This is a rare find – part of the script of Static Shock “They’re Playing My Song.” It was Dwayne’s first produced animated script. This draft was written in Microsoft Word and was dated October 12, 2000. Any typos were probably conversion errors made when I posted it here.
EXT. ABANDONED GAS STATION – NIGHT
RICHIE is practically towing a reluctant VIRGIL up the street.
VIRGIL
Where are we going, Richie?
RICHIE
Patience, Virgil. We’re almost there. It’ll be easier once we’re old enough to drive.
VIRGIL
Hey, I offered. We could’a got on my disk and flown.
RICHIE
No disrespect, Man. But I’ve seen you fall off that thing.
VIRGIL
(offended)
One time! And they were shooting at me!
RICHIE
Whatever. Anyway, we’re here.
RICHIE
indicates the dilapidated, darkened gas station behind him. Virgil looks askance at the place as Richie shoves the door open.
VIRGIL
We’re where?
RICHIE
Your secret headquarters. Every superhero has to have a secret headquarters.
Richie goes inside. Virgil follows.
CUT TO:
INT. ABANDONED GAS STATION OF SOLITUDE – NIGHT
It’s pitch black inside, until part of the room is suddenly ILLUMINATED by the ELECTRICAL ARC at the tip of Virgil’s finger. Virgil looks up at the fluorescent lights in the ceiling.
VIRGIL
Hope those bulbs are good...
THE ELECTRICAL ARC
leaps from Virgil’s finger to the bulbs, which light up.
THE INTERIOR
is now well-lit. The garage is revealed as a dump.
VIRGIL
You gotta be kidding me. You’d have to renovate before this place could qualify as a dump.
RICHIE
indicates the garage as he gives Virgil the hard-sell. Virgil looks around, unconvinced.
RICHIE
Use your imagination. You may see a broken-down, rat-infested-
VIRGIL
(disgusted)
“Rat-infested?”
RICHIE
(quickly)
We’ll get some traps. The point is, this place is going to be the nerve-center of our entire superhero operation.
VIRGIL
What are we going to call it, “the Abandoned Gas Station of Solitude”?
RICHIE
Look, it’s either this or my old treehouse. And I don’t think those branches’ll hold both of us anymore.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. ABANDONED GAS STATION ROOF – NIGHT
Virgil is sitting on the edge of the SKYLIGHT, sulking. Richie opens the skylight.
RICHIE
(still selling)
The skylight’s pretty cool, you can fly in and out through here.
VIRGIL
If I had more cash, maybe I could rent a decent headquarters.
RICHIE
Yeah. This superhero gig hasn’t exactly turned out to be a profit center.
VIRGIL
You ain’t never lied. It’s costing me money. I keep tearing my costume, melting my shoes...
SFX OF SQUEALING TIRES from the street. Virgil and Richie react, looking down to see:
ICE PACK’S LIMO
racing up the street, still trying to outrun Rubberband Man.
BACK ON THE ROOF
Virgil quickly begins to change into his Static costume.
VIRGIL
You see that?!
RICHIE
(cagey)
Depends. What do you see?
ON THE STREET
Rubberband Man OVERTAKES the Limo. He secures himself to a lamppost and stretches himself across the road directly in front of the speeding Limo. He wraps his other end around a matching lamppost forming a barrier across the street
THE LIMO
plows right into Rubberband Man. His body GIVES with the impact, stretching for about twenty yards before SNAPPING back into shape, launching the Limo backwards INTO THE AIR in the opposite direction.
INSIDE THE CAR
Ice and his Hangers-On are terrified.
HANGERS-ON
[Cries of surprise and fear.]
BACK ON THE ROOF
STATIC, now in full costume, polarizes his flying disk into stiffness, leaps on it and SURFS through the air after the flying car.
CLOSING ON THE LIMO
Static throws a two-handed ELECTRICAL FIELD.
THE ELECTRICAL FIELD
trails from the Limo back to Static’s hands. He grasps the electricity with his fingers, as if pulling on reins.
WIDER ON STATIC
As he grits his teeth, slowing the car’s forward motion with a sudden YANK.
STATIC
[Grunt of effort.]
Pulling back on the “reins” and leaning backwards on his disk, Static strains mightily as the car slowly arcs to the ground, supported by his electromagnetic field. The car hits the ground with a solid THUMP. Static lands nearby, sweaty and exhausted.
RUBBERBAND MAN
BOUNCES over to the Limo like a ball, then UNFOLDS into human form in mid-bounce. He reaches for the door of the Limo but Static grabs his wrist.
