Pandora's Box

"Heroes Wanted, Apply Within"

by

Tarl N. Telford

"Heroes Wanted, Apply Within"

FADE IN:

Teaser

INT HIGH SCHOOL - CLASSROOM - ESTABLISHING

DESTINY JEWEL HINDEN (17 yrs), athletic, strong, attractive, and very intelligent, snaps her bubble gum, drawing an angry glare from the teacher, MRS. LeDEAN CHATWORTH (40's).

MRS. CHATWORTH

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Now who said that?

Destiny's boyfriend, TOBIAS MAXWELL VANDECUTT (18 yrs), also a high school senior, shoots his hand up in the air.

TOBIAS VANDECUTT

Peter Parker, in Spectacular Spider Man number 43.

The class laughs at his answer.

DESTINY HINDEN

It was Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

MRS. CHATWORTH

Correct. Why did he say this?

DESTINY HINDEN

'Cause he was scared of the dark.

TOBIAS VANDECUTT

And cats. Dark cats. Dark cats in the dark. With beady glowing eyes.

MRS. CHATWORTH

That's enough, you two.

The bell RINGS.

MRS. CHATWORTH

Don't forget to read the next chapter. Destiny, Tobias, I need to talk to you.

The class files out. Destiny and Tobias stand dutifully at Mrs. Chatworth's desk.

MRS. CHATWORTH

You two are the brightest students in the class, and yet you persist in playing these foolish games. Why?

DESTINY HINDEN

No fun being good.

TOBIAS VANDECUTT

With great power comes great responsibility.

MRS. CHATWORTH

So use that responsibility. Everyone else in class looks to you. When you joke around, they don't learn anything.

DESTINY HINDEN

We'll be good.

TOBIAS VANDECUTT

Promise. Swear. Cross her heart.

DESTINY HINDEN

And stick a needle in his eye.

Unconvinced, Mrs. Chatworth dismisses them.

They smile mischievously as they walk out.

CUT TO:

EXT HOLLOWELL PARK - AFTERNOON

ELIZABETH ANN HINDEN (22 yrs), dark haired and pretty, sketches in her pad of paper. Every few seconds she looks up at the Clock Tower nearby. Swift pencil strokes bring the tower to life in her sketch pad.

A handsome, well dressed man, BURKE T. MEECHAM (25 yrs), approaches. He holds out a fresh violet to Elizabeth.

BURKE T. MEECHAM

A rose by any other name still would not be a violet.

Elizabeth looks up at him and smiles. The sun's glare shines from behind his head, casting his face in shadow. She squints as she looks up at him.

ELIZABETH HINDEN

It's beautiful. Thank you, Burke.

Elizabeth stands and embraces him.

ELIZABETH HINDEN

I missed you.

BURKE T. MEECHAM

And England missed you.

ELIZABETH HINDEN

I had classes.

BURKE T. MEECHAM

Come with me. We'll fly away to Paris. I know this great coffee shop.

Elizabeth closes her sketch pad.

ELIZABETH HINDEN

Sorry. I've got an interview on Friday.

BURKE T. MEECHAM

Any plans tonight?

ELIZABETH HINDEN

Not after Six.

BURKE T. MEECHAM

Dinner? Gepetto's? You, me, the candlelight, fresh baked bread, and plenty of tossed salad.

ELIZABETH HINDEN

Sounds wonderful.

BURKE T. MEECHAM

Leave your pager home. You'll be out of touch for the evening.

Burke takes her hand and presses his lips to it gently.

BURKE T. MEECHAM

Until tonight.

Elizabeth smiles as she watches Burke walk away.

CUT TO:

INT HINDEN HOME - FRONT ROOM - AFTERNOON

Destiny throws open the door and tosses her backpack on the floor. Tobias does the same.

DESTINY HINDEN

Hey, anyone home?

TOBIAS VANDECUTT

It's us.

Elizabeth appears at the top of the stairs.

ELIZABETH HINDEN

Too bad.

DESTINY HINDEN

Hoping for someone else?

ELIZABETH HINDEN

No. Just someone a little more, I don't know, quiet.

DESTINY HINDEN

Mom call?

ELIZABETH HINDEN

No. But there's a package in the dining room. Glinda signed for it.

Elizabeth walks downstairs and follows Destiny and Tobias into the dining room.

The box is marked "Fragile".

TOBIAS VANDECUTT

Fra - gee - lay. Must be Italian.

Destiny hits him playfully.

ELIZABETH HINDEN

No. It says here it's from Greece. Close, though.

DESTINY HINDEN

Who do we know in Greece?

ELIZABETH HINDEN

Could be from Dirk. He's always somewhere over there.

DESTINY HINDEN

Yeah, well Mom would've sent a postcard.

Tobias grabs a cookie from the cookie jar.

TOBIAS VANDECUTT

Open it.

Destiny rips the package open. Inside is an ornate wooden box. Authentic bas-reliefs adorn the outer walls.

Elizabeth slowly grins, the smile covering her whole face.

ELIZABETH HINDEN

I bet they sent this as a surprise. Open it.

Destiny cocks her head quizzically. She puts her ear close to the box.

DESTINY HINDEN

You hear that?

TOBIAS VANDECUTT

Could be a bomb.

DESTINY HINDEN

No. It's like a knocking.

TOBIAS VANDECUTT

Maybe it's a leprechaun.

ELIZABETH HINDEN

A Greek leprechaun?

TOBIAS VANDECUTT

Yeah. They wear green togas.

Destiny opens the lid. Bright light floods out into the room. A beautiful woman, PANDORA, in a splendid white gown leans over, as if unlocking something.

PANDORA

Help me, Oh ye One who's Chosen. You're my only hope.

Pandora straightens when she sees them. She looks down at them from atop the table, still standing in the box.

PANDORA

You're the Chosen Ones?

(rolling her eyes and sighing)

Just put me back in the box.

End Teaser