Masks

PROLOGUE
(Opening shot: a pure white screen. After a moment, an image appears at its center and resolves into a red microchip rotating slowly in the light. Pull back a bit and pan to one side to show darkness beyond this spot. A large figure stands up into view; it is clad in black armor, with additional steel plating to reinforce key areas, and wears a mask that hides the entire face. This is black, with a red-orange circle in the center whose edges touch both eyes. The figure reaches toward the chip, revealing a steel-gloved hand, and cocks one eyebrow in surprise. Cut to the other side of the suspension field. Robin is here, hanging upside down.)

Robin: Tell Slade if he wants this, he can come get it himself!

(He drops from his perch and delivers a kick that sends the thief tumbling across the darkened area. All the lights now come on; cut to a close-up of Robin and dissolve to a longer shot, pulling back to put the rest of the Titans in frame as well. The place is a chamber stuffed with supercomputers. A laser beam lances down from above, forcing Robin to jump out of its way; cut to the ceiling, where a section is being cut away from above. The piece falls in a cloud of dust, and several more intruders leap in.)

(Robin does a few backflips to stay ahead of the next laser blast and soon has one of the new arrivals coming right for him. He blocks or dodges several blows, then tries a counter-kick that is deflected. The masked figure whips out a blaster, something like a set of brass knuckles with a muzzle on the front edge, and opens fire. A few acrobatic tricks carry Robin out of danger; he retaliates with a jumping roundhouse kick that sends the attacker crashing into the far wall.)

(Starfire, just above, backs quickly across the screen to evade the shots from a squad member who jumps up after her. She gathers herself and puts a starbolt right where it belongs; her attacker is sent skidding across the floor. The next one jumps even higher, up to the level of the large ceiling-mounted spotlights that illuminate the place, and blasts at her. The lens of one light is struck and begins to fall loose; she is directly underneath and about to be crushed, but Robin leaps across and plows her away just in time. The lens crashes to the ground.)

(The dust thrown up from the impact clears to give a close-up of Robin, who has set Starfire down. She is a bit dazed, but soon snaps to with a gasp.)

Robin: Huh?

(Across the room, several squad members level their weapons-but before they can shoot, a computer cabinet slides across and bulldozes them. Loud crash from o.c. after it has passed; pan quickly in the opposite direction to Cyborg, who is wiping his hands-he pushed it at them.)

Cyborg: Amazing what you can do with computers these days.

(He runs toward the heart of the battle as Raven floats backward into view, staying just ahead of a laser beam. Another one is fired from midair; she creates a shield around herself, and both it and the beam disintegrate when they make contact. The enemy runs toward her and stars throwing punches, which she stops by forming small barriers in front of herself as she slowly backs up. A low kick cuts her legs out from under her; the blaster is aimed at point-blank range, but before it can be fired, Beast Boy-as a bighorn sheep-rams its wielder into the wall. Cut to Raven, standing and staring in genuine surprise, then to Beast Boy in human form. The knocked-out commando lies crumpled in a heap.)

Beast Boy: (taunting) You owe me big time, you owe me big-

(On the end of this, another one jumps down into view behind him, runs up, and gets ready to let him have it. As he finally turns to look, too late to save himself, two computers slide into view from opposite directions under Raven's control and crush the would-be shooter between them. Beast Boy yells in fright and throws up his arms to protect himself; the hardware falls away and so does the smashed figure. Raven winds down her powers and gives Beast Boy a hard stare, and a big drop of sweat appears on his temple.)

Beast Boy: (blushing, chuckling nervously) Call it even?

(Cyborg, meanwhile, has reached the center of the room. Breaking out his sonic cannon, he starts to blaze away and soon has help in the form of Starfire's fusillade. One of the thieves leaps impossibly high to avoid the blasts, then pushes off from the wall and sails straight toward the chip. A flying grab snares the bounty, and those steel-booted feet are racing for the door. Robin gives chase and hurls his birdarang; it hits the thief's hand and knocks the chip away. Cut to Raven and Beast Boy, whose eyes track its trajectory.)

Beast Boy: Mine!

