna read it? Me?

69 LAUREL

...And broke in the new bed.

70 CONNIE

Ayyyyyyy!! Yeah!

71 LAUREL

(LAUGHS)

How are you feeling, hon?

72 CONNIE

A little better, today. I haven’t gotten all of my

strength back yet, but I managed to lift one of the

cars in the back alley without hurting myself.

73 LAUREL

The doctor said you shouldn’t do any major heavy

lifting for at least another two weeks! Did you pop any

stitches?

74 CONNIE

Yo, cars aren’t that heavy. Babe I’m-

75 LAUREL

Show me your stomach.

76 CONNIE

Babe it’s okay-

77 LAUREL

Connie.

78 CONNIE

But-

79 LAUREL

Stomach. Now.

80 CONNIE

(GROAN)

...Fiiiine.

81 SOUND: CONNIE LIFTS HER SHIRT A BIT

82 LAUREL

(EXAMINING, HMM)

Okay... Seems to be alright. I’m gonna clean it and put

some Petroleum Jelly on it, anyway. Stay right here.

83 CONNIE

Mhm..

84 SOUND: LAUREL WALKS TO THE BATHROOM TO GET SUPPLIES

85 LAUREL

(FROM THE NEXT ROOM)

You have to be more careful. I know it’s annoying

having to wait to recover, but-

86 CONNIE

It’s not just that. While I’m stuck recovering, I can’t

save lives that need saving.

87 LAUREL

And that sucks, I know. But you saved everyone when you

helped to stop J’Harl. You’ve more than earned time to

recover.

88 CONNIE

I wish I could say that with the same confidence that

you do.

89 SOUND: LAUREL WALKS IN

90 LAUREL

Connie-fidence.

91 CONNIE

(SOFT LAUGH)

Connie-fidence...

92 LAUREL

Lay down, belly up.

93 CONNIE

Okay...

94 SOUND: CONNIE LAYS DOWN

95 SOUND: LAUREL PUTS A LITTLE WATER ON THE WOUND AND STARTS TO

CLEAN

96 LAUREL

I know that you still feel like you failed. And I don’t

know what any of us can say to make you feel otherwise.

But you didn’t fail. You are a hero. You’re my hero.

97 CONNIE

And you’ll always be mine.

I don’t know what I’d do without you.

98 LAUREL

And you’re never going to have to find out, because

you’re stuck with me.

99 CONNIE

Oh woe is me, stuck in a wonderful relationship with

the most beautiful and caring woman on the planet.

Whatever shall I do?

100 LAUREL

Well, right now you shall hold your breath and try not

to laugh while I apply the petroleum jelly.

101 CONNIE

Okay fine make it quick. I don’t wanna be late.

102 SOUND: LAUREL APPLIES JELLY

103 CONNIE

(SNICKERING, IT TICKLES)

104 LAUREL

Oh that’s right, you’re finally meeting with

Magnanimous.

Can’t you reschedule??

105 CONNIE

N-no, I can’t do that!

106 SOUND: LAUREL STOPS APPLYING THE JELLY

107 CONNIE

(CATCHES BREATH)

I have to show him that I’m ready for anything.

108 LAUREL

Can you at least tell him to go easy on you?? I

really don’t think you want to end up back in the

hospital again.

109 CONNIE

But-

110 LAUREL

Please? We just talked about this...

111 CONNIE

Sorry, you’re right. I’ll tell him and hope he

understands.

112 LAUREL

I’m sure he will. Do you need help getting dressed?

113 CONNIE

I think just with my pants and shoes. Bending is still

kinda... ouchie...

114 LAUREL

Let’s get you ready.

115 CONNIE

Mhm.

116 SOUND: CONNIE STANDS

117 CONNIE

Thank you. Sorry I’ve been kinda stubborn with this

whole recovering thing.

118 LAUREL

I prefer to think of it as determined.

119 CONNIE

I know I’m determined to smooch the hell out of you.

120 LAUREL

Oooo, my hero~.

121 CONNIE & LAUREL

(KISS)

SCENE 3

124 CHRISTOPHER

Ah, Megaton Girl. Good to see you.

125 CONNIE

Hi, Magnanimous!

Er- Good morning, sir!

126 CHRISTOPHER

What’s with all the formalities?? You can still call me

Christopher, y’know.

127 CONNIE

R-right! D-Do I have to tell you my secret identity or-

128 CHRISTOPHER

Not at all! I’m just long past the need for one.

(LIGHT CHUCKLE, COUGHS SOFTLY)

Ready for some training?

129 CONNIE

About that... I’m still kinda recovering from my

surgery, and my girlfriend said it might be a good idea

if we take it easy today. Is that okay?

130 CHRISTOPHER

But of course. I wouldn’t want to cause you any

unnecessary harm. Frankly, I didn’t really have much of

a training regimen anyway.

131 CONNIE

Wait you didn’t?

132 CHRISTOPHER

I was thinking that maybe we’d have a friendly spar or

something-

133 CONNIE

Oh my gosh, that’d be so cool!

134 CHRISTOPHER

But how about instead, we go for a walk around town?

135 CONNIE

A walk?

136 CHRISTOPHER

Sure! Seems like a much easier way to get to know you, and

some much needed sight seeing for me. Haven’t gotten

out too much, lately, and I think it’d be refreshing.

137 CONNIE

O-Okay, I guess! Need help standing?

138 CHRISTOPHER

No, ma’am. Not while you’re recovering.

There we go. Let’s mosey.

139 CONNIE

Okie dokie!

140 SOUND: THE BOTH WALK OFF

SCENE 4

141 SOUND: CONNIE AND CHRISTOPHER ARE WALKING TOGETHER

143 CONNIE

(KINDA QUIET, NOT TRYING TO DRAW ATTENTION)

It’s weird being just... out in full uniform, casually

like this.

144 CHRISTOPHER

(CHUCKLING)

I mean, you chose to come dressed up.

145 CONNIE

I was kinda expecting to be doing a bit more...

superhero-ing than this, so...

146 CHRISTOPHER

I getcha, I getcha.

147 CONNIE

And it’s weird not having to run from the press. You’d

think they would see me in costume and swarm me.

148 CHRISTOPHER

You would think that, but when they see you being

casual, they probably just think you’re playing

dress-up.

149 CONNIE

Huh. Hiding in plain sight.

150 CHRISTOPHER

Exactly.

152 HOT DOG VENDOR

Hot dogs! Get’cher hot dogs!

153 CHRISTOPHER

Oh-hoooh, best dogs in town. Want me to grab you one?

154 CONNIE

I-... I probably shouldn’t.

155 CHRISTOPHER

Are you saying that because you aren’t hungry, or

because you want to be polite?

156 CONNIE

(CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY)

Well, I’m kinda always hungry, so that probably narrows

it down.

157 CHRISTOPHER

(LAUGHING)

Come on, it’s on me.

158 SOUND: HE PICKS UP THE PACE A LITTLE

159 CONNIE

N-No, I can get it!

160 SOUND: SHE JOGS AFTER HIM

161 CHRISTOPHER

Too late. Hey, how are ya?

162 HOT DOG VENDOR

I’m doing okay! What can I get you?

163 CHRISTOPHER

Two franks, please!

164 HOT DOG VENDOR

Yes, sir! What toppings?

165 CHRISTOPHER

Just mustard on mine. How about you?

166 CONNIE

Er...

167 CHRISTOPHER

Oh come on, don’t be shy.

168 CONNIE

...Fuck it. Gimmie the works!

169 CHRISTOPHER

Ha HA! Atta girl!

170 HOT DOG VENDOR

One mustard dog, and one fully loaded, coming up!

