SUPERGIRL
Pilot Episode
"Woman of Steel"
Written by
Beau Kragovich
Beau Rewrite
April 26th, 2016
ACT 1
FADE IN:
EXT. METROPOLIS - NIGHT
We swoop through the city skyline in first person view. Metropolis is a shiny, clean, bright city. Even in the evening it's alive and bustling. The tall buildings are covered with lights from top to bottom. We see the Daily Planet, with its illuminated globe at top. The view lands on a tall building. It's a high rise luxury building with balconies lining the side.
The view now comes out to 3rd person and we see that we were looking at the world through Supergirl's eyes.
Supergirl is strong looking, she has determined eyes, and overall a bright, optimistic vibe. She looks to be in her mid-20s.
She slowly lowers herself onto a balcony.
There is a young Woman in her late 20s standing on the balcony holding a glass of wine. She is in a robe. She is smaller than Supergirl, but no less of a presence. This is Lois Lane.
EXT./INT. LOIS'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
SUPERGIRL
Nice night, Ms. Lane.
Supergirl steps down onto the balcony.
Lois is startled. She turns around, now facing Supergirl.
LOIS (V.O.)
Supergirl! Call me Lois, please. I was hoping you'd come see me. I take it you read my article?
Lois fiddles with her phone. "SG here." is written on the screen. She sends the text to a contact saved under 'The General'.
SUPERGIRL
I did. Who is Supergirl. Very to the point.
LOIS
Yup. Subtlety has never been my forte.
SUPERGIRL
I can appreciate that.
LOIS
Well, in the spirit of straightforwardness...who are you?
SUPERGIRL
I'm Kara Zor-El, of Krypton.
LOIS
Krypton? So the rumors are true. You're an alien.
Supergirl turns away and faces the night sky.
SUPERGIRL
I'm not from Earth, if that's what you mean.
LOIS
Well, isn't that what an alien usually is?
SUPERGIRL
I've been on Earth for almost 13 years now. I don't know that I'd still call this world alien to me.
LOIS
There are people from Earth who have been in this country longer than that and are still considered aliens.
SUPERGIRL
Yes. I know. I've seen firsthand.
LOIS
Why did you decide to come see me?
Supergirl turns back around to Lois. She's nervous. Her arms are crossed.
SUPERGIRL
I thought if you and I could speak I could show you I'm no threat.
LOIS
Why are you on Earth?
SUPERGIRL
Because my home, Krypton, is gone and this is where my ship landed.
LOIS
And you...come in peace?
SUPERGIRL
(Chuckles)
A few too many cheesy sci-fi movies, Lois? I mean this world no harm. I have been doing my best to protect it since I arrived, though I can't say I've been welcomed with open arms.
LOIS
Yea well, we had an Alien protecting us before and it didn't go all that well.
SUPERGIRL
Who-
Supergirl's super hearing picks up approaching soldiers. Her head turns towards Lois front door. A helicopter appears over the building and shines a bright light on Supergirl.
SUPERGIRL (CONT'D)
Oh c'mon!
DEO agents rush in. Supergirl puts her hands above her head and gets on her knees. She is cuffed. A man approaches her slowly. He is noticeably older. Grey hair in a buzz cut, military uniform, the name "LANE" on a patch on his chest. He looks physically strong, very confident and sure of himself. This is General Samuel Lane, Lois's father.
He strolls over and looks down on Supergirl.
Lois storms over to her father.
LOIS
Was all of this necessary?
Supergirl looks up at Lois.
SUPERGIRL
You knew?
Lois looks somewhat ashamed.
GEN. LANE
Oh good, it speaks english.
He turns to his men.
Pack it up, boys!
ACT 2
INT. SECRET UNDERGROUND DEO FACILITY - UNKNOWN LOCATION - NIGHT
General Lane talks to some men in suits then gets in an elevator. He enters a code and has his hand scanned. The elevator takes him down several floors. He walks down a dimly lit hallway and is met outside of a room by two soldiers. They walk into a room where Supergirl is chained up to a metal desk. There is glass on two sides of the room. The rest of the room is metal.
GEN. LANE
Sorry for the wait. Paperwork and all that.
Supergirl lifts her arms to reveal she chained to the desk and floor.
SUPERGIRL
The chains weren't needed. If I wanted to escape, I wouldn't be here now.