(He runs o.c. Cut to the flying bit of hardware; a long, thin tongue lashes into view and snags it, and he-now an anteater-leaps across the screen and skids to a stop at the wall. An attacker's boot comes down on that tongue, which lets go of the chip so it can be seized. This one vaults across the room to the door, where the other survivors-four in all-have gathered, and throws down a smoke bomb. The resulting gray clouds cover the screen and clear to reveal that the five have escaped under cover of that diversion. Pull back to put Beast Boy in frame; he is back in human form and thoroughly dazed by what has just happened. Sight gag: a tear of pain, in the shape of a clock pendulum, hangs from his eye and swings back and forth.)

Beast Boy: (as if he had bitten his tongue) That tasted so nasty. Robin: (running into view toward door) Titans! Go!

(Raven starts after him. Snap to black.)

Act One
(Opening shot: a chamber similar to the one in which the theft occurred, seen from overhead. The lights are dim but not out, and a large circular hatch, covered with a steel grid, is in the center of the floor. The Titans run in.)

Robin: Split up!

(He heads for the hatch as the others fan out toward four other doors. Cut to just below the grid; water is heard running, and he stares down through the bars. Inside a sewer tunnel, he climbs down from an overhead ladder-within the pipe that leads here from the hatch-and drops into the water. One of the thieves is making a break for it; he gives chase, runs briefly up the pipe wall to avoid a laser shot, and throws his birdarang. A huge jump carries the escapee out of its path, and a second shot reduces it to junk. Skid around a corner and o.c. down a side channel; a grenade is tossed back into view and promptly detonates.)

(When the smoke clears, we see that the path has been almost entirely blocked by collapsed rock and debris. As Robin stops and stares through a small opening in the cave-in, the thief moves farther ahead toward a dead end, stops, and raises that blaster. Cut to outside, near a mountainside at sunset. The beam emerges from within and traces out a door-shaped outline, and the piece falls away-the sewers run through the mountain. At the edge of the opening stands the thief, alone for only a brief moment until Starfire rises to that level.)

Starfire: I am asking you nicely to stop running and-

(Back to the fugitive on the end of this; up comes the weapon, and down goes Starfire in free fall, having taken the full hit. Her assailant jumps out after her and activates jet thrusters hidden in the boot soles to start flying away. Now Robin, having dug through the broken rock, reaches the opening just as the armored figure zooms up past him. He leaps out into space, a grappling hook in each hand, and fires one down and the second up.)

(The first line wraps around Starfire as she drops toward the rocky waterway below, while the second loops onto the armored chest. The commando stops ascending and goes into a sharp dive; Robin is suddenly yanked along toward the water with a gasp and a long scream. Off they go, skimming the surface-the flyer towing Robin towing Starfire-and head toward land. The wake of their passage throws up a wall of water, which hides everyone from view briefly.)

(Close-up of Starfire, half-dazed on the shore. She comes to and finds a wriggling fish stuck in her mouth, then spits it out and burps weakly.)

Robin: (from o.c.) Now talk!

(Cut to behind her and zoom in on him; he has the masked character by the collar.)

Robin: Who's Slade? Why does he want this chip?

(Close-up of his hand on the black/red-orange face.)

Robin: (from o.c.) And why are you working...for...him?

(On the end of this, he pulls the mask away. The reason for his trailing off is that the entire front half of the head comes off in his hand. Behind it is a small monitor-this commando is actually a robot, as were all the others involved in the heist. The blank display comes to life, resolving into a not-fully-tuned image of Slade in his lair. He appears only as a silhouette.)

Slade: Excellent work, Robin. Robin: Slade! (The image flickers and refines itself.) Slade: Really, I think your skills are improving. Robin: No more games! What do you want? Slade: But you do lack patience. If you're really so curious about my intentions, perhaps we should meet-face to face. Robin: Tell me where you're hiding and I'll be there in a heartbeat! (The image detunes again.) Slade: Patience, Robin. (Flicker.) Patience.

(A crackle of sparks, and the monitor goes dead. Smoke rises from within the skull as the system falls apart.)

Starfire: Robin?

(He releases his grip and the robotic body drops to the ground. Zoom in on the fierce scowl that has settled on his face, then dissolve to the exterior of Titans Tower. It is now nighttime.)

