RAISING
DION
EPISODE
101
“PILOT”
By
Carol
Barbee
Directed
by
TBD
01/17/2018
STUDIO
DRAFT
Copyright
©
2018,
Storybuilders,
LLC.
All
Rights
Reserved.
No
portion
of
this
script
may
be
performed,
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sold,
or
distributed
by
any
means
or
quoted
or
published
in
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medium,
including
on
any
website,
without
the
prior
written
consent
of
Storybuilders,
LLC.
Disposal
of
this
script
copy
does
not
alter
any
of
the
restrictions
set
forth
above.
1
Raising
Dion
-
Ep
101
RAISING
DION
"PILOT"
REVISION
HISTORY
DATE
COLOR
PAGES
AFFECTED
10/08/17
ORIGINAL
PILOT
Full
Draft
01/17/18
STUDIO
DRAFT
Full
Draft
01/17/2018
2
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
OVER
BLACK:
NICOLE
(V.O.)
I
always
knew
you
were
special...
FADE
IN:
CLOSE
ON
THE
FACE
OF
7-YEAR-OLD
DION,
bright
and
curious;
eyebrows
cocked
as
he
considers
the
move
he’s
about
to
make.
Dion
takes
a
deep
breath,
then
runs
full
tilt
until...
HE
IS
FLYING
THOUGH
THE
AIR
in
SLO-MO.
We
catch
his
expression
of
pure
joy
against
the
backdrop
of
the
blue
sky.
SERTES
OF
SHOTS
--
ABSTRACT
IMAGES
ALL
FROM
NICOLE'S
POV:
A
WOMAN'S
ARMS
reach
up
into
frame
from
below,
waiting
--
NICOLE
(V.O.)
I
know,
everyone
thinks
their
kid
is
special
but...
DION’S
SMILE
grows
wider
as
he
looks
down.
NICOLE
(V.0.)
...You're
mine.
THE
ARMS
WAVE
to
him
--
‘Come
this
way...’
DION
begins
to
descend
and
we
realize
he’s
not
flying,
he’s
falling
--
WIDEN
TO
REVEAL
EXT.
LAKE
-
DAY
NICOLE
(30s)
waits
in
the
water
below,
arms
reaching
up,
waving
to
Dion
as
he
jumps
from
the
high
pier.
He
hits
the
water
and
Nicole
retreats
from
the
SPLASH,
then
realizes...
DION
IS
STILL
UNDERWATER.
Nicole
waits,
expecting
him
to
pop
back
up.
He
doesn’t.
NICOLE
(V.O.)
Having
you...
it
was
like
a
door
opened
up
that
I
never
knew
existed...
Where
is
he?
(CONTINUED)
3
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
CONTINUED:
Panic
begins
to
SET
IN
when...
NICOLE
(V.0.)
I
suddenly
understood
why
people
run
into
burning
buildings...
DION
POPS
UP
BEHIND
HER.
Giggles
himself
silly.
NICOLE
(V.O.)
I'd
do
anything
for
you...
Dion
climbs
out
of
the
water
and
does
his
Victory
Dance:
Dion’s
exuberant
boy-version
of
the
Twist
with
his
butt
sticking
way
out,
taunting
the
vanquished,
trying
to
make
his
Mom
laugh.
Nicole’s
fear
gives
way
to
relief.
She
laughs.
NICOLE
(V.O.)
But
it
was
never
going
to
be
easy...
Off
Nicole,
delighted
by
the
little
boy
dancing
on
the
shore,
as
the
midday
sun
peeks
out
from
behind
her,
sending
a
SHAFT
of
SUNLIGHT
across
her
face
—-—
CUT
TO:
INT.
NICOLE’S
APARTMENT
-
KITCHEN
-
MORNING
(PRESENT
DAY)
CAMERA
FOLLOWS
THE
SUNLIGHT
streaming
into
the
sunlit
kitchen
of
a
clean-but-aging
apartment,
glimpsing
an
espresso
machine
that
looks
a
little
too
expensive
for
its
surroundings
and
a
few
too
many
nice
things
crowded
on
the
counter.
A
downsized
life.
MOVING
BOXES
are
stacked
neatly
in
the
corner
waiting
to
be
recycled.
Camera
travels
to
the
kitchen
table,
passing
a
full
bowl
of
FROOT
LOOPS
and
a
handful
of
PROPS
from
a
MAGIC
KIT,
finally
settling
on...
