Workshop Wednesday

The Follower

We're back at the pageant now as Follower and the crew are on the case. The mystery deepens and there are hints of what is happening. This section is all investigation and the crew put on their Batman cowls and become the greatest detectives.

Remember to catch up on the previous adventures of The Follower in the Works of Mike FinkelsteinWhat's that, you want to read various creative works from Asteroid G Lead Editor Mike Finkelstein? Well, if that's what you want... archive before reading this section.

The Follower: Episode 5, Part 2

"Beauty and the All-Seeing Eye" Continued

FADE IN.

INT: LIMELIGHT THEATER, BACKSTAGE, NIGHT.

We fade in on an illustrated scene of hallways backstage at the theater. The team of heroes are poised to move authoritatively down the hall. The illustration fades to the normal animation style, and the heroes start moving.

OBVIOUS:

So what happened?

TEMP:

Well, some of the ladies were practicing their choreography in the practice studio when one of them fell. As she tells it, one second she was standing and then the next she was down on the ground with a broken ankle. She's not sure what happened.

APATHY:

She could have just gotten her feet tangled and gone down hard. Totally possible.

TEMP:

Maybe, but she was apparently the front-runner for the competition tonight. Sure-footed as they come. Dancing was going to be her special talent. I don't see how she could just fall like this.

FOLLOWER:

We should talk to the ladies and get their versions of the events. Can you get us in to talk with all the women that were in the room?

TEMP:

Sure.

INT: LIMELIGHT THEATER, DRESSING ROOM, NIGHT.

We're treated to a montage of FOLLOWER and OBVIOUS interviewing each of the women in a point-counter point style.

FOLLOWER:

So you were in the room with miss...

SARA:

Katie? Yeah.

OBVIOUS:

And what happened?

CLARA:

Well, we all have these wide turns we make, simple move, and then suddenly Katie was down.

FOLLOWER:

No reason you can tell?

ERIN:

For her? No way. We weren't doing any spins or anything at the time.

OBVIOUS:

Were there any obstacles? Water on the ground, or maybe a stray set of weights?

PAULA:

What? No.

FOLLOWER:

Do you think maybe one of the other women did something to her?

SARA:

You mean one of us? Never. Katie was the best.

CLARA:

She's so nice.

ERIN:

And sweet.

PAULA:

She's the best.

CLARA:

The absolute best.

PAULA:

I looked forward to crushing her.

CLARA:

Absolutely would have destroyed her.

SARA:

She was going down. Hard.

OBVIOUS:

Yes, she did.

SARA:

Not like that! I would never.

CLARA:

Never.

PAULA:

I could have beaten her fair and square.

ERIN:

Just sad I didn't think of it first.

INT: LIMELIGHT THEATER, BACKSTAGE, NIGHT.

We see the heroes standing outside the dressing room, comparing notes.

FOLLOWER:

Those ladies are vicious.

TEMP:

Well, there's a lot of money on the line.

APATHY:

How much?

TEMP:

Twenty thousand dollars.

APATHY:

(after a beat) Are only women allowed to enter?

TEMP:

It's a scholarship.

APATHY:

I withdraw the question.

OBVIOUS:

But you're saying there's solid incentive to rig the event.

TEMP:

Oh, absolutely. For the right person taking out Katie would seem like a no-brainer. Eliminate the competition and have an easier ride to the top.

FOLLOWER:

Unfortunately I don't think any of those girls did it.

OBVIOUS:

I concur. While they're vicious, none of them seem like the kind of person to maim a competitor for a scholarship.

FOLLOWER:

What we really need is a first-hand account of the event.

OBVIOUS:

From Katie.

FOLLOWER:

Exactly.

TEMP:

She's already been rushed off to the hospital.

FOLLOWER:

APATHY, get over to there and talk to her.

APATHY:

Why me?

FOLLOWER:

Well, I'm happy to drive over there while you and OBVIOUS dig around for clues, spending hours cataloging evidence and theorizing about-

APATHY:

Right, which hospital?

TEMP:

Mercy General.

APATHY:

On it.

APATHY rushes off to avoid doing real work.

FOLLOWER:

In the meantime, we need a way to monitor the activities up close.

TEMP:

You're cleared to be backstage. Just don't go into the dressing rooms.