GEN. LANE
I'll decide what is and isn't necessary.
He turns on a camera which is directly facing Supergirl. He is slowly pacing back and forth.
GEN. LANE
State your name.
SUPERGIRL
Kara Zor-El
GEN. LANE
Oh, so it's not 'Supergirl'.
SUPERGIRL
I take it you don't think I'm so super, General Lane.
Gen. Lane leans forward, his hands on the desk.
GEN. LANE
You know who I am?
SUPERGIRL
Not really. I just overheard you and your men speaking before you came in.
GEN. LANE
How is that possible? We were all- Oh I see.
He turns to his men.
GEN. LANE (CONT'D)
Add super hearing to the list boys.
Supergirl looks confused.
SUPERGIRL
The list?
He grins.
GEN. LANE
We're keeping a list of your known abilities, for when we need to take you down.
SUPERGIRL
Don't you mean if?
GEN. LANE
If, when, all the same.
General Lane flips through some pages in a packet he's holding.
GEN. LANE (CONT'D)
According to this you came down in a ship. Where are the rest of your...people?
SUPERGIRL
I have no people. I came alone..
GEN. LANE
No family? Comrades? Planet folk?
Supergirl suddenly gets very sad and serious.
SUPERGIRL
They all died.
GEN. LANE
Sorry to have to ask, but did you kill them?
Supergirl is very obviously keeping herself in check right now.
SUPERGIRL
Their deaths were their own doing. My uncle, Jor-El, warned the head council that we were over-using Krypton's resources, but the council chose to ignore his warnings and kept on mining energy from the planet's core. Kryton imploded upon itself. I was the sole survivor.
GEN. LANE
And you're sure of that?
SUPERGIRL
Unfortunately.
GEN. LANE
How did you survive?
SUPERGIRL
My mother put me in a ship and sent me off in search of a new home. The ship was programmed by her to find a planet which most suitably matched my physiology. It chose Earth.
GEN. LANE
And you guys spoke English on your planet?
SUPERGIRL
No, we spoke Kryptonian. I've been learning many of this planet's languages since arriving.
GEN. LANE
Around 13 years ago, right? We just got first word of you a few years ago. What were you this time?
SUPERGIRL
I was living in a small village in Mexico. Eventually I had to leave because the more I helped them the worse things seemed to get for them.
GEN. LANE
Hah! So you came to Metropolis.
General Lane walks around the table. Arms crossed he looks down at Supergirl.
GEN. LANE
Kara Zor-El, Supergirl, whatever you call yourself. You seem nice enough, but I think you understand that I can't just let someone of your power and ability walk freely.
SUPERGIRL
General Lane, out of respect I will stay here as long as you reasonably need me to, but I hope you know I have no intention of being held here the rest of my life.
GEN. LANE
Is that a threat?
SUPERGIRL
No sir. Just a statement of fact. There is a lot of beauty in this world I've yet to see and a lot of people who still need my help.
GEN. LANE
Play your cards right and you might just see that world sometime in the next 20-30 years.
Supergirl stands up controlling her strength so she doesn't break the chains.
SUPERGIRL
(scowling)
BUT SIR!
He walks back to the front of the room. Turns off the camera and signals his men to handle Supergirl.
GEN. LANE
That'll be all for today. You'll need your strength for tomorrow. Good night.
He walks out of the room.
Supergirl looks conflicted. She wants to just break out of the chains and leave, but she knows that would only lead to more trouble for her. This is the first time her existence has been widely confirmed and the world is rejecting her for being from another planet.
ACT 2
INT. SECRET UNDERGROUND DEO FACILITY - UNKNOWN LOCATION
LABORATORY TESTING MONTAGE.
Over the next few weeks they test her. They try to gauge her max speed and strength. They test her hearing and her physiology. They find that the longer she is in the bunker the weaker her body gets. After a few weeks she is noticeably slower and weaker.
During that time, she makes friends with 2 DEO scientists, Max and Bree. They start to worry for her. One day during testing they notice that her vitals are much lower than they have been and that she is having trouble keeping up.
INT. SECRET UNDERGROUND DEO FACILITY - UNKNOWN LOCATION - DAY
Max and Bree enter Supergirl's room. Bree walks over and sets up a blood pressure monitor and takes out her stethoscope.