A
BOOK.
“HOW
TO
DO
MAGIC.”
REVERSE
TO
—-
DION,
hunched
over
the
kitchen
table,
focused
on
the
magic
book
propped
in
front
of
him.
Following
instructions
in
the
book,
he
places
a
sheet
of
paper
over
a
blue
plastic
cup,
points
his
fingers
at
it.
DION
Abracadabra.
(CONTINUED)
4
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
3.
CONTINUED:
He
snatches
the
paper
away
and
the
cup
is
still
there.
He
scrunches
his
face,
checks
the
picture
on
the
Magic
Kit
BOX
--
no
help
--
DROPS
THE
BOX
to
the
floor.
Nicole
enters
in
a
hurry,
her
hair
wrapped
up
in
a
scarf,
wearing
a
work
dress
and
no
shoes.
She’s
looking
for
something
--
on
the
counter,
behind
the
stack
of
mail,
behind
the
phone.
Whatever
it
is,
she
can’t
find
it.
She
moves
through
the
room,
harried,
while
Dion
resets
his
magic
props
for
another
try.
NICOLE
Your
inhaler’s
on
the
coffee
table.
We
need
to
leave
in
three
minutes.
Did
you
eat?
DION
(focused
on
his
magic
trick)
Uh-huh.
Dion
snatches
away
the
paper
again
—-
and
the
cup
is
still
there.
Confounded,
he
thumbs
through
the
Magic
Book
for
answers.
Nicole
checks
the
washer
--
it’s
empty.
Opens
the
dryer,
which
is
full.
Pulls
out
the
clean
clothes.
NICOLE
You
haven’t
even
touched
your
cereal.
Dion
TOUCHES
the
cereal
bowl.
DION
Touched
it!
NICOLE
Oh,
that’s
how
it’s
gonna
go?
Dion
smiles.
NICOLE
(CONT’D)
You’'re
going
to
get
hungry.
Nicole
exits
with
an
armful
of
clothes.
INT.
NICOLE’S
APARTMENT
-
LIVING
ROOM
-
MORNING
Nicole
dumps
the
clean
laundry
on
the
couch,
begins
going
through
pockets,
when
she’s
struck
by
a
thought.
(CONTINUED)
5
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
CONTINUED:
She
opens
the
front
door
and
finds
her
KEYS
sticking
out
of
the
lock,
where
they
spent
the
night.
She
snags
them.
The
TINFOIL-WRAPPED
OBJECT
sitting
on
the
floor
in
front
of
her
door
doesn’t
seem
to
surprise
her.
She
picks
it
up
and
brings
it
inside.
INT.
NICOLE’S
APARTMENT
-~
KITCHEN
-
MORNING
Dion’s
re-setting
his
props
again
--
this
time,
placing
a
squishy
BALL
under
the
blue
plastic
cup.
Nicole
hurries
in,
pulling
off
the
tinfoil
to
reveal
a
cake
with
fluffy
white
icing.
NICOLE
George
made
us
another
carrot
cake.
DION
Tell
him
I
like
chocolate.
NICOLE
Yeah,
I
don’t
think
he
cares.
(then)
Time
to
go.
Put
your
dishes
in
the
sink.
We
don’t
want
any
more
ants.
As
she
exits
--
NICOLE
(0.S.)
(CONT’D)
Now,
Dion
--
Dion
jumps
up,
scooping
up
his
magic
props
and
cramming
them
in
his
pockets.
He
goes
to
dump
his
cereal
in
the
sink
but
trips
on
the
BOX
of
his
MAGIC
KIT--
CLOSE
ON:
MILK
AND
CEREAL
FLYING
OUT
OF
THE
BOWL.
CLOSE
ON:
DION.
WINCING.
Waiting
for
the
crash.
It
doesn’t
come.
He
opens
his
eyes
to
see
THE
FROOT
LOOPS
AND
MILK
HANGING
IN
MID-AIR.
The
bowl
is
still
in
Dion’s
hand.
His
eyes
light
up
with
pure
delight.
He
breaks
into
the
Victory
Butt-Dance.
(CONTINUED)
6
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
5.
CONTINUED:
DION
Yessss!
INTERCUT
WITH:
INT.
NICOLE'S
APARTMENT
-
COAT
CLOSET
-
MORNING
Nicole
slips
on
her
work
heels.