171 SOUND: HE OPENS UP HIS CART AND PULLS OUT A PAIR OF FRANKS

AND STARTS TO LOAD THEM UP

172 CHRISTOPHER

You’re in for a treat. I’ve been getting these hot dogs

for years.

173 CONNIE

Ohhhh I’m kinda excited now.

174 SOUND: THE VENDOR HANDS THEM THE FRANKS

175 SOUND: CHRISTOPHER HANDS THE VENDOR MONEY

176 HOT DOG VENDOR

Here you go!

177 CHRISTOPHER

Thank you so much.

178 CONNIE

Yeah, thanks!

179 HOT DOG VENDOR

Thanks for your business! You two have a great day.

180 CONNIE

You too!

181 CHRISTOPHER

Take care.

183 SOUND: CONNIE AND CHRISTOPHER START TO WALK AWAY

184 CHRISTOPHER

Let’s find a bench to enjoy these.

185 CONNIE

Hm. How about that one in the shade over there?

186 CHRISTOPHER

Perfect.

187 SOUND: THEY WALK OVER AND SIT DOWN

188 CHRISTOPHER

You gotta let me know what you think.

189 SOUND: CONNIE UNWRAPS THE HOT DOG

190 CONNIE

Holy crap this thing is loaded.

(SHE TAKES A BITE)

Ohh my god.

191 CHRISTOPHER

Ain’t that something?

192 CONNIE

That’s incredible! I’ve never had a hot dog from a

stand like this before.

193 CHRISTOPHER

You’ll learn that some of the best places in the city

are where you least expect. Lived here most of my

life, and I’m still finding new things to enjoy!

194 CONNIE

Gonna have to take Monarch on a food tour, sometime!

Can you give me a list of some places?

195 CHRISTOPHER

I’m one step ahead.

196 SOUND: HE PULLS OUT A NOTEBOOK AND HANDS IT TO CONNIE

197 CONNIE

What’s this?

198 CHRISTOPHER

That notebook has a list of the best food places I’ve

ever been to, in the city. Been keeping that list for as

long as I’ve lived here.

199 CONNIE

Woah!

200 SOUND: SHE FLIPS THROUGH THE PAGES

201 CONNIE

Hey! There’s Moishe’s, on page one!

202 CHRISTOPHER

Yep! One of the first places I ever went to. Kirby took

me there for the first time, back when Moishe’s father

still ran it. We’d had a bit of a disagreement, and to

show that there was no hard feelings, he bought me the

best bowl of soup I’ve ever had.

203 CONNIE

I love Moishe’s. I go there all the time with Kirby and

La- Er. Monarch.

204 CHRISTOPHER

Weird calling your girlfriend by a codename still,

isn’t it?

205 CONNIE

Y-Yeah, kinda.

206 CHRISTOPHER

You can use her real name around me, if you’re

comfortable. I don’t want you to have to walk on

eggshells the whole time we’re talking.

207 CONNIE

Okay. Her name is Laurel.

208 CHRISTOPHER

That’s a gorgeous name.

209 CONNIE

Fitting, too! She’s kinda the most gorgeous woman I’ve

Ever met.

210 CHRISTOPHER

Ain’t that the best?

211 CONNIE

It really is.

212 CHRISTOPHER

(HAPPILY REMINISCING)

I married the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever met.

213 CONNIE

Oh yeah?

214 CHRISTOPHER

Her name was Cheryl. Absolutely radiant, all the time.

Even first thing in the morning, when she was the most

groggy, that woman was a treasure.

215 CONNIE

How’d you two meet?

216 CHRISTOPHER

I was hoping you’d ask. I never get tired of telling.

We met a few years into my career as a hero. She was a

stage actress, and a massively talented one at that.

During a fight with an old villain named Halitocian, I

got punched straight through the wall of the Iwata

theater. She was in the middle of her big solo number,

and I landed right at her feet.

(LAUGHS)

Scared the living hell out of her!

217 CONNIE

(LAUGHS)

I bet.

218 CHRISTOPHER

(LAUGHING, COUGHS)

I’m staring at her, dumbstruck for a moment because she

is just... beautiful, and I’m running through my head

trying to think of anything to say to her. A quip, a

pick-up line, even a "Sorry I interrupted your

performance." Suddenly, in stomps Halitocian. Ugly,

ugly guy, with the nastiest breath. He screams some

sort of "I’m gonna kill you, Mag-nam-inous" or some

nonsense at me. Cheryl looks this villain dead in the

eye, not an inch of fear on her face, and then back

down to me and asks "Hey... You got any breathmints?"

219 CONNIE

(LAUGHING)

What??

220 CHRISTOPHER

I finally get my ass off the ground and tell her to get

to safety. She runs backstage as Halitocian runs at me,

slobbering like a dog. I clock him in the jaw, he gets

one in on my stomach, he kicks me a few feet away and I

just hit the ground, tumbling. I’d already been

fighting this guy for half an hour at this point, he is

just not going down. I stand up, just exhausted, not

knowing how to take this guy down. I don’t have enough

energy to fire my laser breath. Halitocian rears back,

about to spit some gross wad of lord knows what at me.

And then WHAM. Ho ho ho… He gets slammed on the head by a sandbag

and goes down for the count. I look up into the

scaffolding, and there’s Cheryl, waving down at me.

221 CONNIE

No way!

222 CHRISTOPHER

Swear to god. This woman, no superpowers, takes down

this big bad supervillain with a sandbag. She slides

down a rope to talk to me, and I am just a puddle of

nerves. This woman is just the real deal. Gorgeous,

witty, resourceful, and smooth as silk. So I do the

first thing that comes to mind.

223 CONNIE

Uh asked her out obviously!

224 CHRISTOPHER

Hell no! I ran like hell! Clearly she’s too good for

me, I don’t have a chance!

225 CONNIE

You’re Magnanimous!

226 CHRISTOPHER

That doesn’t mean a damn thing! "This woman is out of

everyone’s league.” I was

terrified!

227 CONNIE

Then how did you two get together?

228 CHRISTOPHER

It took YEARS. She starts following me all over town.

Any time there’s a villain to fight, she’s there

watching, needing to be saved, or helping. She was

persistent. One day, I save her and she manages

to stop me from flying away. She says "I don’t know if

you think that I need protecting, or if you just don’t

want to let me in because you’re afraid I’m gonna get

hurt. But I’ve spent 5 years trying to

get you to ask me to dinner, and you’re either gonna

ask me out or I’m gonna ask you out, but one of us is

taking the other on a date."

229 CONNIE

God damn!

230 CHRISTOPHER

Next morning, I pick her up and we have just

the sweetest date at this exact park.

231 CONNIE

Aw! Really?!

232 CHRISTOPHER

Yep! Would have been about 60 or so years ago. A lot

has changed around this city, but not this park.

(DEEP BREATH)

Good old Lieber park... We spent a lot of time here,

together. Good times, or bad times, this place was a

constant in our lives. Ain’t no place quite as

relaxing, for me.

(CHUCKLE)

Few years later, Cheryl and I got married. Had a kid,

eventually. Kirby said having a kid was a bad idea,

given my profession, so it took us a while before we

finally had him. Looking back, I can’t say I disagree.

(MELANCHOLY CHUCKLE INTO A COUGH)

But through good days, bad days, pain, and joy. Cheryl was

always the very best part of my life.

233 CONNIE

Was... You mean she’s...?

234 CHRISTOPHER

 Yeah. 

235 CONNIE

I’m so sorry...

236 CHRISTOPHER

Sorry? What for? We had what so many folks don’t get.

We spent the rest of her life together, and she went so

peacefully. I still miss her every day, but...

Far as I’m concerned, that was the happiest end we

could have ever had. Everybody should be so lucky.