BREE
Hey Kara, how're you holding up?
Supergirl wears a pained smile. Bree applied the stethoscope to Supergirl's chest while testing Supergirl's blood pressure.
SUPERGIRL
Super.
Max walks over and makes a check mark on his clipboard.
MAX
Humor, check.
Max looks over at the door and sees General Lane standing right outside. He motions to Bree for them to go and speak to him.
MAX
General Lane, Sir, Kara is showing signs of cellular deterioration. At this rate we don't know how much longer she will hold.
GEN. LANE
Have you determined the cause of her deterioration?
Bree takes out a packet with Supergirl's medical information and hands it to General Lane.
BREE
Lack of sun, we think. Our analysis of Kara's physiology shows that her cells behave much like a plant's. They utilize the sun to convert sunlight into energy. She's been down here too long. Her vitamin D levels have tanked and her blood glucose levels are much lower than they should be.
GEN. LANE
Can we create a synthetic light source to force a chemical reaction? If we can find a way to sustain her we can create and alternative living solution for her outside of here.
MAX
We've been working on something for the last couple of weeks but we can't find the right wavelength for her cell's absorption abilities.
GEN. LANE
Keep trying and I'll see what I can do.
General Lane gives Max and Bree their leave and enters Supergirl's room.
He walks over to her desk and picks up some papers. Supergirl is laying down on her bed. She doesn't look well.
GEN. LANE
I'm assuming you heard that?
Supergirl sits up slowly and shakes her head.
SUPERGIRL
Hearing isn't what it used to be.
General Lane has a rare honest moment with himself. He's not proud of what's happening. He's come to think of Supergirl as a person and not just an alien.
GEN. LANE
Look. I don't take any pleasure in this. The truth is you're terrifyingly strong, and fast, and other things we don't even know yet. And to top it all off, you're not human.
SUPERGIRL
I'm not the only super powered being on this planet. I've seen others who can do amazing things.
GEN. LANE
The metas. Yes, some of them have extraordinary abilities and some do malicious things with those gifts, but they're from Earth. We know their physiology, we know their weaknesses. We don't know you, or your people. For all we know they are still alive and waiting to invade at any time.
SUPERGIRL
And how do I prove myself otherwise?
GEN. LANE
(Sighs)
You seem nice enough, but I can't let you know until we know you're not a threat.
SUPERGIRL
Don't know if you heard, but I'm not exactly a threat to anyone these days.
GEN. LANE
Agents Max and Bree have been giving me status updates. They're doing what they can.
Max enters the room. He looks nervous.
MAX
General Lane, it's Lois.
GEN. LANE
Tell her I'll call her back.
A hand from behind Max pushes the door in further. Lois Lane enters the room. She carries herself just as powerfully as her father does.
LOIS
Tell me yourself.
Lois's attention goes straight to Supergirl. She looks mortified.
LOIS (CONT'D)
Oh God. Dad, General Lane, she looks terrible.
SUPERGIRL
Regular hearing still works guys.
GEN. LANE
She's not your concern. What are you doing here? And how did you get in? This is a secured government facility!
She flashes her badge.
LOIS
There's been another attack. This time he took out an entire city block. People are dead.
General Lane puts his hand on his head as if he has a headache.
LOIS (CONT'D)
This is getting way out of hand. What's the DEO going to do about it?
GEN. LANE
You already know my stance on speaking to the press.
LOIS
(smugly)
Only after a couple of shots?
General Lane looking displeased. Supergirl tries to bring herself to her feet. She looks up at Lois.
SUPERGIRL
What kind of attacks?
General Lane waves her away without even looking at her.
GEN. LANE
That is a matter of National Security. We shouldn't even be speaking about it.
SUPERGIRL
I want to help.
This time her turns her way. His face gets noticeably red.
GEN. LANE
Absolutely not.
LOIS
Sir, that's why I came. I think we need her.
GEN. LANE
Well I'm glad that I'm the only Lane whose opinion matters here.
MAX
(Afraid.)
Sir, it will probably help us with our other problem as well.
General Lane shift his attention and anger to Max.
GEN. LANE
You want me to send her into the field. You want us to put our trust in her?
MAX LOIS
Yes.
GEN. LANE
(Visibly frustrated.)
You're willing to risk all of those lives? To have that on your head?