Beast Boy: (from inside) Okay. All work and no flicks makes me a dull Beast Boy.

(Cut to the operations center during this line; he is standing before Cyborg, Raven, and Starfire, who have settled on the couch. Raven is reading a book.)

Beast Boy: So, my fellow couch potatoes- (Close-up of him.) -what'll it be? (holding up a tape) Super Ninja Showdown Eight...

(He pushes it toward the camera, giving a clear view of the title and cover art. Two ninjas bow and start fighting; one is hit with a low kick and drops out of the picture. Beast Boy pulls this tape back and holds up a second one.)

Beast Boy: ...or Maniac Fury: Attack of the Protozoids?

(He pushes it forward; this cover shows a Godzilla-like creature breathing fire as screaming people run for their lives-not to mention out of the picture and off the box altogether. The monster leans forward off the box to blow another scorching breath before pulling back. Beast Boy withdraws the tape and grins broadly.)

Raven: (from o.c.) Gee. (Cut to her and Starfire.) They both sound so good. (She returns to her book; pull back to frame Cyborg.) Cyborg: Yeah. It's really hard to pick. (grinning) Want to watch 'em both?

(The overly critical Titan gives him a dirty look as a vein flares up on her forehead-this was not even close to what she had in mind.)

Starfire: Perhaps Robin would enjoy potato-ing the couch with us. Tell me, is he- Beast Boy: -in the exact same place he's been since his little chat session with Slade? Uh, yeah.

(Cut to a close-up of Starfire's very worried face and zoom in slightly, then dissolve to a wall covered with newspaper clippings about different villains' exploits in Jump City. Pan slowly across the display.)

Slade: (Robin's memory) Robin. Is that the best you can do?

(Recall that he spoke those words during "Forces of Nature." The camera passes a support column and now gives a view of Robin standing at a desk under a solitary overhead light. This is his room, which was only glimpsed in "Switched." More clippings litter the floor.)

Slade: (Robin's memory) Excellent work, Robin. I think your skills are improving.

(A couple of exposed pipes pass the camera; now we see a close-up of Robin from behind. During the following line, it circles around slowly to point directly at him, deep in thought.)

Slade: (Robin's memory) If you're really so curious about my intentions, perhaps we should meet-face to face.

(Cut to his perspective, panning across the desk. It is covered with a jumble of items: notes, maps, blueprints, wires, electrical instruments, parts of the commando robot's equipment, the front half of its head. Included among the lot is a communicator marked with a stylized S, very similar to the character on Slade's staff in "Forces of Nature"-his particular insignia.)

Robin: (memory) Who are you?

(The door is heard opening; cut to in front of him again. Light streams into the dim room from behind him.)

Starfire: (from "o.c.") Robin?

(Pan slightly to show her at the open door.)

Starfire: I am wondering if you might wish to- Robin: No. (Close-up of her; he continues o.c.) Thanks. (Cut to behind her, looking in at him.) But I need to figure out why Slade wanted that chip. (Back to her.) Starfire: (smiling) Agreed. (flushing a bit) And perhaps if you were to take a break, the answer would be easier to- Robin: (from o.c.) I can't.

(Outside the room again; he approaches her.)

Robin: You almost got hurt. Next time it could be worse. He's planning something. I have to find out what. Starfire: But, Robin, I am sure that-

(He ends the conversation by closing the door in her face. Pull back down the hall; she hangs her head and sighs quietly. Dissolve to the trashed chamber in which the opening battle took place and pan across. In the dim light, two prison guards are now stationed by the recovered microchip, which has been placed back in the suspension field. All is quiet for some seconds, but the calm breaks when an alarm goes off and red warning lights flash. Both guards run toward the door; cut to its other side, in the chamber where the Titans began their search for the thieves. The door is closed, but slides open to admit them. They point their weapons back and forth.)

Guard 1: I don't like this.

(Overhead view of the empty chamber, then cut to behind the guards. The door slides shut without warning.)

Guard 2: (as it closes) Hey!