237 CONNIE

I guess, that’s true.

238 CHRISTOPHER

(CONTENTED SIGH)

Think we’ve had enough of a break?

239 CONNIE

Sure, if you’re ready to get going.

240 CHRISTOPHER

Let’s see. We went where I wanted to go. How about you

pick where we go next?

241 CONNIE

Oh! Okay! Hm... You know what? You took me to a place

special to you? So I’m gonna take you to a place special to me.

242 CHRISTOPHER

Lead the way, miss.

243 SOUND: THEY STAND UP AND WALK OFF

SCENE 5

244 SOUND: CONNIE LEADS CHRISTOPHER DOWN THE BOARDWALK

245 SOUND: PEOPLE ARE GOING ABOUT THEIR DAY

246 CHRISTOPHER

Boardwalk’s kinda busy today, huh?

247 CONNIE

Yeah, I wasn’t really expecting so many people. We can

go somewhere else if you want.

248 CHRISTOPHER

Not at all. I love people. Besides, you wanted to come

here, and I wanna know why it’s so special.

249 CONNIE

Well, it’s not so much boardwalk and more the beach, but

the boardwalk’s a bit easier to walk, y’know? Plus I

didn’t really bring a towel for us to sit on or anything, so...

250 CHRISTOPHER

Makes sense! Wanna find a place to watch the waves a

bit?

251 CONNIE

That’s the idea.

252 CHRISTOPHER

You see that little outlook over there?

253 CONNIE

Over on the left?

254 CHRISTOPHER

That’s a great spot. Great view of the beach, and

sometimes sea lions like to hang out down below.

255 CONNIE

Oh much gosh hell yeah, I wanna see!

256 SOUND: CONNIE JOGS OVER TO THE OUTLOOK

257 CHRISTOPHER

(CHUCKLES)

Just a sec, here I come.

258 SOUND: CHRISTOPHER WALKS AFTER HER

259 SOUND: CONNIE GETS TO THE OUTLOOK, FOLLOWED SHORTLY BY

CHRISTOPHER

260 CHRISTOPHER

(COUGHS)

Alright, so if you look right through that little hole

in boardwalk, you might be able to see a couple of ’em

hanging out down there.

261 CONNIE

Uhh… I don’t see any.

262 CHRISTOPHER

Give ’em a bit. They’ll show up eventually.

263 CONNIE

Do you mind if we wait here for a bit, see if any stop by?

264 CHRISTOPHER

Of course! I need to stretch for a minute anyway.

(HE STRETCHES, CRACKING SOMETHING)

And you need to tell me why this place is so important

to you.

265 CONNIE

Oh right, sorry! Yeah so, you see that walled off

section of the beach over there?

266 CHRISTOPHER

Hmm... With the big crane?

267 CONNIE

That spot right there is the exact place that I asked

Laurel to be my girlfriend.

268 CHRISTOPHER

Is that so?

269 CONNIE

Ohhh yeah!

270 CHRISTOPHER

That’s fantastic! Gonna take a wild guess and say that

section of the beach being walled off has something to

do with you too..

271 CONNIE

(NERVOUSLY CHUCKLES)

Y-Yeah, and a meteor.

272 CHRISTOPHER

(CHUCKLES)

I had my hunches. Big booming meteor hits the beach and

suddenly the next day we’ve got a big booming new hero

in town. Gotta say, that’s one hell of a way to get

superpowers.

273 CONNIE

Yeah it left me with one hell of a headache the next

morning.

274 CHRISTOPHER

Ohh, I bet. Laurel help you with that headache?

275 CONNIE

That and sooo much more. I don’t think I’d be alive if

it wasn’t for her. Hell, I wouldn’t have gotten Kirby

to be my manager if she hadn’t convinced him.

She’s stronger than she gives herself credit for.

276 CHRISTOPHER

She sounds like one dynamite gal.

277 CONNIE

(LAUGHS)

Yeah… Y’know, that was her first suggestion for my hero name.

278 CHRISTOPHER

It’s a good one!

(CHUCKLES)

So, how’d you two meet?

279 CONNIE

How’d we...? Y’know, it’s hard to pinpoint the

exact moment we met. She’s kinda always been a part of

my life, at least since kindergarten. I knew her all

through school and while she went through college.

We really became friends though when I helped her deal

with some bullies.

280 CHRISTOPHER

Bullies, eh?

281 CONNIE

Yeah. They’ve been a pretty consistent part of both

our lives, frankly.

282 CHRISTOPHER

How’d you deal with the bullies?

283 CONNIE

Well, there was this kid in our class named Victor who

was a total douche- Oh crap, sorry.

284 CHRISTOPHER

Sorry? What? For saying douche in front of me? If the

kid was a douche, the kid was a douche.

285 CONNIE

(SNORTS)

Yeah he was. More than a douche, honestly. He’d picked

on me for being the fat girl in class sometimes,

which never really bothered me. But he was saying some

really mean, hateful, racist things to Laurel. Like

Shit, I’m kinda shocked that a kid as young as he

was would say that. It made me soooo fucking mad.

286 CHRISTOPHER

What’d you do?

287 CONNIE

I socked him in the nose! Hard! Like harder than I

meant to.

288 CHRISTOPHER

(CHUCKLES)

Oho shit.

289 CONNIE

Yeah, I knocked that little twerp on his ass. Got

detention for that.

290 CHRISTOPHER

For defending her??

291 CONNIE

Yeeep. The school system always loved to defend the

bullies for some fucking reason. His parents never

punished him either.

292 CHRISTOPHER

Of course not. Where do you think he learned it from?

293 CONNIE

You aren’t wrong there. But afterward, Laurel told her

parents what happened and they took me for ice cream.

294 CHRISTOPHER

So justice does exist.

295 CONNIE

God damned right! Best bowl of rocky road I’ve ever

had! Followed by the worst tummy ache I’ve ever had,

because I may have had more than a couple bowls! But y’know!

296 CHRISTOPHER

(LAUGHS)

297 CONNIE

But after that, Laurel and I started hanging out a lot

more. It started because I wanted to make sure nobody

messed with her, but we started learning more and more

about each other. And the more I learned, the more that

I wanted to learn. I think the moment for me that

really solidified our friendship came after my mother

left my dad. I woke up one morning and my mother was

just... gone. My dad told me that she wasn’t allowed to

see me anymore, and that really hurt. I was too young

to really understand everything, so I locked myself in

my bedroom for a full week. I was so confused and

heartbroken that I just shut everything and everyone

out. But then at the end of that week, Laurel came over

to see me. She’d been wondering where I was all week, obviously

and my dad let her in, thinking that maybe she’d be

able to snap me out of it. She sat outside my door for

a while trying to get me to come out, but I

just ignored her, like I’d been ignoring my dad. But

I...

(DEEP INHALE, COMPOSING SELF)

298 CHRISTOPHER

It’s okay, take your time.

299 CONNIE

I let her in and hugged her right away. I hugged her

for so long, just crying on her shoulder. Eventually

we just sat on the floor while she held my hand and I

cried harder than I ever had. She was crying too.

She got me to open up, even when my own dad couldn’t.

She became my best friend after that, and even to this

day she is the most important part of my life. I didn’t

know how much I truly loved though her until Jr. High.

300 CHRISTOPHER

What changed in Jr. High?

301 CONNIE

After standing up for her so many times, she actually

stood up for me. I had started to get kind of insecure

about my body as I got older, and some girls started

picking on me in the locker room. Saying I was ugly.

Calling me "cow" in so many disgusting ways, and I

started to cry. I had stood up for Laurel, but I hadn’t

allowed myself to stand up for me. Like ever. I felt horrible, and

I didn’t know what to do. That’s when Laurel came up

and talked all of them down, and actually got them to

leave me alone. Once those jerks left for PE, Laurel

stayed behind with me to make sure that I was alright.

