The Firstborn
The Firstborn
EXT. SKYLINE - MANHATTAN - DAY - ESTABLISHING
EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY
The Upper 80’s. West Side.
INT. UPSCALE APARTMENT - DAY
OLIVIA VAYLOS, 30s, attractive features blurred by TEARS. On her KNEES, screaming UPWARD.
OLIVIA
You can’t take my baby!
THEO KILLIAN, 30s, a good-looking guy underneath the BRUISES. Slumped against the WALL, beat-up.
OLIVIA (CONT’D)
Theo! Stop her!
A beat. Olivia LUNGES forward.
OLIVIA (CONT’D)
Give me back my baby!
REYNA, a humanoid female not of this Earth, holds a baby boy. SPENCER VAYLOS-KILLIAN is cradled in the crook of her arm. BEHIND HER are two “otherworldly” TWINS – her muscle. The door behind them is SPLINTERED OPEN.
A BOLT of Blue Light rushes from Reyna’s FINGERTIPS, striking Olivia.
REYNA
This child... is mine.
OFF Reyna’s gaze, defiant --
INT. OFFICE - NY - DAY
SUPER: “Years Earlier”
MEN and WOMEN in work attire busily move about. Through a large WINDOW, a view of the CITYSCAPE from 50 floors up.
Theo, in his 20s, has longer hair here, a young turk.
Under a sign - ACTUALIZATION ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN - Theo pushes a metal cart. Filled with envelopes and packages. He’s the Errand Boy.
Theo eyes a clock: 11:45. Runs his cart into GERALD BUCKNER, same age as Theo, but in a nice suit. His boss?
GERALD
Whoa, Theo. What’s the rush?
THEO
Sorry, Gerald.
GERALD
(stern)
That’s Mister Buckner.
THEO
Yeah? Fuck you.
GERALD
Subordinate scum.
THEO
Corporate lackey.
A standoff. Then Theo SMILES.
GERALD
You give “the man” what he wants...
THEO
You think too small, pal. Your fatal flaw. Me, I’ve got a meeting in half an hour with somebody who appreciates my ideas.
GERALD
But if you leave... who’ll deliver my mail?
Theo strolls away. Half-turns and FLIPS Gerald off. A SMILE on his friend’s lips.
INT. MORGAN’S NEW YORK HOTEL - DAY
The Lobby. An architectural feast for the eyes.
Reyna, doesn’t look a day younger than from the first scene, sits across from Theo. DRINKS in hand. His Design Portfolio OPEN between them.
REYNA
You have a real gift, and strike me as a self-starter.
THEO
Motivation is not a problem with me.
Reyna’s fingers reach out. Rest on his hand.
REYNA
Of course it’s not. That’s why I intend to make you successful beyond your wildest imaginings.
She drops a stapled sheaf of paper onto his Portfolio.
REYNA (CONT’D)
Sign this contract and your new life will begin.
THEO
(fingers the contract)
I should really have a lawyer look this over before I sign it.
An intense look from Reyna. Sultry? Hypnotic?
THEO (CONT’D)
But... I trust you.
(reads from it)
“Autonomy of which projects I choose and refuse.” Awesome.
His finger stops on a section of the Contract.
THEO (CONT’D)
(chuckles)
Is this for real?
Reyna is now beside Theo. Almost on top of him. Like a lover.
REYNA
It is the one item I take very seriously. You must agree to that stipulation, or we can go no further.
(seductive menace)
And you, my sweet, will go no further.
CLOSE UP. Theo’s hand.
It signs his name to the contract. Above his name, the words “First Born” are clearly SEEN.
INT. OFFICE - DAY
A small space. Two Offices, with a small Bullpen. Boxes in disarray. Computers on desks. Blueprints.
A YOUNG INTERN outside the bigger office. On the phone.
Open magazines highlight THEO KILLIAN’s name and photos of BUILDINGS that he designed.
Theo surveys his new office. Gerald is beside him.
GERALD
Your own goddamn shingle. I am mightily impressed.
The two men “walk the room.”
THEO
Freelance, as I’ve been told by a certain old college chum, is for suckers. So I made a move.
GERALD
Your benefactor really came through.
THEO
She absolutely did. Delivered on every single promise. Introduced me to people with deep pockets and limited vision. Offered up the land and gave me free rein with the creativity.
GERALD
Pretty sweet deal.
THEO
This was the last phase of our agreement. My own place. She’s already been paid back her initial investment. And more on top of it.
GERALD
So she’s a satisfied woman.
THEO
Very.
GERALD
What else could you even ask for?
THEO
You.
Theo and Gerald stand in front of the Empty Office.
THEO (CONT’D)
Join me. Got an office right here with your name on it.
Gerald fingers the name plate on the door: GERALD BUCKNER.
GERALD
Holy shit. It literally has my name on it.
THEO
I have projects lined up for the next twenty years if I want them. There is more work than I would ever be able to handle on my own. I need someone with as much ambition and talent as I have.
GERALD
And that’s me?
(Theo nods)
I say I’m touched? Flattered?
THEO
You say you’ll join me.
GERALD
I say I’ll think about it. I’ve got Sigrid, and the baby on her way. Switching jobs right now... I don’t want to screw any of that up. I know this thing here with you, it’d be amazing, but...
THEO
But you’ll think about it. Seriously think about it?
GERALD
I will. And you need to seriously think about getting your own family-thing going. It’s pretty fan-fucking-tastic. I mean it.
THEO
I know you do. Me, I don’t have time for babies and diapers and being home at a reasonable hour. Not in the plan.
GERALD
At least find yourself some companionship. When’s the last time you even had a date?
INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
A party in progress. Well-dressed, successful-looking MEN and WOMMEN mingle. A live BAND, tables of FOOD and at least three BARS.
A banner: CELEBRATE YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT!
Theo stands alone, a flute of Champagne in his hand. Across the room, a younger Olivia sits alone with her own glass.
Olivia catches his eye. Raises her glass (and eyebrow) to him.
He saunters over, confident.
THEO
So... are you feeling it?
OLIVIA
What’s that?
THEO
(points to the banner)
The “Spirit,” of course.
OLIVIA
(lips on her glass)
Oh, I’m definitely feeling something.
THEO
Want to get out of here?
END