STATIC
Slow your roll there, Super-Ball.
Rubberband Man’s wrist writhes like a snake. Startled, Static lets it go.
RUBBERBAND MAN
I got no beef with you...Static, right?
Static is standing between him and the car.
STATIC
That’s me. And you are?
RUBBERBAND MAN
About to kill the guy in this car.
STATIC
Good one. You realize if you try it I’ll have to thump you.
RUBBERBAND MAN
Really?
STATIC
Or we could go all radical, sit down and talk about it.
RUBBERBAND MAN
Nah. I don’t think so, Sparky.
RUBBERBAND MAN
stretches his arm to hit Static in the face with a fast jab.
STATIC
is surprised more than hurt. He clenches his fist, which crackles with electrical energy.
STATIC
Be that way.
Static steps up to Rubberband Man and clocks him in the chin with an energy-charged haymaker. Rubberband Man’s body doesn’t move but his head is knocked back a couple of yards before his elastic neck snaps back into place. He grabs his jaw with his hand as if to see if it’s still in one piece.
RUBBERBAND MAN
Nice shot.
RUBBERBAND MAN’S FOOT
unseen by Static, stretches around and behind Static. The foot forms itself into a low, knee-high bench.
BACK ON RUBBERBAND MAN
RUBBERBAND MAN
Rubber’s an insulator. Your electrical powers can’t hurt me, I’m grounded.
WIDER
Rubberband Man gives Static a two-handed push in the chest. Static trips backwards over the “bench”
RUBBERBAND MAN
And so are you, sucker!
STATIC
Falls flat on his butt, he’s mortified. This is humiliating.
STATIC
Aw, Man! I haven’t fallen for that one since... well, since last summer actually. But still...
ON THE LIMO
suddenly driving away from the scene, burning rubber.
RUBBERBAND MAN REACTS.
RUBBERBAND MAN
Oh, no you don’t!
He stretches his arm into a LASSO and ropes the hitch at the back of the speeding Limo.
STATIC
leaps to his feet and charges up, he’s glowing and sparking.
STATIC
A big enough charge can overload any insulator.
Static unleashes a HUGE blast of electricity at Rubberband Man.
RUBBERBAND MAN
(Impact grunt)
RUBBERBAND MAN
is thrown backwards, stunned by the jolt. His arm stretching off frame towards:
THE REAR OF THE LIMO
Rubberband Man’s lasso arm tears the hitch and rear bumper off the rear of the Limo, which recedes from the camera, speeding away and into a tunnel.
RUBBERBAND MAN
recovers quickly from the jolt, bouncing back to his feet. He approaches Static, who is obviously weakened from his effort.
STATIC
I so need a new plan...
Rubberband Man forms one arm into an enormous CROQUET MALLET and angrily smacks Static into a wall.
STATIC
[Grunt of pain.]
STATIC
slides off the wall and slumps to his knees, dazed and helpless. Rubberband Man stands above him, hand still in mallet form. He’s poised to deliver the finishing blow.
RUBBERBAND MAN
looks at his helpless opponent for a long moment, then changes his mallet back into a regular fist. He can’t do it.
RUBBERBAND MAN
(sighs)
You’re not the one I’m after.
Rubberband Man lowers his arm, unclenches his fist, rolls himself into a ball and bounces away.
STATIC
slumps face first to the ground, finally unconscious.
CUT TO:
EXT. HAWKINS’ RESIDENCE – DAY
Establishing Virgil’s house, the next morning.
VIRGIL (O.S.)
Oh, my head...
CUT TO:
INT. HAWKINS’ BATHROOM – THE SHOWER
Virgil leans with his palms on either side of the shower head, hanging his head under the hot spray of water.
VIRGIL
Note to self: Avoid playing catch with flying automobiles.
Virgil reacts to the sound of knocking on the bathroom door. He covers his ears and groans with pain.
SHARON (O.S.)
(shouting)
Little brother! You’re running late!--
CUT TO:
EXT. HAWKINS’ BATHROOM – HALLWAY
SHARON, Virgil’s big sister, is standing outside the door.
SHARON
--Breakfast is already on the table.
Sharon pounds on the door again.
SHARON
Virgil Ovid Hawkins, you get your ashy butt out here right this minute!
ON THE DOOR
It opens a crack. Deadly serious, Virgil peeks out around the door.
VIRGIL
Sharon, my middle name is never to be spoken aloud. You know that.
Virgil slams the door.
CUT TO:
