Superhero Talkshow

[Commercial Break 1]

Skycam 1 hovered over the clapping, smiling audience, gliding down until it rested on the well lit stage where the host laughed at an inside joke with his guests. “Welcome back to the show. I’m your host, Tony Cantrell, and in case you're just joining us, we’ve been speaking with our city’s infamous hero, Greyscale.” Tony paused while an applause erupted, flashing the camera a toothy smile before continuing. “Greyscale claims that his arch nemesis, Dr. Chromatic, kidnapped his son, who had just taken up the mantle of Greyscale’s new sidekick, Pitfall. He claims that Dr. Chromatic took his son last summer, and in the time since, the Dr. has allegedly brainwashed Pitfall making him think he is not our fabled super hero's sidekick.

“Dr. Chromatic’s parole officer has graciously allowed the doctor to join us in person today. Dr. Chromatic come on out!” Camera 3 shot past Tony’s raised palm, zooming to the side entrance, stage right. On cue a light illuminated the doorway and out stepped Dr. Chromatic shadowed by his armed parole officer. Most of the crowd booed, a few even throwing cups and snacks at the villian. Dr. Chromatic took it all in stride, slithering his way to the empty modern arm chair designated for him, carrying with him his signature keytar.

“Dr. Chromatic, thank you for joining us today,” said Tony with genuine fervor. “This is an incredible opportunity in TV history to sit, in a neutral zone as it were, and hear both sides of the story.”

Camera 4 switched over to Greyscale, catching a glimpse of his massive pewter gloved fingers digging into the armrest.

Dr. Chromatic took a bow, propped his keytar on the side of the armchair and slumped into the chair.

“I trust that your keytar is a simple prop today?” said Tony with a nervous laugh.

“Oh this ole’ thing? Of course,” said Dr. Chromatic, jutting a thumb at the officer behind him. “You think he’d let me in here if this thing was real? Psssshhh.”

Tony, wiped his brow. “Whew. Great. And thank you officer for being available today as well.” Camera 1 did a quick cut of the officer sitting on a stool behind the villain, capturing his curt nod and a bright glare from his shaved head.

“Well Doctor, you are aware that Greyscale is claiming that you kidnapped his son. Why would you kidnap an innocent boy and drag him into your fight?”

“As most of you know, I have two passions,” said Chromatic. “Science and music. Science is a means to an end in most cases for me.”

“Like when you blew up a quarter of the city,” butted in Greyscale.

Tony held up a hand to Greyscale, and Dr. Chromatic continued. “I got bored playing music by myself, and I wanted a new scientific challenge. So I decided to borrow some of Greyscale’s DNA to make my first new band member.”

A boo escaped the crowd.

“My protege is the product of experimentation that I created in a lab while trying to clone my arch nemesis. I consider the experiment a success. I would also like to point out that ever since Greyscale was beaten by Haymaker, he’s displayed a pattern of delusion, bordering on schizophrenia. I think he made this whole Pitfall character up.”

Tony turned to the hero. “Greyscale,” said Tony, “May I call you Grey?”

“Sure,” said Greyscale.

“Grey, do you have any proof that you have a son? Maybe a birth certificate or something else along those lines. Until today no one even knew you had taken a sidekick under your wing, let alone that you had a son.”

Greyscale’s white out eyes frowned under his domino mask. “It’s true. I wanted to wait to reveal to the city that I had a sidekick. I didn’t want my son feeling unnecessary pressure. It needed to be his choice. As for a birth certificate I do have one but if I were to produce it, it would reveal the real identity of my son.”

Dr. Chromatic countered. “If ‘Pitfall’ really is your beloved son, wouldn’t you do anything to get him back safe and sound?”

Greyscale puffed out his swollen chest. “Of course I’ll do whatever it takes. Whatever.” He breathed the last word like a threat and Camera 2 made sure to catch a close up of his tightened square jaw.

Dr. Chromatic flashed his sharp teeth. “Then remove your mask and reveal to the world who you really are.”

“No!” barked Greyscale.

Squinting in thought, Tony asked, “But if Pitfall is really your son, isn’t revealing your identity worth it?”

Greyscale sighed. “If it came to that, if there was no other way to get my son back, then yes I would reveal my identity.”

“So why not do that? Why come on the show at all?”

“Because I don’t think it needs to go to that. I think I can prove it without giving up my mask and cape.”

Cantrell turned his attention to Dr. Chromatic, who sat with his chin pointed upward, his hipster glasses making his otherwise beady eyes the size of plums. He sat with one leg crossed and his hands were folded, resting on his knee. “Doctor,” said Cantrell, “Is this true? Have you kidnapped and brainwashed your nemesis’ sidekick and son as part of some evil plot?”

The Dr. smiled revealing his coffee stained teeth. “No of course not.As you said, we had not even heard of this ‘Pitfall’ until today. I created this boy. His very existence is a miraculous accomplishment of science. But Greyscale can’t stand the fact that I have succeeded at anything. He has concocted this fictional account of a son which he can never prove is actually his.”

“Now just a minute,” said Greyscale.

Tony put his hand up. “Hold on Grey. Doctor, if this is true, how can you prove that you created this boy? How do we know that you aren’t lying?”

“That is a good question, Cantrell. Unfortunately the common man would not comprehend the full scope of my work, suffice it to say that during one of our many...encounters I was able to obtain a small sample of Greyscale’s blood. I brought it back to my secret lab and manipulated his DNA, making an imperfect clone of him to raise and nurture as my own son.”

“Do you think,” said Tony, turning to Greyscale, “that because Dr. Chromatic used your DNA in his experiment that it makes this boy your son?”

“No,” said Greyscale slamming his fist into the coffee table between them. “I DON’T think that because Pitfall IS my son.”

“He is MY creation. You must come out of your delusions Greyscale. Live in the real world. Accept that I have succeeded and move on.”

Veins popped out of Greyscale’s neck. He tried to get words past his tongue but all that came out was spittle.

“And,” continued the doctor, “if he is your son, as you claim, then prove it. Remove your mask. Show us.”

“I don’t need to,” said Greyscale in a low voice. “You already know who I am Dr. Chromatic. Why don’t you tell the world? Hmm?”

“I don’t understand what you’re getting at.”

“What I’m getting at is that if you really cloned me, then you would be able to figure out my true identity. And if you didn’t clone me then that means that Pitfall IS my son. Either way you now know who I am. So why haven’t you revealed my identity to the world? This is your chance to blow my top. Unless you didn’t think that far ahead?”

Dr. Chromatic began fidgeting with the neck of his keytar.

“You didn’t think ahead, because you assumed you had me cornered. Your ego can only stand to see me publically humiliated. But you didn’t realize, either way, you screwed up. You planned this whole thing to get me to reveal myself without realizing that you backed yourself into a corner. I am Greyscale and Pitfall is MY son!”

Prompted, the crowd broke into a standing applause.

Tony faced Camera 1 with his signature smile. “After the break, will a blood test be enough to tell the truth?”

[Commercial Break 2]

“If you’re just joining us, this is the hour long special where Greyscale and Dr. Chromatic have called a truce to hold a historic hash out, here on The Cantrell Show.” Light applause followed.

“Dr. Chromatic claims that he was finally able to create human life in the form of an imperfect clone of his arch nemesis, the self-appointed hero, Greyscale. But Grey claims that Dr. Chromatic did nothing of the sort. Instead Grey says that Chromatic kidnapped and brainwashed his son into thinking that Dr. Chromatic is his creator and father. Greyscale claims that this is all a ruse to get him to reveal his secret identity.

“Now before we went to break,” said Tony, looking into the camera, “I promised that we would have the results of a blood test. But given the controversial nature of our conflict here today, it will be somewhat difficult to prove.” He turned to Greyscale. “Grey, you do realize that because the Dr. is claiming to have created the boy from a sample of your tissue, a blood test would really prove nothing. Obviously this boy would have the similar DNA. So how do you think you can prove that Pitfall is your son with a blood test?”

Camera 2 zoomed in on Greyscale’s pearl white smile, displayed for the first time since being on the show. “Well as you know Tony, before the show I agreed to have my wife come backstage as long as you kept her identity secret.”

Some of the crowd gasped and murmured amongst themselves.

Tony nodded, and Greyscale went on, “I realized that getting a blood test on myself would prove nothing. But comparing my wife's blood with Pitfall’s would prove without a doubt that Pitfall is my son.”

Cantrell turned to the Dr. “And Dr. Chromatic what do you think this test will prove?”

Dr. Chromatic hesitated for a millisecond. “It will prove nothing. How do we even know if the results are real if you’re not going to disclose to us who this woman really is?”

“A good point,” said Cantrell. “Let’s turn our attention to this mystery woman and hear her testimony.”

A large flat screen monitor mounted on the wall turned on. A woman could be seen from the waist up wearing a flower patterned blouse. Her face was blurred on the screen and her voice has been altered. Somber piano music began to play softly.