LOIS
Yes! Respectfully, sir, what happened with Jonn wasn't your fault and I'll remind you it wasn't his either. And Supergirl isn't Jonn. Give her a chance. We don't really have another choice right now.
SUPERGIRL
Please. I want to help.
General Lane turns to Lois.
GEN. LANE
What about the metas?
LOIS
This isn't exactly a job for Black Lightning. We're not sure what kind of reaction his electrical attacks might cause. Prysm has been absorbing residual radioactivity, but direct blasts have been taking their toll on her. She isn't battle ready.
An agent enters the room.
AGENT
General, there's an attack happening right now. Southside.
GEN. LANE
Suicide Slums. I don't know if those old buildings can take hits from Reactron.
Supergirl is taken aback by this name. She gets a surge of energy and stands up.
SUPERGIRL
Reactron? He's the one who is attacking Metropolis?
GEN. LANE
You know him?
SUPERGIRL
He and I met in China a few years back. Not exactly friends.
GEN. LANE
You show up, then he shows up. I'm starting to think this isn't a coincidence.
SUPERGIRL
If he's here because of me, then I have to stop him. He's already killed people in Metropolis, right?
Lois nods in sad agreement.
SUPERGIRL (CONT'D)
That means I've already done what I've been trying not to do. I've brought pain here, just like in Mexico. You have to let me at least try to fix it.
GEN. LANE
(Giving in.)
You will be acting as an Agent of the DEO. You will follow every order I give you. If you disobey even once we will take you down. Along with Reactron. You're right, this is your mess, and I'm not risking any of my men to clean it up.
Bree enters the room. She is holding a suit in her hands.
BREE
Max and I were hoping you'd say that. We've made Supergirl a new suit. It should create less drag when she flies or runs and it should also aid her cells in gathering light.
Supergirl notices her family's crest on the front of the suit.
SUPERGIRL
That symbol. Where did you-?
GEN. LANE
We don't have time for this! If you're going to help, then come on and help!
Supergirl goes to suit up. General Lane confronts Max and Bree.
GEN. LANE
So, this is what you two were working on?
MAX
We had faith you'd come around.
GEN. LANE
We'll talk about this later. And if this goes south I expect both of your resignations in the morning.
LATER
Supergirl comes out wearing her new suit. It is similar to her old suit, but much higher quality and it has her family's crest on the front.
Waiting for her in the hall are General Lane and a group of soldiers.
SUPERGIRL
I'm feeling better already. Let's go stop a madman.
ACT 3
INT. DEO CONVOY VAN - OUTSIDE SOUTHSIDE, METROPOLIS - DAY
GEN. LANE
We're picking up his radioactive signature here. Remember, do as I say or you spend the rest of your life in that bunker. Have you fought him before?
SUPERGIRL
Yea. He concentrates his radioactivity into blasts of energy. He can also use them to propel himself or shield attacks.
GEN. LANE
Did you ever beat him?
SUPERGIRL
No. But that was a long time ago. I won't lose this time.
GEN. LANE
You better not.
SUPERGIRL
I know.
EXT. SOUTHSIDE, METROPOLIS - DAY
Supergirl gets out of the van and does a long jump over to where Reactron is. As she lands she cracks the pavement below her feet.
SUPERGIRL
Reactron. I honestly hoped I'd never see you again, but you here you are.
Supergirl kicks around a few rocks. Gets herself stretched out in her new suit.
SUPERGIRL (CONT'D)
Welcome to Metropolis, sorry your stay won't be as long as you'd like.
REACTRON
I'm not here to sightsee, Supergirl. But I will bring back a souvenir. Your head.
He blasts the ground which projects him upward then he readies a blast in his hand as he's coming down toward Supergirl.
Supergirl blocks but the blast is strong. She's knocked back.
REACTRON
Something's off. You were much stronger than that before.
SUPERGIRL
Don't worry. I just need to be strong enough to stop you.
REACTRON
You couldn't beat me last time and this time will be no different. Unlike you, I don't set lasers to stun.
SUPERGIRL
I don't have to kill you to stop you. I can also hurt you really badly.
GEN. LANE (V.O.)
Supergirl, enough talk. Finish this already.
SUPERGIRL
(Whispering)
I'm stalling. Looking for...there it is!
