OPEN TEASER
FADE IN ON:
INT-CORRIDOR-U.S. STEEL TOWER-EARLY EVENING
(We see the corridor in darkness, and hear the sound of alarms
going off in the distance. Derek, Kate and Valerie are crouched
down, along with Sidney Price, a computer technician who designed
the security system now going haywire. Sidney is slight in build,
has a beard and a somewhat disheveled look to him in terms of
dress. Kate is in front, holding up her hands to protect the rest
of the team; a shield, constructed of white magical energy, can be
seen extended about a foot in front of the quartet. Derek and
Valerie are kneeling down, with their gloves on and fully deployed.
Derek is to Kate's left, Valerie to her right. The gloves have 4
launch tubes, one above each knuckle-with buttons on the top which
do a variety of other actions. At the far end of the corridor, we
see 2 small laser-like devices firing beams of light into the shield.
Kate starts to waver as the device is unrelenting in its pressure.)
KATE
Guys....I don't know how long I can keep the shield up!
Someone better do something fast!
(Just then, a beam sneaks through the shield and hits Valerie
in her right shoulder-hitting her with enough force to push her
back to the end of the corridor and slamming her into the wall.
She's injured, yet not fatally.)
DEREK
(turning his head, yelling)
Hey, sis...are you OK?
VALERIE
(yelling back)
Yeah, if you can call being a punching bag on feet OK!
(Valerie tries to get back on her feet, but the shot she took
is preventing her-at least for the moment-from using her arms
to at least sit up. It's bleeding a bit, and any exertion on
that arm only makes the blood flow faster-as well as making
Valerie wince when she tries to use it in any manner.)
(V.O.)
This state has a saying for promoting tourism: You can't
make a wrong turn in Pennsylvania.
(Just as she starts to stand up, the device fires another beam,
hitting Valerie again in her right shoulder and keeps her pinned
down. She screams in pain.)
Screw them.
(Valerie's struggling to get up, but it isn't easy with her right
arm left virtually useless by the laser beam.)
We've made so many wrong turns in this mission, I'm
surprised we haven't landed in hell yet.
(She finally succeeds, limping back to Derek and Kate's position.
At this point, the action on the screen freezes.)
I KNEW we should have taken that left turn at Aliquippa.
Anyway, how did we end up in this mess? Well, it all started about
a week ago...
END VOICE OVER
SWITCH TO:
INT-U.S. STEEL TOWER LOBBY-MIDDAY
ON SCREEN GRAPHIC: ONE WEEK AGO
(We see a podium set up on a small stage, with a bank of microphones
on top of it. All of the local TV stations, as well as the major
radio stations, are there to cover a press conference. On one side,
we see a plasma television connected to a laptop computer; it can be
assumed that on the computer is the files that will be used in the
presentation. The lobby is fairly crowded, and taking in the scene
are Derek and Valerie-who were asked to provide an extra level of
security by the building's owner. We see a banner behind the podium:
"A New Level of Security-ST Net". The press conference hasn't started
yet.)
FOCUS ON:
DEREK & VALERIE
(They're off to the side, with a full view of the podium from
the left side of the stage as well as some of the assembled
media. Both Derek and Valerie are talking softly, so as not to
be overheard, as they continue to scan the crowd.)
DEREK
ST Net.
(He raises his right arm to scratch his head.)
Catchy name...any idea what the hell this is about? Or why
we got paid a whole boat load of money to just stand around like
dumbasses?
VALERIE
(shrugs her shoulders)
Beats me. But knowing them...
(She turns her head to the media members.)
they're going to be doing their damndest to tell the public
that it's the greatest innovation since sliced bread. As for the
money...do you want LWI to do assignments out of the goodness of
our hearts, or do you want our employees to get paid?
DEREK
Of course, I want our employees to get paid-do you think I'd
ask them to work gratis? And it's nice to hear this level of cynicism
coming from you. I thought I had the market cornered on being a
cranky pants.
VALERIE
I've had nearly 3 centuries to hone my cynicism-same as you.
It's just that my type is drier than yours. I'm surprised that no
one who's been on the receiving end of your rants has either sued
you or kicked your ass.
DEREK
Have you ever considered that maybe the reason is that it's
because I was RIGHT when I said it?
(Derek's eyebrows raise, and his arms go slightly akimbo as he says
this.)
I always thought truth was the best defense against slander.
VALERIE
Yeah, but telling the truth these days is not the best way to
guarantee job security-whether it's in private investigation, or
any other line of business.
DEREK
I'm just waiting for you to write a book titled "Everything
I Need To Know I Learned By Watching 'House'".
VALERIE
(flashing a knowing smile)
Weren't YOU going to write that book?
SWITCH TO:
MEDIUM SHOT-STAGE
(They share a laugh, just as Edward Baker, a representative of the
company that owns the tower, is walking towards the podium. Baker
is in his early 60s, standing 6'2", and is impeccably dressed.)
EDWARD
Ladies and gentlemen of the press....employees...welcome.
I'm Edward Baker, and I'd like to thank you all for coming for
something that I believe will usher in a new level of security
for not just high rise buildings like this one, but for all types
of buildings. It truly is the dawn of a new era.
(Applause is heard from the employees.)
SWITCH TO:
DEREK & VALERIE
(Derek and Valerie continue to watch. Derek looks on in studious
bemusement, while Valerie watches with a much more jaundiced eye
and a little bit of disgust.)
VALERIE
Good to see the BS is already starting to pile up.
FADE TO BLACK
END TEASER
OPENING CREDITS
NARRATOR
Even though thousands of slayers now walk the earth, they are
not the only ones working to keep the planet safe from the forces
that would befall it. These are the stories of two such people.
Together with their allies, and working outside of the public eye,
they fight to keep humanity safe. They are known as the Lone
Wolves.
starring
Kevin McKidd as Derek McCall
Alicia Minshew as Valerie McCall
Robin Christopher as Kate Rosenberg
Forest Whitaker as Cmdr. Chris Donovan
with
Jennifer Finnigan as Stephanie Wilson
Patrick Stewart as the voice of TIM
guest stars
Michael Swan as Edward Baker
Joshua Gomez as Sidney Price
Bradford Anderson as Ned
Michael Gross as Dr. Hennessey
Joseph Mascolo as Mr. Smith
creator/executive producer
Carl Gorney
written & directed by
Carl Gorney
theme music
Crowd Chant by Joe Satriani
END OPENING CREDITS
Go to Act One