PRAWN Episode 1: “Lights Out” by Eric Schwartz FADE UP SCENE 1 - PRISON (F/X: HEAVY FOOT STEPS ON CONCRETE) GUARD: (Echo) Cell block 432! Lights out. (There is a commotion and insults from various prisoners.) Goodnight ladies! (More distant insults) Hey! Zago! I said lights out. (Gets closer) Zago! Looks like someone’s cruising for some solitary. ZAGO! Lights out! (Close) Zag…oh crap! Central! Central! Zago’s escaped! F/X SIRENS BLARE (FADE OUT) (FADE UP) SCENE TWO - OUTSIDE PRISON (F/X RUNNING THROUGH WATER, BLOODHOUNDS BARK IN THE DISTANCE) ZAGO: (Breathes heavy) I’ve done it! Watch your back Prawn! I’m coming for you! DISSOLVE INTO TITLE MUSIC FADE UP SCENE 3 - KITCHEN F/X: FOOD COOKING. THE RADIO IS PLAYING SOFTLY IN THE BACKGROUND. ANNC: We begin on the evening of October 10th in the home of Justin Presley. As he reads the paper, his Tasha cooks dinner for the family. Their 3 children Page, Frawley and Wyclef watch cartoons in the family room. Peace hovers over the Presley home. Justin is content because at night he slips away to become his alter ego…the black and purple avenger…Prawn! JUSTIN: (Reading) Honey. Hmmm. (Badly) It seems here that Prawn person took two more muggersinto the police station. (Real bad) Heh Heh. What a nut. TASHA: (Bored with it) Yes Justin. JUSTIN: (THOUGHTS) Little does she know I’m Prawn. (Spoken) I wonder if they’ll ever find out who that Prawn is. TASHA: (As if this happens all the time) You’re Prawn, Justin. JUSTIN: (Ignoring her) What a brave individual he must be. TASHA: (Yelling) Kids! Who’s Prawn!? KIDS: (From other room) DAD! JUSTIN: …And perhaps a bit crazy. Our world needs more people like him. TASHA: Justin. You’re not fooling anybody. The whole neighborhood knows. JUSTIN: (Finally stops) What do you mean the whole neighborhood knows? TASHA: Remember that day you forgot that you had your Prawn costume on underneath your clothes and you took your shirt off at the barbecue? JUSTIN: Crap. TASHA: It’s okay. Bob, Terry, Leo, Moira, Preston, The Delfins, Mr. & Mrs. Kalashki, Chauncey, Edna, Gus – the ice cream guy and Father Macally have all promised to keep your secret. JUSTIN: Crap. RADIO: It’s time for news on the ones! This just, in evil genius Dr. Dexter Zago has escaped from Sunnybritches prison. JUSTIN: Honey! Turn that up! RADIO: Two hours ago guards there discovered his cell empty and discovered an elaborate tunnel leading out into the surrounding fields. JUSTIN: Oh no. RADIO: Zago has been in prison since 1997, when he was captured by the nutball vigilante known as Prawn. He is considered really smart and dangerous by police. In other news …does your cheese give you problems in the morning… F/X RADIO CLICKS OFF JUSTIN: Zago…escaped. I have to go. TASHA: Oh no you don’t. You promised to drive Page and her friends to the dance tonight. JUSTIN: What?! Honey the most evil mastermind the world has ever seen has just escaped! I have to capture him. TASHA: Well, Sally’s mom said she’d pick the girls up. Can you drop them off on your way? JUSTIN: Honey… TASHA: Justin! Get into your little costume and take your daughter! JUSTIN: Outfit! It’s not a little costume! It’s my specially designed bio-mechanical costume…OUTFIT!! TASHA: Whatever. I’m not arguing that again. You promised to take your daughter to the dance. And you’re going to take her. JUSTIN: (Storms off.) Fine! Fine! I just have to save the city ..THAT’S ALL! If it was your bookclub…god forbid that get cancelled!!! (FADE) (FADE UP) SCENE 4 – ZAGO’S LAIR ZAGO: Okay! Next. (DOOR OPENS.) Ah! You must be Slither. SLITHER: Yesssss. ZAGO: Okay. Great. I like the hunched over thing. It’s a nice touch. SLITH: I beg your pardon? ZAGO: The way you’re hunched over and all. It’s got a good feel. Really…you know "Henchman-y”. SLITH: I’m afraid I don’t follow you. ZAGO: You know…the whole Igor….”Master master”…with the…nevermind. So you’d like to be my henchman. SLITH: Yes. ZAGO: Well. What kind of henchmanning background do you have? SLITH: Well…I am fully certified and am a member of the Henchman’s Guild. After my apprenticeship I spent 3 years working for Dr. Snozkov…the