She told me that she thought I was beautiful. Nobody

had ever said that to me before, especially nobody as

gorgeous as her. But she told me that I was the most

beautiful person she had ever known, and that all of me

was perfect. I didn’t feel bad about my body after

that. And she was right. I am beautiful, and I damn

well know it now. That was the first time that I’d ever

had the feeling of butterflies in my stomach. I almost

asked her out, then and there. But I chickened out.

But even before that, I knew that I always wanted to be

a part of her life. And now, here we are two decades

after Laurel and I first met, finally realizing that we

need to be together. I love her, so fucking much.

302 CHRISTOPHER

You two are really lucky.

303 CONNIE

Yeah. Yeah we are.

304 CHRISTOPHER

I’m glad that you have each other. Not everyone gets

that opportunity, and not everyone who gets that

opportunity takes it. But here you are. You both

deserve that, and more.

305 CONNIE

 Thanks. That’s really sweet.

306 CHRISTOPHER

Ah, jeez. I’ve always been a sucker for romance. Even

I’m getting teary eyed over here!

307 CONNIE

(LAUGHS)

Sorry about that.

308 CHRISTOPHER

Don’t be! It was a really sweet story. Thank you for

opening up about it to me.

309 CONNIE

Thank you for listening.

310 CHRISTOPHER

Of course!

311 SOUND: SEA LIONS BARK

312 CHRISTOPHER

Heads up, your sea lions are here.

313 CONNIE

Oh shit let me see!

Oh my god, they’re so cute!!

316 SOUND: SEA LIONS BARK

317 CONNIE

(LIKE A SEA LION)

Orf orf to you too!

They’re so cute and fat I wanna hug them!!

318 CHRISTOPHER

They are pretty cute huh?

319 CONNIE

(LAUGHING)

This is the best! Oop, they’re heading out.

Bye sea lions!! I will hug you one day!!

(GRUNTS AS SHE STANDS UP)

Okay. Yep. I’m happy. We can go now.

322 CHRISTOPHER

(LAUGHS)

Alright then. Where to next?

323 CONNIE

How about you pick next, since we went to where I

wanted to go this time?

324 CHRISTOPHER

Let’s see!

325 SOUND: A WHISTLING WIND BLOWS BY MAGNANIMOUS

326 CHRISTOPHER

Hm?

Hmmm...

327 CONNIE

What’s up?

328 CHRISTOPHER

...It’s nothing. I was just thinking about where to go.

Let’s see... Ah! I know just the place.

329 CONNIE

Lead on, sire!

331 SOUND: THEY WALK OFF

SCENE 6

333 SOUND: THE GRASS IS EXTREMELY HIGH, SO LOTS OF BRISTLING OF

LEAVES

334 CONNIE

What is this place?

335 CHRISTOPHER

It’s a place I come to for some peace and quiet, from

time to time. Nobody ever comes here, far as I know.

They’ve never bothered to pave over this place, but

nobody’s ever tried to get it protected either.

336 CONNIE

I can tell. It’s kinda... not well kept. What’s so

special about this place?

337 CHRISTOPHER

I was killed, right where you’re standing.

338 CONNIE

That’s uh-...! Kinda morbid, not gonna lie!

341 CHRISTOPHER

(CHUCKLES A LITTLE)

Sorry about that. I got better, though.

342 CONNIE

But... there’s no memorial here. There is a memorial in

place for every place you’ve died.

343 CHRISTOPHER

You think the public knows about every single time I’ve

been killed?

344 CONNIE

...H-how many times have you been killed...?

345 CHRISTOPHER

What do you know about my powers?

346 CONNIE

The same that everybody else knows, I suppose... You’re

just like me, Chuck and Nora... sort of? But you also

can’t die. Or you don’t stay dead at least? Nobody’s

ever been able to figure that part out. I don’t think

Chuck and I can do that.

347 CHRISTOPHER

Probably not. I was born unable to be killed.

348 CONNIE

...Wait, you were born super?

349 CHRISTOPHER

Born and raised. I had several instances when I was a

child where I should have been killed, but I wasn’t.

The doctors and my parents called me the miracle baby.

Glad I outgrew that title... But it didn’t really set

in until the second world war. I was way too young to

join, so I lied about my age because I wanted to kick

some Nazi ass. I was in over my head; way over my damn

head. First time I was deployed, I got lit up by

machine gun and bled out in the mud. I woke up in the

infirmary and the doctors said I should have been dead.

And then it happened again and again. I saw my

platoon-mates mowed down left and right, but every time

I got back up.

One day, we get ambushed. They kill most of us, but

capture me and a few other younger guys. We get taken

to this lab way inside enemy lines, and they experimented

on us. Tortured us. My team was dead by the end of the

first week, but they peeled me apart and put me back

together over and over. They figured out that I

couldn’t be killed. So they tried to turn me into a

weapon that would bend to their will.

At the end of the war, the lab was liberated by the

Allies. They found me in the basement. I was

stronger. But somehow, I was still me.

I was too late to make a difference in the war, so I

made it my goal to make a difference outside the war. I

was going to use the weapons that they tried to curse

me with, and use them as tools for good. I was still

pretty young, so I wanted to be flashy, and give

people a show while I saved them. So I put on a the

brightest costume I could find and started righting

Wrongs. Any that I could find. And that’s how I became the first

superhero.

350 CONNIE

H-Holy shit...

351 CHRISTOPHER

Yep. So if you’re looking to blame someone for having

to wear bright flashy costumes, that’d be me.

(CHUCKLES A BIT)

352 CONNIE

No, I- I like the costume. It makes me feel powerful.

353 CHRISTOPHER

Then you’re welcome I suppose.

354 CONNIE

(NERVOUS CHUCKLE)

So... You’ve died-

355 CHRISTOPHER

-Been killed.

356 CONNIE

-Been killed... Way more than anybody knows?

357 CHRISTOPHER

Way more.

358 CONNIE

...I’m scared to ask for a number.

359 CHRISTOPHER

Ninety-Nine

360 CONNIE

Fuck.

361 CHRISTOPHER

And this place right here is the last place I was

killed.

362 CONNIE

How did nobody find out...?

363 CHRISTOPHER

Because I wasn’t in costume at the time. I’d given up

being a hero at that point, because...

364 CONNIE

Because of Cheryl...?

365 CHRISTOPHER

Sort of...

366 CONNIE

Not... because of Cheryl?

367 CHRISTOPHER

I-...

(COUGHS, HEAVIER THAN BEFORE)

368 CONNIE

Woah, are you okay?

369 CHRISTOPHER

(RECOVERS)

Y-Yes I’m fine it’s just... I’ve... Been killed so many

times, but I’ve never actually just… Gone

quietly. And well... I think I might be getting there.

370 CONNIE

W-Wh-... H-How do you know...?

371 CHRISTOPHER

It’s cancer. Been dealing with it for a while now.

372 CONNIE

C-... Can’t they operate... Or Chemo, or-

373 CHRISTOPHER

Trust me. We’ve tried getting rid of it. It keeps on

coming back. Probably because of my super healing,

ironically enough.

374 CONNIE

Do you know how long you have left?

375 CHRISTOPHER

Kirby gave me three months. That was a year ago.

376 CONNIE

Wait, Kirby?

377 CHRISTOPHER

Nanobots. It’s how we were able to get a diagnosis in

the first place. He’s one of the few who knows. Aside

from you and my doctors, nobody else knows. Not even

Adam.

378 CONNIE

...Who’s Adam?

379 CHRISTOPHER

My son.

380 CONNIE

I feel like your son should probably have known about

this before me!