(The alarm falls silent, but the lights continue to flash-the alarm was in that other room, and the door has muffled it. Dissolve to a longer shot of the portal and pull back slowly to the chip in its protective field. A figure materializes to face it. Skintight black outfit with a large red X emblazoned over the heart; the low end of the upward stroke is extended to cross the chest. Long black cape. Gray belt and gloves, the latter with X's on the backs of the hands. A black mask whose face resembles a white skull, with another red X on the forehead; its upstroke is extended, like the one on the chest, to cross the right eye. This is Red X.)

(The newcomer plucks the chip from the field. There is an explosion from o.c.; cut to the door, which the guards have just blasted off its hinges. They run in.)

Guard 2: He's got the chip! (They open fire; Red X leaps straight up and disappears.) Guard 1: Where'd he go?

(Dissolve to the full moon in the night sky and tilt down to a rooftop in Jump City. A small ringing is heard, similar to a cell phone, and Cyborg extends his forearm into view. On it, a panel appears showing Robin's face-what we heard was the built-in communicator.)

Robin: I'm working a Slade lead on the far side of town. Sure you guys can handle this without me? (Pull back; the other four Titans are there.) Cyborg: No problem.

(Robin nods and the connection is broken. At the far edge of the roof, a skylight opens and Red X climbs out. Close-up, then cut back to the foursome on the next line; Cyborg breaks out his cannon.)

Cyborg: You working for Slade, tough guy? Red X: Red X works alone.

(The voice is male, but heavily distorted. He holds out one palm, revealing that same mark on it, and fires this toward the Titans. Cyborg brings the cannon into play as the other three scatter; the two shots annihilate each other in midair. More cannon blasts send Red X jumping all over the roof. Launching himself high into the air, he fires X's from both palms and forces the big guy to run for cover. Beast Boy takes his place in the battle and becomes a charging lion. The villain fires off another scarlet cross that becomes liquid as it flies; connecting with the green feline's face like a glob of mud, it carries him back down to the roof. When he lands, he is unable to pull free of the gluey mess. Lion, human, gorilla, hawk, elephant-none of those forms is strong enough to allow him to break loose.)

(Starfire and Raven fly in; the former reels off starbolts while the latter prepares a spell. Red X nimbly avoids both the shots and the large black hand that emerges at his feet and tries to grab him. Two big X's are hurled at the girls; cut to Starfire. One of them connects and ties her up like a giant rubber band, and she drops out of frame. Pan to Raven.)

Raven: Azarath Met-

(She is cut off when the other X pastes itself across her mouth. Try as she might, she cannot tear it away and topples over. Red X is in the clear, but a yell from the o.c. Cyborg marks his approach. He drops into view and tries to seize the black-clad enemy, who sidesteps easily.)

Cyborg: Huh?

(He tries another punch, with no luck, and Red X thumps him in the back.)

Cyborg: What?

(Close-up; another of the namesake weapons has been slapped on there. The panels open up and those gray-gloved hands reach in to tinker with the circuits. Cyborg's arms flail wildly.)

Cyborg: Hey! Yo, who told you how to shut me down?

(On the end of this line, his voice slows down and he slumps over on his feet. A little push sends him crashing down. With all four Titans out of action, Red X bugs out.)

Cyborg: Yeah, you better run!

(He does exactly that, passing Raven and Starfire before jumping off the roof and disappearing. Cut to Beast Boy, back in human form and still caught in the red mire.)

Beast Boy: So, do you guys see what I don't see? Cyborg: Who was that guy?

(Dissolve to a close-up of several pipes and pan from them to Slade's lair. Red X's image is on one of the giant monitors; he holds up the microchip in full view of the mastermind, who stands on the platform.)

Red X: Rumor has it, you're interested in this. (Cut to Slade, silhouetted, and zoom in slowly.) Slade: I'm interested in many things, Mr. ... Red X: X. Red X. (Extreme close-up of Slade's eye.) Slade: Hmmm. Catchy. So, are you proposing a sale or a gift? Red X: A partnership. I give you the chip, you cut me in on your plans. (The right side of Slade's head, panning across.) Slade: Partnership. My, my, we are ambitious. But an alliance cannot be forged from one small chip.

(Pull back across the platform a bit and pan across to put him and Red X's image in frame.)

Slade: If you're going to win my trust, I'll require more. (Close-up of the white skull face.) Red X: Just tell me what you want.

(Fade to black.)