mad scientist. When he retired I spent a year working with the Cybrox Clan. ZAGO: Oh! Very good. SLITH: I also have done some freelance work with Knight Night and The Ooze. ZAGO: Okay. Everything looksgood Slither. Let me tell you a little about what we do here. I have recently escaped from the County Lock up and I am looking to exact my revenge on the man who put me there. The freak they call Prawn. SLITH: Sounds challenging. ZAGO: Not at all. I’ve had 3 years to plot this. I believe I finally know where to hit Prawn…and hurt him. (PAUSE) I’m going to laugh very evilly here. Would you care to join me? SLITH: So I got the job? ZAGO: Yes. BOTH: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHHAHAHAHHAHA! (FADE OUT) (FADE IN) SCENE 5 – THE PRAWN CAVE PRAWN: (Still grumbling) Stupid dance. Where’s my cape? Dammit! HONEY?! TASHA: (Upstairs)Yeah? Where are you? PRAWN: Downstairs …in the Prawn-Cave TASHA: Whadda ya need? PRAWN: Where’d you put my cape? TASHA: Check the kid’s pile! PRAWN: (Grumbles some more.) TASHA: Honey? PRAWN: Yeah! TASHA: Would you switch the laundry for me? And don’t forget the dryer sheet this time. PRAWN: Sure! (To himself) I got nothing better to do. Stupid laundry. (Louder) You know having the washer and dryer in my crime lab is a real pain!! TASHA: Why? PRAWN: Because I have to unplug the computer to do a load of laundry. They’re on the same outlet! TASHA: Is that the ComPRAWNter? PRAWN: Ha ha! Very funny. You know perfectly well that it’s the Prawn-puter. (PHONE RINGS. PRAWN PICKS IT UP) Prawn. Hello Commissioner. I know I heard the news. A message for me. No I’ll pick it up there… Hello? Page! Would you get off the line please? I’m on the phone! I’m having a conversation. I promise I’ll let you know the second I’m off. (Pause) Sorry about that Commissioner. I’ll be in there soon. (Hangs up) (FADE OUT) (FADE IN) SCENE 6 – IN THE CAR (MUSIC BLARES LOUDLY) PAGE: Do you think Cloe is gonna be there? GINA: She is such a skank. PAGE: Totally. TINA: I can’t believe she let Todd Brione feel her up. PRAWN: HELLO!! PAGE: (Click of the tongue) We’re talking Dad. TINA: Sorry Mr….uh… PRAWN: Prawn. PAGE: Whatever. Where are we going? PRAWN: I have to make a quick stop downtown. It’s on the way. PAGE: Jeeze! PRAWN: Page! It’s going to take 5 minutes. PAGE: We are going to be so late! PRAWN: 5 minutes! I swear. PAGE: Whatever. (FADE OUT) (FADE IN) SCENE 7 – COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE (DOOR OPENS) COMM: Prawn! Thank God you’re here! PRAWN: Where is this message? COMM: It’s here. PRAWN: Did you read it? COMM: That’s against the law. PRAWN: So it is. (Opens envelope) Hmmmm… COMM: What does it say? PRAWN: (Reading) Dear Prawn, It has been too long. (Aside) Standard evil witty open.(Back to reading) I am serving you with this notice that I am going to exact my revenge upon you. Blah blah blah… blood…blah blah blah …eternal force of his will….(Aside) Pretty unimpressive as a threat. Ah! Now this is interesting. COMM: What does it say? PRAWN: It says “I hope you have enjoyed reading this letter. I Hope I get the chance to tell you how grateful I am that you delivered my revenge to me.” Hmmm. Delivered his revenge to him… COMM: What does it mean. PRAWN: I don’t know commissioner… I jus don’t ….PAGE!! (Bolts from the room) COMM: Prawn wait!! (FADE OUT) (FADE IN) SCENE 7 - IN THE PARKED CAR PAGE: You guys. I’m sorry about my dad. The whole Prawn thing. It’s kind of gone to his head. TINA: That’s okay. My Dad watches Star Trek. GINA: Anyway I think it’s kind of cool. He’s better than the cops sometimes. PAGE: You’re not serious. My Dad is a total clutz. TINA: Yeah but…. (GLASS SHATTERS) SLITHER: Hello girls!! (GIRLS SCREAM) (FADE OUT) (FADE IN) SCENE 8 – ELEVATOR (MUZAK PLAYS) PRAWN: Awww c’mon!!! C’mon! (DING) (PRAWN RUNS THROUGH THE LOBBY OUT INTO THE STREET. AS HE BUSTS OUT INTO THE STREET A HELICOPTER HOVERS) ZAGO: (Bullhorn) You’re too late Prawn! See you soon! PAGE: Dad!!!! ZAGO: HAHAHAHAHahhahahahahaaha (COPTER FLIES AWAY) PRAWN: Noooooooooo! TITLE MUSIC ANNCR: Join us for the next exciting installment of PRAWN!!!