381 CHRISTOPHER

Kid, I haven’t seen my son in 30 years.

382 CONNIE

Oh...I- I’m sorry.

383 CHRISTOPHER

(SIGHS)

Adam is a part of the reason why I gave up being a

superhero.

He grew up wanting to be a hero just like me, but he

was normal, just like his mom. So I told Adam that I

would always be there to protect him. For a while, I

was. But...

(DEEP BREATH)

One day, I got into a big fight with a machine called

the Megalo-Droid. A robot designed by Professor

Cascade, one of my old arch nemeses. Cascade said the

machine was designed to kill me. And if it couldn’t, it

would destroy everything. I fought that thing to a

standstill, but nothing I did could destroy it. So, me

knowing that I have infinite do-overs, I let it kill

me.

It was a gamble, but it worked. As soon as I stopped

breathing, the machine shut off and never turned back

on. There was just one problem.

384 CONNIE

I- I know what happened. We learned about it when I was

in high school. You were dead for five years.

385 CHRISTOPHER

Yep. Normally, I’d be dead for a few days, but whatever

Cascade put into that machine of his took me out for

way longer than I ever expected.

I blinked, and half a decade of my life was gone.

When I finally came back, I rushed home to Cheryl. She

hugged me harder than she ever has. Next thing she tells me, 

Adam had been

missing for almost as long as I’d been gone. She had

looked everywhere for him. Adam was a young man at this

point, so we knew how to take care of himself, but

nobody could reach him, and we were both worried sick.

I circled the world over and over for any trace of him,

but I couldn’t find him.

During the time Adam had gone missing, a new vigilante

had popped up. A cruel bounty hunter named Blood Oath.

They’d been hunting down not just villains, but heroes

too. No sense of justice, no sense of right or wrong.

Just blood for coin. No other hero could get their

hands on ’em. So I hunted Blood Oath down, determined

to bring them in. And I chased them for a long time.

Every time I’d thought I caught ’em, they’d manage to

wriggle away from me and escape.

But then I finally cornered them. First hit

knocks their mask off. I go in for the second, but I

stop. Staring back at me is...

Staring back at me is my Adam. With pain and hurt in

his eyes. I-I backed away and tried to say something,

anything. I should have grabbed him, hugged him, told

him how sorry I was for leaving him for so long, and

then gone to get him some help. But no words came out.

I just stood there. I was horrified. So I backed away.

And I let him go.

386 CONNIE

Y-... You let him go? But he’s a murderer!

387 CHRISTOPHER

And he’s my son!!

(HE COUGHS AGGRESSIVELY)

I’m sorry... I’m sorry, you’re right. He is a murderer.

But he’s also my son. And in that moment, the only

thing on my mind wasn’t "This man is a murderer." It

was "I failed my son, because I wasn’t there for him."

And that is why I quit. I couldn’t do my job anymore. I

was tired of feeling the weight of the world on my

shoulders every day. I always knew in the back of my

head that I’d come back eventually, but I’d

hoped that maybe I was wrong.

388 CONNIE

...Then I have all the more reason to thank you for

helping us.

389 CHRISTOPHER

I didn’t do much.

390 CONNIE

No. You saved my life. When J’Harl was fighting me one on

one, you swooped in and got him off of my back. You

helped, whether you believe it or not.

391 CHRISTOPHER

(LIGHT COUGH)

Well... Then I’m happy to have helped. I was hoping

that by training you, I’d be able to help a little more

before my time comes. I wanted to make up for my

mistakes by making sure that my successor would be ten

times the hero I ever was.

392 CONNIE

Wait, did you just say successor??

393 CHRISTOPHER

It uh-... It wasn’t exactly my idea. The public wants

me to give my blessing to a new "Number One" hero.

There are so many heroes I want give it to, but I

wanted it to be a hero who could stand up to foes as

strong as J’Harl. There’s been a lot of pressure for me

to give that blessing to Captain Valiant, but I’d heard

things about him that made me wary. And it sounds like

they’re all true.

394 CONNIE

Yeah. They are.

395 CHRISTOPHER

Then that really narrows my list down to… you.

396 CONNIE

...What?

397 CHRISTOPHER

We’ve gone over why I think you’re more than just a

superhero. You put your own feelings aside to save

somebody who wouldn’t have done the same, even when

faced with your own death. And you don’t get the

benefit of a do-over like I do. You’re still new, but I

think that if anybody deserves the title of number one,

it’s you.

398 CONNIE

I... Thank you. That means a lot. Holy shit... Uh, do I

have to change my hero name or-...

399 CHRISTOPHER

I mean Megaton Girl is pretty damn good.

400 CONNIE

Damn right it is.

401 SOUND: CELLPHONE BEEP

402 CONNIE

Just a moment, that’s my alarm.

(SHE CHECKS HER PHONE)

Oh shit, it’s time for Laurel to check my stitches.

Uh... Do you mind if I-

403 CHRISTOPHER

Yeah, go on home. I’ll meet you back at the villa

tomorrow morning alright?

404 CONNIE

Yeah of course!

405 CHRISTOPHER

I’ll see you then.

406 CONNIE

You got it! And, thank you. For everything.

407 CHRISTOPHER

I should be thanking you. Now get going before we start

thanking each other forever.

408 CONNIE

(LAUGHS)

Alright, see ya Christopher. THANK YOU

409 SOUND: SHE TAKES OFF RUNNING AND FLIES AWAY

411 CHRISTOPHER

(CHUCKLING SIGH)

She’s got a lot to learn. But then again, so do I.

412 SOUND: A WHISTLING WIND BLOWS BY MAGNANIMOUS

413 CHRISTOPHER

What the...?

Oh no...

414 SOUND: MAGNANIMOUS TAKES A FEW STEPS

415 CHRISTOPHER

Megaton Girl, wait-!

(HE COUGHS)

Shit...

(HE CATCHES HIS BREATH)

Wait... Wait...

(HE COUGHS AGAIN)

Damn it, not now. Come on, Magnanimous. One last rodeo!

420 SOUND: HE TAKES OFF INTO A SUPER SPRINT

SCENE 7 

423 LAUREL

(OVER COMMS)

Hey, hon! Everything alright?

424 CONNIE

Yeah, I’m just headed home! Do you need me to pick up

anything for you on the way?

425 LAUREL

(OVER COMMS)

Oh! Yes! I was gonna make some soup tonight, but the

carrots went bad. Can you grab a few?

426 CONNIE

Yeah, I can. Anything else?

427 LAUREL

(OVER COMMS)

Hmmm... No, I think I’ve got everything else I need-

(SHE IS CUT OFF BY STATIC)

428 SOUND: STATIC

429 CONNIE

Woah, what the hell?

430 LAUREL

(OVER COMMS, GLITCHY)

What is it, hon? Everything okay?

431 CONNIE

I don’t know, the signal is really fuzzy.

432 LAUREL

(OVER COMMS, GLITCHY)

Connie? Are you there Connie?? Are you there-

(SHE IS CUT OFF BY STATIC)

433 CONNIE

Laurel? Laurel??

That’s... weird...

434 SOUND: POWER DAMPENER IS FIRED AT CONNIE

435 CONNIE

Huh??

436 SOUND: POWER DAMPENER LATCHES ONTO CONNIE’S BACK

437 CONNIE

(OOF)

What the fuck??

438 SOUND: POWER DAMPENER ACTIVATES

439 CONNIE

Arrgh!!

440 SOUND: CONNIE STARTS TO FALL OUT OF THE SKY

441 CONNIE

(DAZED)

Ugh... Huh?? Am I... Falling?!

(STRUGGLES)

I-... Why can’t I fly?? Come on!! Fly damn it!!

