PSYCHO & PSYCHE (Television pilot script)
Logline:
A man who lives at a mental institution and believes he has a superpower must convince his police detective sister that the villain who he says framed him for murder is real and killing again...or be transferred to a secure lockdown facility. Unbeknownst to everyone else, his power is real.
PSYCHO & PSYCHE
"PILOT"
FADE IN:
TEASER
INT. APARTMENT - KITCHEN - DAY
ERIC KLAVEN (30's) lies unconscious on a hardwood floor. His eyes flutter open and he sits up, rubbing his head. His face is narrow and his eyes are intense. He winces and looks around. He gives a start.
A body is lying next to him, covered in blood.
Eric panics. He lunges toward the body of his brother, JASON KLAVEN (30's), dark hair and sharp features, his torso covered in deep cuts and lacerations. Next to him lies a bloody wooden stake.
Eric grabs Jason's shoulders and shakes him lightly.
ERIC
Jason? Jason, wake up.
No response.
ERIC
Jason, please. Say something.
Eric reaches for Jason's wrist, but can't bring himself to touch it. Blood streams from a wound on Jason's arm: a strange pagan symbol carved into his flesh.
Eric checks for a pulse. Nothing.
ERIC
No, no, no!
Eric holds his brother, rocking him. Eric cries.
Ring! A cell phone.
Eric looks around. Stands and finds his phone across the room. The screen says Haley is calling. He answers.
ERIC
Sweetheart, hi.
Eric rakes a hand through his hair. He walks around the kitchen. It's a mess: Broken ceramic plates and mugs line the counter and floor. Like there was a fight.
ERIC
(into the phone)
No, everything is not OK. Haley, Jason is... He's... I don't know what's happening and I'm scared.
(dead serious)
He was there. Mr. Black was at the coffee shop this morning and now Jason is--
There's a heavy knock at the door to the apartment.
MALE VOICE (O.S.)
Open up. This is the police.
Eric looks toward the door. He heaves several breaths.
ERIC
Fuck!
The knocking continues. Eric covers the phone with his hand and yells at the door.
ERIC
I'll be right there!
(into the phone)
Haley, I'll see you at home.
Eric hangs up and answers the door to find several officers in the hall.
COP #1
Sir, we received a noise complaint.
INT. APARTMENT - DAY
A CSI team investigates in the kitchen. Yellow crime scene tape cordons off the area. Eric sits in the living room while a COP interviews him.
A woman in a suit enters, brunette and strong-willed with dark, untrusting eyes. This is SARA KLAVEN (30s), Eric's sister.
COP #1
(to Sara)
Detective.
Sara looks surprised to see Eric.
ERIC
Sara, thank God.
SARA
Eric, what are you doing here?
Eric breaks down in tears.
ERIC
I-I don't know what happened. I came to pick up the digging spike--
SARA
Digging spike?
ERIC
It was for a school presentation. Jason had it and I came here to pick it up, and then my memory is blank. I must've blacked out because when I woke up he was... was...
SARA
You're freaking me out. Where is Jason?
The Cop whispers into Sara's ear. Her face turns white.
SARA
(to Eric)
What did you do?
ERIC
Sara, it's not my fault.
Sara pushes Eric out of the way and walks to the kitchen.
INT. APARTMENT - KITCHEN - DAY
Sara enters with the cops following. Eric trails behind. Sara locks eyes on Jason's body. Sees the blood and the wooden spike on the ground. She breaks down.
She wheels toward Eric, distraught.
SARA
What the fuck did you do?
ERIC
I didn't do anything! I just woke up and found him like this. It's not my fault.
SARA
He used to protect you. Well, not anymore.
(to Cop #1)
Ackles, cuff him and read him his rights.
Several cops surround Eric. One of them places Eric's hands behind his back. Eric tries to fight back, shifting his arms so they can't cuff him.
COP #1
You have the right to remain silent--
ERIC
No! It was Mr. Black, not me!
Two cops exchange confused looks. A large cop pins Eric's arms and the first cuffs him. Eric goes ballistic, struggling against the cops. Eric leans his weight into the larger cop and kicks his legs clumsily in the air. Sara draws a taser and points it at Eric.
SARA
Eric, there is no Mr. Black. You're acting delusional.
ERIC
IT WASN'T ME!
Eric's breathing becomes labored. He has a panic attack. He collapses onto the floor.
The cops look toward Sara.
SARA
(to Cop #2)
Williams, make sure he's unconscious.
As Cop #2 kneels in front of Eric, Eric's eyes snap open. His stare is oddly calm as he jumps to his feet. With skill, he lunges toward the nearest cop, taking him out with a headbutt. Eric wrestles the next cop to the ground.
At a distance, Sara fires her taser at Eric. Eric is jolted until he collapses once more. He does not get up this time. A cop on the ground gapes at Sara.
COP #1
Did you see how fast he moved?
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