REACTRON
Are you gonna fight me or what?
SUPERGIRL
You asked for it.
Supergirl runs toward Reactron using super speed. They fight. He releases a pulse of radioactivity. Supergirl absorbs as much of it as she possibly can. Supergirl is getting stronger the longer she fights him. Little by little she pushes the battle away from Southside. He sends a large blast her way. This time she is able to successfully block it.
EXT. SHIPYARD - OUTSIDE METROPOLIS - DAY
Supergirl has managed to push the fight all the way to the shipyard which is rich with lead which is exactly what she needs for her plan to succeed.
INT. DEO CONVOY VAN - OUTSIDE SOUTHSIDE, METROPOLIS - DAY
GEN. LANE
Where'd they go?
VAN AGENT
We've lost visual. We don't know.
EXT. SHIPYARD - OUTSIDE METROPOLIS - DAY
SUPERGIRL
I may not be at full strength, but I've always been smarter than you. For instance, I know it takes some time for your energy blasts to power up. From the way you've been fighting I'd say it's approximately 3 minutes. Which means I have 2 and a half left to do this.
Supergirl runs at super speed and punches him. This time it lands. She runs by a few more times. Punch. Punch. Punch. He's weak. He falls to his knees and he's trying to catch his breath.
SUPERGIRL
Oh, it feels so good to be back.
She zips through and collects pieces of iron at super speed. She is much faster now than earlier in the fight. She surrounds Reactron in lead and uses her heat vision to weld the pieces together. Reactron struggles to break through but isn't able to. She uses her heat vision to poke 3 holes into the lead cage surrounding Reactron.
SUPERGIRL (CONT'D)
There you go. Wouldn't want you dying on the way to prison.
REACTRON
(Laughing)
Great job Supergirl.
(Catching his breath)
You really are stronger than the last time we fought. But you're done. He's gonna get you; It's only a matter of time.
SUPERGIRL
Who?
REACTRON
I'm not the only enemy you made in China. Havok's coming.
SUPERGIRL
What are you talking about?
GEN. LANE (O.S.)
Supergirl, what's going on? Where are you?
Reactron is laughing.
INT. DEO CONVOY VAN - OUTSIDE SOUTHSIDE, METROPOLIS - DAY
VAN AGENT
We've found her. She's on the other side of the river, at the warehouse depots.
GEN. LANE
(To the driver)
Move out. Get us close, but keep a safe distance.
EXT. SHIPYARD - OUTSIDE METROPOLIS - DAY
Supergirl is trying to get information out Reaction.
SUPERGIRL
Who is Havok?
General Lane's van is now parked about 1000ft away.
GEN. LANE (O.S.)
Supergirl, is it safe to retrieve the target?
REACTRON
(Laughing)
You'll see soon enough.
GEN. LANE (O.S.)
Supergirl! Answer me! That is a direct order!
SUPERGIRL
(Frustrated.)
He's trapped, you can come get him.
GEN. LANE (O.S.)
We're approaching for extraction.
The van approaches and loads Reactron. Supergirl walks over to General Lane who is signing some papers.
SUPERGIRL
He has information we need. We should interrogate him further!
GEN. LANE
We will do nothing of the sort. You will get yourself in the van and we will discuss this at the base.
Supergirl gets in the van and the door closes behind her.
INT. DEO FACILITY LAB - NIGHT
Max is finishing up some tests he was performing on Supergirl. She sits up on the medical table.
MAX
Looks like you've made a full recovery Kara.
SUPERGIRL
I feel a lot better. Thank you for the suit and thank you for calling me Kara. It helps remind me who I am.
General Lane enters the lab. He comes over and shakes her hand.
GEN. LANE
You're the one who deserves our thanks. You did well out there.
SUPERGIRL
Thank you General. Were you able to get any intel from Reactron?
GEN. LANE
Not yet. We're transferring him to an off-site metahuman prison. We'll question him further from there.
SUPERGIRL
Great. I have some questions of my own I'd like to ask him.
GEN. LANE
You're not going anywhere. You got a little sun and you're back to your version of normal. You helped us today, but it doesn't change who you are or what you can do. We need to keep you under surveillance.
SUPERGIRL
What I can do is exactly why I should be out there helping you. You wouldn't have been able to take in Reactron without me.