442 SOUND: CONNIE SLAMS INTO A SKYLIGHT WINDOW

SCENE 8

444 CONNIE

(SHARP PAIN)

445 SOUND: CONNIE HITS THE GROUND, HARD

446 CONNIE

(BIG PAIN)

447 SOUND: SHE TUMBLES TO A STOP

448 CONNIE

What... the fuck... That hurt a lot more than usual...

Argh...

449 SOUND: CONNIE STRUGGLES TO STAND

450 CONNIE

Urrgh...

(SHE STRUGGLES TO REMOVE THE POWER DAMPENER)

451 SOUND: POWER DAMPENER JOSTLES AROUND

452 CONNIE

(STRUGGLING)

Why wont this thing come off?

453 BLOOD OATH

(ECHOING FROM THE RAFTERS)

You ain’t gonna get it off struggling like that.

454 CONNIE

(STARTLED)

Who’s there...?

455 BLOOD OATH

(ECHOING FROM THE RAFTERS)

Been tracking you all god damn day. If I’d have known

you were gonna spend that long chatting with that old

fart, I would have at least brought a chair.

456 CONNIE

Oh boo fucking hoo! Why are you tracking me?!

457 BLOOD OATH

(ECHOING FROM THE RAFTERS)

Why else?

458 SOUND: BLOOD OATH DROPS DOWN FROM THE CEILING AND COCKS A

PISTOL

459 BLOOD OATH

To kill you.

460 CONNIE

...With a gun? Uh. Don’t know if you’ve heard, but that

shit doesn’t work on me. So how about you take this

metal... thing off of me and I take you to a nice

comfortable jail cell, huh?

461 BLOOD OATH

Nah.

462 SOUND: THE PISTOL FIRES, HITTING CONNIE IN THE SHOULDER

463 CONNIE

(BIG PAIN)

Fuck!!

Wh- What the hell?!

464 BLOOD OATH

Yeah that metal thing? That’s a power dampener.

465 CONNIE

Power dampener?!

466 BLOOD OATH

Yup. Same one they used on J’Harl back in the day.

You’re just as human as the rest of us.

467 CONNIE

Y-You’re lying!

468 BLOOD OATH

Is that bloody shoulder lying

469 SOUND: GUN COCK

470 CONNIE

(STARTLED)

(DIVES OUT OF THE WAY)

471 SOUND: CONNIE DIVES OUT OF THE WAY, RUNNING

472 SOUND: THE PISTOL FIRES, HITTING THE WALL

473 BLOOD OATH

And now she runs, just like everybody else.

474 SOUND: BLOOD OATH WALKS AFTER HER

476 CONNIE

(IN PAIN STILL, RUNNING ON ADRENALINE)

Fuck fuck fuck... Where the hell is the exit?!

478 CONNIE

Monarch...?! Kirby...?! Anyone...?!

Come on, somebody...

481 SOUND: GUNSHOT

483 CONNIE

(YELPS IN FEAR AND SHE BREAKS OUT INTO A RUN AGAIN)

484 SOUND: CONNIE RUNS, STUMBLING AS SHE GOES

485 BLOOD OATH

You can run all you like, but sooner or later that

adrenaline is gonna run out and shock is gonna set in.

Trust me, I’ve seen it hundreds of times over the

years. Heroes, villains. All reduced to a petrified

puddle of tears, bleeding out on the floor. You’ll be

no different.

489 SOUND: CONNIE TURNS A CORNER

490 CONNIE

Where the fuck is the exit?!

There!

493 SOUND: SHE BREAKS OUT INTO A SPRINT

494 CONNIE

Come on!!

495 SOUND: GUNSHOT

496 CONNIE

Gah!!

497 SOUND: SHE TRIES TO CRAWL AWAY

498 BLOOD OATH

Jeez, still trying? Powers or not, at least you’ve got

spirit.

500 BLOOD OATH

I almost hate to kill you, ya know? You actually seemed

like a great hero.But hey. Money talks.

501 SOUND: BLOOK OATH COCKS HIS GUN

502 BLOOD OATH

Sorry.

503 CONNIE

Who the fuck even are you?!

504 BLOOD OATH

Hm. Strange. Most folks I meet at least recognize the

mask. Oh well. Not that it matters but, the name’s

Blood Oath.

505 CONNIE

...Adam?

506 BLOOD OATH

...Of course he told you about me.

507 SOUND: CHRISTOPHER JUMPS IN

508 CHRISTOPHER

(PANTING)

Told her a lot more than that.

511 BLOOD OATH

(SIGH)

How long did you know I was tracking her?

512 CHRISTOPHER

I thought we were being followed earlier in the day.

Didn’t recognize the sound at first, but your mask has

a pretty distinct whistle to it.

513 BLOOD OATH

Hmph. So... Gonna let me go again?

514 CHRISTOPHER

No.

515 BLOOD OATH

You actually gonna bring me in this time?

516 CHRISTOPHER

(QUICKLY)

No, Adam-

517 BLOOD OATH

Or are you gonna grow a pair and put me down like the

murderer I am?!

518 CHRISTOPHER

Adam... I just want to talk.

519 BLOOD OATH

Too bad, I don’t.

520 SOUND: GUN COCKS

521 CHRISTOPHER

You put that gun down before I smack it out of your

hand.

522 BLOOD OATH

Oh now he decides to be a father.

523 CHRISTOPHER

I am your father, Adam.

524 BLOOD OATH

And a god damn terrible one. You were never there for

me.

525 CHRISTOPHER

I tried to be there for you!

526 BLOOD OATH

Oh like hell you did! You always put the rest of the world

above your own family. Never once did you think of us

first!

527 CHRISTOPHER

I thought of you all first, every day. Every god damned

day. I did my job to protect the both of you.

528 BLOOD OATH

And your job took you away from both of us; Time, and

time again. I could never rely on you to be an actual

father. And you sure as hell weren’t ever there for

mom.

529 CHRISTOPHER

I tried! I tried. I wanted to be

there, for both of you. But I had a responsibility.

530 BLOOD OATH

Well with family comes responsibilities too.

531 CHRISTOPHER

I know!

(COUGHS)

Adam… I don’t know what I’m supposed to say. But I just wanted

to be a good father. Just this once.

532 BLOOD OATH

How do you plan to do that?

533 CHRISTOPHER

By telling you to turn yourself in.

534 BLOOD OATH

You expect me to do that? To turn myself in, just

because you asked me to?

535 CHRISTOPHER

No. I don’t. I don’t expect anything. I don’t want to

hurt my boy. I don’t want that to be your last memory

of me.

536 BLOOD OATH

...What do you mean?

537 CHRISTOPHER

I’m...

(SIGHS)

Adam I’m-

(COUGH FIT)

538 CONNIE

He’s dying, Adam.

539 BLOOD OATH

And that’s supposed to mean something?! He’s died 99

times. Make it an even 100, see you in a week, maybe

more.

540 CHRISTOPHER

Adam. I think this one’s going to take.

541 BLOOD OATH

And what makes you say that?

542 CHRISTOPHER

...I’ve been killed 99 times. But I don’t know what’s

going to happen when I just... Die. This isn’t a bullet

in the heart or a nuclear explosion. This is cancer,

Adam. This is uncharted territory, and I don’t think

I’m coming back this time.

543 BLOOD OATH

...You don’t know that...

544 CHRISTOPHER

No I don’t.

(COUGHS)

But I’m not willing to take the risk. I want to spend

one day with my son. And then I want you to turn

yourself in. Will you do that for me...?

545 BLOOD OATH

You think I’m going to do that just because you ask?

546 CHRISTOPHER

I don’t know. I’m just asking, as your father. I spent

the last years of Cheryl’s life trying to be there for

her. Give me one day to be there for you. Please.