“Hello. I am the wife of Greyscale, my loving husband. And the mother of…” she took a quivering breath, “...our little boy Pitfall.

“Last year when Greyscale finally decided to take on a sidekick I thought that he had an older teen in mind, maybe even a peer. I never thought he was going to train our son so early. But my boy was eager and he already designed a costume, and his powers developed earlier than expected.” She held up a color crayon stick figure drawing to the camera. It depicted Greyscale and Pitfall as best as any nine year old could draw.

“We had a lot of arguments about it. I didn’t want to see my son harmed, but Greyscale promised me that he’d protect our son. And now…” she wiped her blurred eyes with a tissue, “...now my little Pitfall has been taken from me and he doesn’t remember us anymore.” She broke down sobbing and the screen faded out.

Tony handed a tissue to Greyscale who carefully wiped his eyes. Skycam 1 panned across the crowd, many glossy eyed, and a few teared up themselves, including a brunette soccer mom.

“Well,” said Tony, “it seems that your alleged wife has won over the audience. But the question still remains. Are your claims true? Is Pitfall your son, or can you truly not stand that your arch nemesis, Dr. Chromatic, used some of your DNA to accomplish an incredible feat of science?”

Cantrell turned to face the camera again. “We will find out who is telling the truth, right after the break.”

[Commercial Break 3]

“And we are back. Dr. Chromatic claims to have created an imperfect clone of the hero Greyscale, but Greyscale claims if that is true, what will happen if this boy’s DNA matches with that of his wife?

“One person we have not heard from today is the boy himself. Please welcome to the show the young man in question.”

The crowd applauded as a young boy was escorted out from backstage. He wore a Misfits t-shirt, tattered jeans completed with a white lab coat and safety goggles. From his attire he looked exactly like a protege of Dr. Chromatic, but beneath the attire there was no denying his athletic build and jawline resembled Greyscale, even at his young age.

“Please take a seat,” said Tony, motioning to a seat conveniently placed in between Greyscale and Dr. Chromatic. “Introduce yourself to the audience and our viewers at home.”

The boy looked to the crowd, then to the camera, then to Dr. Chromatic. When he opened his mouth to speak his voice was monotone. “My name is Tonedef. I was created by my father Dr. Chromatic.”

Some of the crowd booed until Tony motioned for them to be quiet. “And this man here,” he motioned to Greyscale. “Who is this man to you?”

“He is my father’s enemy.”

“No, I AM your dad, son!” said Greyscale.

“I may share your DNA, but Dr. Chromatic made me, raised me. He is my father.”

Greyscale’s gloves stretched thin around his knuckles until the armrests of his chair splintered. “Those are implanted memories, son. Chromatic brainwashed you.”

“I’ve been made aware that you hate my father and that you have a biased opinion because of the feuds you and he held in the past, but I have been shown undeniable proof that you are not my biological father.”

Greyscale rose from his broken chair pointing his gloved finger at Dr. Chromatic. “You disgust me. To do this to my son, the mental damage…” Then he looked to Tonedef. “You want undeniable proof son? Tony.”

On queue Tony’s lovely high-heeled assistant brought forth a sealed manila envelope. “Well, we have the truth right here in this envelope. Do you want to know the truth?” The crowd erupted into applause. Slowly he unwound the red string that kept the envelope sealed and removed the paperwork from within. He took a breath. Silence hovered over the crowd like a dark cloud before the rain starts. “When it comes to this nine-year-old young man, the DNA test shows that he does have the same DNA as Greyscale.”

The crowd applauded.

“Of course he does,” agreed Dr. Chromatic.

“When we cross-examined the DNA of Greyscale’s wife with that of this boy, we found that… it matched! Greyscale, you are the father!”

The crowd jumped out of their chairs applauding.

Greyscale got out of his chair slowly, a scowl on his face. He picked up the armchair he had been sitting on and tore it in half throwing it across the stage, knocking Camera 3 off of its tripod which would have to be fixed in post. The crowd gasped. Greyscale did not see the crowd, he did not see Tony, he did not even see his son. His eyes were only on Dr. Chromatic. Now that he was vindicated he had only one agenda.

“You broke my wife’s heart.” He took a step. “You broke my son’s mind.” He stepped closer. “Now I’m going to break you.”

Tony raised his eyebrows. “I think we’re going to need some help.”