FOLLOWER:

I don't think that's good enough. We can't be everywhere, and we clearly aren't allowed to be with the women at all times.

OBVIOUS:

You want an agent on the inside. Someone that can be on stage, in the competition.

FOLLOWER:

Exactly.

TEMP:

*sigh* Men aren't allowed in the pageant.

FOLLOWER:

I wasn't thinking of OBVIOUS or myself.

TEMP looks at the two of them.

TEMP:

No.

FOLLOWER:

It's the only way.

TEMP:

I'm not doing this. There's no way. I'm not registered or anything.

OBVIOUS:

Easy enough. Point me to the show organizers.

TEMP:

I... back offices.

She says, pointing down the hall.

FOLLOWER:

Now, we'll just need to find you a dress...

EXT: MERCY GENERAL, NIGHT.

We see the Follower Van pull up and then APATHY jump out of the vehicle.

INT: MERCY GENERAL, KATIE'S ROOM, NIGHT.

SFX: Door knock

We see KATIE in the room, her leg up in a temp cast, while her MANAGER looms over. APATHY knocks on the door frame before entering the room.

APATHY:

Hello, I'm with-

KATIE:

Oh, wow. You're that superhero.

APATHY:

I... yes. I'm here to talk to you about what happened at the theater.

MANAGER:

She fell.

KATIE:

I didn't. I don't know what happened but I didn't just fall.

APATHY:

Can you describe what happened?

INT: LIMELIGHT THEATER, PRACTICE STUDIO, EARLIER.

We see, as KATIE describes the routine, the women follow the motions.

KATIE (V.O.):

Well, we were going through the motions for the opening dance number. This is the easiest of the routines, simple steps with a few crossing lines back and forth. Just basically walk around in circles and do a few sweeping motions with your arms. I could do this in my sleep.

APATHY (V.O.):

Okay.

KATIE (V.O.):

So we were just past the first crossing lines section when... I don't know. I was walking, going in for a wide turn, and then all of a sudden I was just, down.

APATHY (V.O.):

All of a sudden?

KATIE (V.O.):

Yeah, I don't know. One second I was up and then the next I was clutching my leg due to the pain.

APATHY (V.O.):

And you don't remember what happened in the middle?

KATIE (V.O.):

...The middle?

INT: MERCY GENERAL, KATIE'S ROOM, NIGHT.

APATHY:

Yeah, the action that caused you to fall. Did you slip? Did someone kick you?

KATIE gets a dazed look on her face then shakes her head.

KATIE:

No. Nothing.

APATHY:

...That's really odd.

INT: LIMELIGHT THEATER, BACKSTAGE, NIGHT.

FOLLOWER is standing by the backstage door, waiting.

FOLLOWER:

TEMP? How does it look?

TEMP (OFF SCREEN):

I'm not doing this!

FOLLOWER:

That bad, huh?

At this moment, ALL-SEEING EYE walks past. TEMP keeps talking but FOLLOWER isn't listening.

TEMP (OFF SCREEN):

It's not bad, this just isn't me. I can't do this, FOLLOWER. I'm not this kind of woman. I don't go in for the girly-girl stuff and I certainly don't want to be on stage acting like I am.

FOLLOWER:

I swear I know him...

TEMP (OFF SCREEN):

What?

FOLLOWER shakes his head.

FOLLOWER:

You're going to have to get dressed on the double. The girls have agreed to show you the steps quickly, but we're running out of time.

TEMP (OFF SCREEN):

Were you even listening to me?

FOLLOWER:

You'll be great!

We watch as ALL-SEEING EYE walks over to a different dressing room and knocks on the door.

SFX: Door knock

ERIN pops her head out and, seeing EYE, gives him a big hug.

FOLLOWER:

Curious...

FADE OUT.

COMMERCIAL BREAK.

End Episode 5, Part 2:

It occurs to me that this is the first episode that features any kind of meta-powers. Before now, the villains the heroes have fought have been normal people, just guys in masks with maybe a bit of tech, but no special powers. All-Seeing Eye is the first meta featured on the show (even if we don't get to see much of him just yet).

The next section features the big show, Temp on stage, and a confrontation with All-Seeing Eye as we finish out the fifth and final episode of the run (for now, anyway). So tune back in next week: Same Follower Time, Same Follower Channel.