547 SOUND: BLOOD OATH DROPS HIS PISTOL AND REMOVES HIS HELMET

548 BLOOD OATH

...Okay.

549 SOUND: BLOOD OATH DROPS THE HELMET

550 BLOOD OATH

I’ll do it.

551 CHRISTOPHER

(BREATHES A SIGH OF RELIEF)

552 SOUND: BLOOD OATH PRESSES SOME BUTTONS ON HIS ARMOR

553 SOUND: THE POWER DAMPENER UNLATCHES

554 CONNIE

(CATCHING BREATH)

555 BLOOD OATH

There. You’ve got your powers back. Once you get out of

range of my jammer, you’ll get comms back, too. And I’m

calling off the hit.

556 CONNIE

Hit...?

557 BLOOD OATH

I was paid a lot of money to kill you.

558 CONNIE

Woah woah woah-... Who wants me dead?!

559 BLOOD OATH

I... I can’t tell you.

560 CONNIE

Why not?!

561 BLOOD OATH

Because if I tell you, I’m a dead man!

562 CONNIE

Then how do I know they won’t send somebody else?!

563 BLOOD OATH

Because you’ve got the power dampener. Nobody else is

strong enough to bring you down without that.

565 CHRISTOPHER

He’s not wrong. Anyone else comes at you, you’ve got

their number. He doesn’t have that luxury.

566 CONNIE

...You’re right.

I won’t force you to tell me. But you will turn

yourself in, because I will find you if you don’t.

567 BLOOD OATH

I will.

568 CONNIE

You’d better. ...Christopher?

569 CHRISTOPHER

Yes?

570 CONNIE

If I don’t see you around...

571 CHRISTOPHER

I know. Take care, kid.

572 CONNIE

...You too.

573 SOUND: CONNIE FLIES AWAY

574 BLOOD OATH

You think she’ll be as good a hero as you?

575 CHRISTOPHER

...Never thought I’d hear you admit that I was a good

hero.

576 BLOOD OATH

Better hero than a father.

577 CHRISTOPHER

(SIGHS)

578 BLOOD OATH

So?

579 CHRISTOPHER

...Nah. She’s gonna be better.

SCENE 9

580 LAUREL

(NARRATION)

That night, Connie came home with more wounds than she

had left with. The doctor scolded her for popping her

stitches, but thankfully, she was let out of the

hospital much faster this time.

We spent the next day together while I made sure Connie

was okay. She told me about how she spent her day with

Christopher, about how she wants to take me to every

restaurant on that little book Christopher gave her.

About Christopher meeting Cheryl. About the pier by our

beach. About Adam...

And even though she told me about Christopher’s

illness... It didn’t prepare me for the news we

received the following morning...

581 SOUND: TV FUZZ FADES IN

582 NEWS ANCHOR

Today, the world once again mourns the loss of the

greatest hero of all time. Though he’s lived the last

few years of his civilian life as Christopher

Ditkovitch, he was known by all of us as Magnanimous:

The Unkillable Man. I’m sure many of you will find this

news difficult to believe, as Magnanimous has cheated

death numerous times. But our sources at the Mighty Oak

Retirement Villa have told us that the cause of death

was primary cardiac cancer. We don’t have all the

answers yet, but only time will-

583 KIRBY

Turn it off.

584 SOUND: THE TV CUTS OFF

585 LAUREL

(CRYING, SOFTLY)

586 CONNIE

I can’t believe he’s actually... gone-gone.

587 MOISHE

Were it so easy to believe, kid.

588 LAUREL

(THROUGH TEARS)

I-... I’m sorry, I can’t find the words right now, I-

589 CONNIE

It’s okay hon. Come here.

590 SOUND: HUG

591 LAUREL

(BREAKS DOWN)

592 CONNIE

(TRYING TO KEEP IT TOGETHER TOO)

It’s gonna be okay. He-... He’s finally gonna get to

see Cheryl, again. I’m sure she’s missed him.

Kirb? You alright?

595 KIRBY

(SIGH)

No, I’m uh... I don’t think I am.

596 CONNIE

Is there anything I can do? Y’know. To help you?

597 KIRBY

I think right now...

(SIGHS)

I think I just need a drink... Moishe?

598 MOISHE

I don’t serve alcohol, Kirby, you know that.

599 KIRBY

Hmm... What about the bottle I gave you for Hanukkah?

600 MOISHE

...Y’know what? Fine. I’ll close early and break it

out. I think we all need it. Ladies?

602 CONNIE

Nah, I think I’ll pass... Laurel?

603 LAUREL

(SNIFFS)

No I... I don’t... Okay yes. Please. Just one.

604 CONNIE

...Yeah make it two.

605 MOISHE

Drinks all around then. I’ll be right back and we’ll

toast to one hell of a memory.

606 SOUND: MOISHE WALKS TO THE BACK OF THE DELI

607 LAUREL

...You think he and Adam had a good day together?

608 CONNIE

It’s... Hard to say. There was a lot of pain. A lot of

tension between them. I just hope that they were able

to make the most of it.

609 KIRBY

It’s hard putting the world before those you care

about. It can make the people closest to you feel like

you don’t care about them, even if you love them to the

moon and back. Not everybody understands what it’s like

having the world on their shoulders, and you really

can’t understand until the weight is there. And I don’t

think anybody understood that weight the way

Christopher did. Hopefully Adam is able to realize that

Christopher did what he had to do.

610 CONNIE

Yeah... And hopefully Adam kept to his word...

611 SOUND: KIRBY’S CELL PHONE RINGS

612 KIRBY

Ah... Excuse me...

613 SOUND: HE ANSWERS

614 KIRBY

Yeah?

(A BEAT)

Y-Yeah. Okay. Just a sec.

615 SOUND: KIRBY HANDS THE PHONE TO CONNIE

616 KIRBY

Speak of the devil.

617 CONNIE

What do you...?

618 KIRBY

Take it.

619 CONNIE

Right yeah, fine.

Hello?

620 BLOOD OATH

(OVER COMMS)

Is this Megaton Girl?

621 CONNIE

...May I ask who is speaking?

622 BLOOD OATH

It’s Adam. This is my one call, so I’m gonna use it

right.

623 CONNIE

Uh-... You turned yourself in?

624 BLOOD OATH

I did. You can look at the phone number if you want,

but I assure you, I’m calling from prison.

625 CONNIE

Good.

H-How did it go with your dad?

626 BLOOD OATH

...We uh... Had a lot of talking to do. We spent most

of the day doing that. We talked about mom, a bit.

I liked that. We argued a bit here and there, but... I

am glad that I got to be there for him in the end.

627 CONNIE

Yeah, me too.

628 BLOOD OATH

He also told me, that night after our little...

meeting... That he wrote up a document giving you his

blessing. I passed it onto one of the local news

stations on my way to prison, so I expect you’re gonna

be called for a press conference very soon.

629 CONNIE

I... Thank you for that. I really appreciate that you

did that.

630 BLOOD OATH

From what he tells me, it’s deserved.

631 CONNIE

I’m... Not sure what to say to that.

632 BLOOD OATH

I uh... I’ve been thinking. Quite a bit, actually.

633 CONNIE

About?

634 BLOOD OATH

You should know who hired me.

635 CONNIE

...But-

636 BLOOD OATH

Let’s face it. I’ve got a trail of blood behind me ten

miles long. My days are numbered whether I tell you or

not.

637 CONNIE

...If you’re sure.

638 BLOOD OATH

Julian Reinbach and Captain Valiant.

639 SOUND: COLD SILENCE

640 BLOOD OATH

...You there?

641 CONNIE

...Yeah.

