sentinels: the summary

Sentinels is a designed-for-cable teleplay I'm toying with for Script Frenzy 2010.

The Basics: In an alternate reality where mutant superhumans exist, all of the political unrest has finally settled down. In the dawn of the new age of coexistence between man and super-man, the thirst for understanding of the mutant phenomenon is born. Dr. Skyler Stormhaven, a genetic researcher, has long been the world's authority on the science behind mutation. But after his research compound is destroyed and his own mutant powers manifest, he disappears. Self-exiled for five years, Dr. Stormhaven is back -- now in the United States, Dr. Stormhaven opens a series of research clinics that offer protection and training in exchange for participation in genetic research. With the Mutant Equal Rights Act -- or MERA -- hanging controversy over his shoulder, Dr. Stormhaven sets out to unlock the secrets of human evolution, and maintain the peace between mutants and humans in any way he can.

Cast of Characters

Dr. Skyler Stormhaven: A genetic researcher whose powers manifested when his research compound was destroyed. He is an umbrakinetic (a shadow manipulator) with a weakness to light that drove him to blind himself. His powers are fueled by emotion, so he works extremely hard to keep himself in check. He studied martial arts in his time of self-exile and uses it as a means of controlling his abilities.

Alexis Fitzgerald: A college student whose powers manifested in a combination of school stress and annoying peers. She is a pyrokinetic (fire manipulator) whose powers are driven by sound. She often wears earplugs. She becomes an assistant to Dr. Stormhaven and, since she's capable of feeling emotion without destroying her surroundings, often fills in the blanks for him. She is as fiery as her abilities, but is close friends with Dr. Stormhaven and, later, Samuel.

"Samuel" (real name unknown): A mysterious middle-aged man with a largely unknown history. He is the first known necromancer, and was discovered walking down Samuel Street, barefoot in the middle of a winter night. He was transported to a psychiatric hospital where his powers manifested in the form of a ghostly green spectre following him around silently. Samuel is not known to speak or make any kind of social interaction, although with time, he eventually starts putting his toe out of his shell and forms a strong bond with Alexis and Dr. Stormhaven. He becomes a third part of their team, with a fierce protectiveness and loyalty that can't be broken.

My Take: I like this so much that I'm nervous as hell about writing it. xD I'm afraid it won't be as good on paper as it is in my head. But, I'm just going to have to suck it up and deal, aye? I've got a first season laid out (14 episodes, standard cable season) and I've got some interesting story arcs I want to pursue. Screnzy is only 100 pages, though -- the rule of thumb is that each page is roughly a minute of screentime, and if you have an hour-long show, minus commercials is really somewhere between 45 and 50 minutes, which is a 45-50 page script, then two or three of those will fill the Screnzy requirement. Hopefully I'll have the motivation to continue beyond just the first few episodes, though. Wish me luck!