Immediately ushers and security men rushed in to tackle Greyscale, but it was too late. He flung them across the room like a child dismantling a block tower. One man collided with a Skycam 1 wiping out the top-down wide angle. Another usher flew into the crowd and landed on several large women, none of whom were hurt thanks to the extra cushion.

Dr. Chromatic did not try to run, did not even rise from his chair. Greyscale gripped him in his gloved hands, hoisted him up and levitated into the air. A quick-thinking stagehand powered up a large fan and aimed it at Greyscale so his majestic cape would billow.

Greyscale raised his right hand making a fist.

Dr. Chromatic erupted with maniacal laughter.

“This is going to hurt,” whispered Greyscale. He threw one punch, then another, and then many more. The crowd oohed, then grimaced, until finally a man screamed, “Someone stop him!”

The more bloody Chromatic became, the harder the villain laughed. The crowd was out of control and the cameras that still worked rolled on. Tony and several security officers were standing on the chairs trying to grab Greyscale by the ankle and pull him down. Someone brought a ladder.

Amidst the chaos and the beating, Tonedef screamed hysterically. “Let my father go. Stop hurting my father. You think you’re the hero? You’re the villain.”

Greyscale heard the words and inclined his head in his son’s direction.

“You see,” said Dr. Chromatic through busted lips, “You may have proved your point, but I still won. You may have outsmarted me, but your son’s mind is mine.”

“Fix him,” growled the hero.

“I can’t he’s beyond repair.”

“Then I’m afraid you’re beyond repair.”

Before anyone could cheer or scream Greyscale flew through the roof dragging Dr. Chromatic with him.

[Breaking News Channel 4]

“I’m Kevin Chittle with this afternoon’s breaking news. It appears that our beloved hero Greyscale has lost a mental battle with Dr. Chromatic. But while Greyscale may have lost his mind, it seems that Dr. Chromatic may have lost his life. Reporting for us live on the scene is Sasha Montoya.”

Sasha stood smiling dumbly for a few seconds until her audio caught up to Kevin’s live feed. “Thanks Kevin. I’m here live, just outside of the studio where Tony Cantrell’s morning talk show is filmed. As most of us know, both Greyscale and Dr. Chromatic had called a truce in order to hash out a dispute they had over a young protege. Greyscale claimed that the young boy was his new sidekick, his own son in fact, while Dr. Chromatic claimed that he biochemically engineered the boy from Greyscale’s DNA. Apparently there was some heated arguing on the set which led to a physical altercation that moved to the rooftop of the studio. Witnesses say this is where Greyscale allegedly threw Dr. Chromatic from the building as you can see behind me there are the remains of a splattered corpse behind me, so the allegations are anything but—”

“I’d like to interject here to remind those at home that viewer discretion is advised as some of this footage coming to us live may be quite graphic and disturbing,” said Kevin.

“Thanks Kevin,” said Sasha with a cheerful smile.

After going over the gruesome scene Sasha turned the broadcast back over to Kevin who turned it over to a station break. When they came back Kevin was sitting with psychologist and long time Greyscale expert, Leo McKinsey.

“Leo, what do you think drove Greyscale over the edge today? Can he ever come back from something like this?”

“To answer your second question first, no. I do think we will look back on this day as a pivotal turning point in the life of our resident crimefighter Greyscale. In the fifteen years that he has served our city, twenty if you count his amateur days as Spectrum, we have never seen him cross the line, and that is what he did in fact this morning. He went from fighting crime, to dishing it out with his own hands. To answer your first question, witnesses from today’s scene repeated the chilling words of Dr. Chromatic, accusing Greyscale of mental illness, even schizophrenia. I think these are the aftereffects of Greyscale’s last defeat at the fists of Haymaker.”

“Do you think he should be held responsible for the life of Dr. Chromatic, a man who has terrorized our city with numerous nefarious plots?”

“Yes,” said McKinsey. “While he took the life of a villain, he still took life. He should be held responsible and accountable for his actions.” Leo went on. “What is so devastating about this occurrence is that today marks a new chapter in Greyscale’ life story. While he may have satisfied some brief need for revenge, his son Pitfall is still brainwashed and continues to think that he is Tonedef.”

“Do you think that this will have a lasting effect on the family?”

“If you want my honest opinion, I think that Greyscale has created his most potent arch-nemesis to date in his brainwashed son, Tonedef. Only time will tell.”

Kevin turned to the camera. “Thanks Leo. Sobering words from the resident expert on all things supers related. We will all have to wait and see what comes of our fallen hero and his deranged son. Is Greyscale still out to protect us, or has he become a danger to us all? We’ll talk more after the break.”

[END]