642 BLOOD OATH

Use that information how you will. For now, my time is

up. Thanks for letting me have one last day with-

643 PRISON GUARD

Wrap it up, Ditkovitch.

644 BLOOD OATH

Yeah, yeah…

(SIGH)

See ya in the funny papers, hero.

645 SOUND: PHONE HANGS UP

646 SOUND: CONNIE HANGS UP

647 LAUREL

...What’s up?

649 KIRBY

Kid, what’s going on...?

650 CONNIE

(UNDER BREATH)

He tried to have me killed...

651 LAUREL

What did you say...?

652 CONNIE

He tried to have me killed...! Both of them! They tried to have

me killed!

653 LAUREL

Who-

654 CONNIE

Chuck!! Chuck and his stupid manager put out a hit on me, and

for what?! Saving his life?!

655 LAUREL

O-oh my god...

656 KIRBY

...Son of a bitch...

657 LAUREL

What are we even supposed to do...? If you challenge

him head on, everyone will see you as just another

criminal.

658 KIRBY

And you’re recovering him from two injuries now, so

there’s no way you’re going toe to toe with him.

659 CONNIE

So then what?? What am I supposed to do?! Just let him get

away with this?! With everything else he’s done?!

What the fuck am I supposed to do...?!

660 SOUND: MOISHE ENTERS

661 MOISHE

Sorry for eavesdropping, but may I offer an idea?

Chuck and Julian are terrible. Kirby’s told me plenty

of things that Chuck has done, not just to you but to

so many others. He’s gotten away with so much for so

long, but everyone is terrified of him. Maybe they’re

terrified because they think they’re the only ones.

Maybe they think nobody will believe them, because he’s

a man of power, and they’re just one person. He can

fight you hand to hand, no problem. But can he fight

everyone he’s ever hurt?

662 CONNIE

...Hey Laurel?

663 LAUREL

Yeah?

664 CONNIE

Can we put audio on the Megaton Girl news site?

Scene 10

665 CONNIE

Hi everyone. I don’t normally talk directly to all of

you like this. I know a lot of you are expecting me to

hold a big press conference accepting the title of

Magnanimous’ successor, but I honestly don’t do

well in front of crowds, As you can see!. I’ve gotten all of your

messages of encouragement though! They mean a lot! I

know some of you don’t think I deserve this

title. And quite frankly… I don’t know if I’ve

fully earned it yet either. But I want to. And I hope

that in time I can deserve it.

But I have something else I wanted to talk about.

Something that may shock many of you, but it needs to

be addressed, and addressed now.

Captain Valiant is a monster. I know that might be

difficult for you to believe, since he just killed one

of the biggest monsters in the universe. But it’s true.

Captain Valiant is an abusive, dangerous, murderous

man, who does everything for himself. I know this because

I am someone he’s hurt. I know people he’s hurt. And I

know that he has hurt many of you, way more than he’s had

the chance to hurt me. Maybe he’s hurt you, and you

Don’t even know it. After all, some of you may know him by

a different name. Chuck Bradford, Editor-in-Chief at

Olympus Illustrated is Captain Valiant.

Among the things he has done to me, he most recently

attempted to have me killed. The would-be assassin

confessed to me personally that he was paid by Chuck

and his manager, Julian, to murder me. I survived, but

others may have not been as lucky as I was.

You may have thought that you were the only one he

hurt. You may have thought that nobody would believe

you if you spoke up. Well, I’m speaking up. If he’s

ever bullied you, harassed you, hurt you, threatened

you or anyone you know: It’s time to speak up. Tell me

your story. Tell the WORLD your story, whether you’re a

superhero or not. Let everyone know that Captain

Valiant can’t be trusted with your safety. And to

everyone else: all I ask you is to please listen. We

have to do this together, or he is going to keep

getting away with everything. He has to be held

accountable, and we can make that happen if we all work

together.

Who’s with me?

CREDITS 01:07:48-01:09:34

Scene 11

CASE FILE 617A Feb 3. 20XX 8:26 PM Location: Titan Industries West. Subject: Bradford, Charles. Evidence gathered from Titan Industries Surveillance footage.

669 JULIAN

Charles.

670 CHUCK

Don’t you "Charles" me, you son of a bitch! Have you

seen the fucking news?!

671 JULIAN

Calm down, Charles-

672 CHUCK

I’ve just been unmasked and accused of attempted

murder, and I’m supposed to be calm?!

673 JULIAN

Direct your ire at the one who unmasked you, not at me.

674 CHUCK

The "one who unmasked me" was supposed to be dead!! You

told me that she would be powerless and begging for her

life!

675 JULIAN

And she would have been, if Blood Oath hadn’t grown a

fucking conscience!

676 CHUCK

You should have let me kill her myself! This is all

your fault!!

677 JULIAN

How about instead of throwing blame, we focus on

quelling the voices clamoring for our heads?! I have a

plan that-

678 CHUCK

No! I’m done with your plans, and I am done with you.

679 JULIAN

Done with me?! You are nothing without me!

680 CHUCK

Oh you think so?! I am the one who always saves the

day! I am out there, busting my ass off while you sit

around on your bony ass, smoking your fucking tar.

681 JULIAN

I made you into an icon!! I was the one who gave you

stardom when William refused to! I made you what you

are today, and if you leave me, then I will make sure

that you are nothing tomorrow! You will never be a

hero, ever again.

682 CHUCK

Maybe I don’t want to be a hero anymore!!!

683 JULIAN

(HMPH)

So then, you’re just going to throw in the towel?

684 CHUCK

No. Just... considering a slight... Career change.

685 JULIAN

What on Earth are you talking about?

686 CHUCK

A big blue bastard recently told me that I’d make a

better villain than a hero. And I think that’s a better

idea than any of the bullshit you’ve been spewing

lately.

687 JULIAN

...You? A super villain?

688 CHUCK

Bingo. If I can’t be the best anymore, I sure as hell will

take a crack at being the worst!

689 JULIAN

(CHUCKLES)

And you think my ideas are bad? Listen to yourself. You

live for the limelight. There is no way you would give

up fame to be a super villain, you glory hog.

690 CHUCK

Oh Julian, Julian… There’s more than one type of fame. I will make

a name for myself in the criminal underworld, and then

I will kill that fucking fat bitch myself and humiliate her

in front of the entire world.

691 JULIAN

Good luck getting any villain to work with you. May I

remind you who has been thwarting all of their plans

for the last twenty years?

692 CHUCK

I’ll earn their respect the way that villains know

best: Through fear.

693 JULIAN

You know what? Fine. If you want to dig yourself

deeper, then by all means. But I won’t be helping you.

694 CHUCK

Oh, you’re gonna help me alright. You’re gonna help me

with my first crime.

695 JULIAN

Oh am I?!

696 CHUCK

Of course. After all...

Can’t have murder without a victim.

701 SOUND: EYE LASERS CHARGING

702 JULIAN

What the fu-?!

(CUT OFF BY LASER IN FACE)

703 SOUND: CHUCK EFFORTLESSLY BLASTS JULIAN’ OUT THE WINDOW

705 CHUCK

(OVER PHONE)

Been wanting to do that for sooooo long.

706 SOUND: BANGING ON DOOR

707 OFFICER

(BEHIND DOOR)

LDPD!! Open up!!

709 SOUND: DOOR IS KICKED IN

710 OFFICER

Put your hands where I can-!

C-Captain Valiant...?

711 CHUCK

(OVER PHONE)

Y’know. That doesn’t quite have the ring to it that it

used to. How about...

(THINKS, CLICKING HIS TONGUE A LITTLE)

Captain Vendetta?

712 SOUND: EYE LASERS CHARGING

713 OFFICER

I need back up! Repeat! Need back-!