GEN. LANE
The answer is no. You were dangerously close to refusing an order today. I can't trust you.
SUPERGIRL
I'm starting to think that no matter what happens you won't let me out of here and General, with all due respect I don't need your permission to be free.
GEN. LANE
Now hold on a minute!
Supergirl turns to Bree. She looks happy and relieved.
SUPERGIRL
Thank you again. If you or Max ever need me, I'll be there.
GEN. LANE
You can't leave this facility!
SUPERGIRL
Oh I can. And I will. I was hoping you'd come around, but you won't.
GEN. LANE
If you leave-
Supergirl interrupts him. She turns to Bree.
SUPERGIRL
When you need my help again just give me a holler. I'll be listening.
Supergirl tugs her ear.
GEN. LANE
Don't you dare-
Before he can finish his sentence Supergirl zooms out of the DEO facility and flies away.
GEN. LANE(CONT'D)
Find her! Use whatever force necessary but bring her back alive.
BREE
She just helped us! You can't-!
GEN. LANE
Watch it agent.
Lois Lane enters.
LOIS
I agree with Bree, General. Supergirl did well today. She saved Metropolis.
GEN. LANE
Who do you think you are? Coming in here whenever you like and undermining me?
LOIS
(Smugly)
I'm Lois Lane. And you? You're the General who just let an Alien escape a top secret government facility. That would make for a really good article.
GEN. LANE
You're on thin ice Lois.
LOIS
Try me. Call off your goons, or I post this faster than Supergirl zipped out of here.
General Lane takes out his walkie talkie and speaks into it.
GEN. LANE
Call off the guards. Let Supergirl go… For now.
He turns to Lois. He's fuming
GEN. LANE (CONT'D)
Do not forget your place. Just because you are my daughter does not mean you're above my orders. I will take you down if need be.
LOIS
Trust me, dad, I already know that.
ACT 4
EXT. LOIS LANE'S BALCONY - METROPOLIS -NIGHT
The next night Supergirl goes back to visit Lois again.
As she lands on the balcony Lois walks out from her living room.
LOIS
You again.
SUPERGIRL
No guns this time. Please.
LOIS
Hmph. Not like they would hurt you anyway. Sorry I got you locked up.
SUPERGIRL
It's OK. It was going to happen eventually. Couldn't stay hidden forever.
LOIS
I have to ask. You could have left at any time. Why didn't you?
SUPERGIRL
If I had left right away they would be chasing me right now. I had to show them and you that there was a reason to trust me. Earth is my home. I only want to protect it. Even now he'd still be chasing me if it wasn't for you.
LOIS
Me?
SUPERGIRL
It takes a lot to stand up to the General.
LOIS
Yea, well I leave for an assignment in London tomorrow, so you'll have to face him on your own for a while.
SUPERGIRL
I can handle it.
LOIS
I have no doubt.
Lois looks like she was just struck with an idea.
LOIS (CONT'D)
Where are you staying?
SUPERGIRL
That's a good question. One good thing about the DEO was that I had a place to sleep.
LOIS
I'm gone for months at a time. Why don't you stay here while I'm gone? You can water the plants, keep the super villains away...
SUPERGIRL
(Chuckles)
That's really nice of you, but I have an identity and life away from Supergirl and I don't know that I'm ready to tell you, or the DEO who that is.
LOIS
I'm not asking for your social security number.
Lois grabs Supergirls hands and looks her in the eyes. Kindly.
LOIS (CONT'D)
As far as I'm concerned you'll be Kara Zor-El, or Supergirl, whoever you want. In fact, you'll be doing me a favor. I get nervous leaving my apartment empty.
SUPERGIRL
In that case...call me Kara. Ok Ms. Lane. We've got a deal.
She lets go of Supergirl's hands.
LOIS
Kara, I think we're on a first name basis.
She walks over to her desk and grabs a pen and paper.
LOIS (CONT'D)
There is one more thing you could do for me. Could we finish that interview? I think Metropolis deserves to know about the person who saved them from Reactron.
SUPERGIRL
Sure!
(Laughs)
Where do you want me to start?
LOIS
The beginning.
EXT. METROPOLIS - DAY
A woman is reading a Daily Planet article on her tablet. The title is "Supergirl, Woman of Steel".
Supergirl flies overhead as people point in amazement.
FADE OUT.
END