She
catches
a
glimpse
of
herself
in
the
mirror
on
the
inside
of
the
door,
pulls
off
her
head
wrap,
arranges
her
hair.
She
has
to
admit,
she
looks
good.
Maybe
too
good.
She
throws
a
loose-fitting
cardigan
sweater
over
her
dress.
INT.
NICOLE'S
APARTMENT
-
KITCHEN
-
MORNING
Dion
inspects
the
cereal
and
milk,
STILL
HANGING
IN
MID-AIR.
LOOSELY
ROTATING
LIKE
A
MODERN
ART
SCULPTURE.
He
walks
around
it,
looking
THROUGH
the
Froot
Loops,
until
--
NICOLE
(0.S.)
Ready,
Bug?
His
head
turns
and...
THE
CEREAL
AND
MILK
FALL
OUT
OF
THE
AIR,
SPLASHING
TO
THE
FLOOR!
Nicole
enters
to
see
the
mess
on
the
floor
and
nothing
else.
NICOLE
(CONT’'D)
Dion!
DION
You
scared
me!
NICOLE
You’re
supposed
to
be
--
(quicker
if
I
do
it
--)
I'11
get
it,
just
go
--
grab
your
backpack.
Don’t
forget
your
inhaler.
She
wets
a
paper
towel,
quickly
swipes
the
floor.
CUT
TO:
INT.
NICOLE'S
APARTMENT
-
LIVING
ROOM
-
MORNING
Dion
waits
at
the
door,
backpack
on
his
shoulder.
Nicole
hurries
out
from
the
kitchen,
grabs
her
purse.
(CONTINUED)
7
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
CONTINUED:
DION
Mom
—-
I
can
do
magic.
NICOLE
Great.
Something
to
fall
back
on
if
second
grade
doesn’t
work
out.
Nicole
rushes
him
out,
the
door
shuts
behind
them.
We
HOLD
on
the
doorknob.
One
second.
Another
second.
Then
--
It
OPENS.
Nicole
runs
in,
grabs
Dion’s
INHALER
off
the
coffee
table
and
rushes
out
again.
SMASH
TO
TITLES
--
RAISING
DION
FADE
IN:
INT.
NICOLE’S
CAR/DRIVING
-
STREETS
-
MORNING
Dion
sits
in
the
passenger
seat,
fumbling
with
the
magic
props.
He
notices
ONE
LONE
ORANGE
FROOT
LOOP
stuck
on
the
side
of
the
blue
plastic
cup.
He
picks
it
off,
examines
it,
remembering
it
magically
hanging
in
the
air
—-
then
POPS
it
into
his
mouth
and
chews.
He'’s
not
gonna
waste
a
Froot
Loop.
Traffic’s
moving
steadily.
Nicole
drives,
talking
out
loud,
but
really
to
herself.
NICOLE
When
I
pick
you
up
today,
we
have
to
go
by
the
grocery
store,
so
try
to
do
your
homework
at
school.
You
can
finish
it
while
I
make
dinner,
and
I
have
to
finish
folding
the
laundry...
A
WOMAN
dressed
in
color-coordinated
running
clothes
JOGS
BY,
looking
happier
than
it’s
possible
to
be.
Nicole
studies
her
as
if
she’s
a
foreign
species.
Suddenly,
we
FLASH
ON
--
MARK
WARREN
(late
20s;
big,
warm
smile;
wearing
running
clothes)
RUNNING
BACKWARDS
UP
A
HILL.
MARK
Six
minute
mile!
Come
on,
you
can
do
it!
NICOLE
(0.S.)
I
hate
you!
Mark
LAUGHS
(CONTINUED)
8
RAISING
DION
~
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
CONTINUED:
BACK
TO
PRESENT,
where
Nicole
shakes
off
the
memory.
Focuses
back
on
the
drive.
She
hears
—-
DION
Abracadabra.
Dion
lets
go
of
a
piece
of
construction
paper...
it
falls
to
his
lap.
He
furrows
his
eyebrows.
NICOLE
Was
that
supposed
to
disappear?
DION
It’'s
supposed
to
float.
NICOLE
How?
DION
(shrugs)
I
don’t
know.
Dion
holds
it
up
again,
trying
to
make
it
float
like
the
cereal,
but
again,
it
falls.
NICOLE
Just
put
it
back
in
the
box,
you
can
figure
it
out
tonight.
DION
I
want
to
show
the
guys.
NICOLE
You
shouldn’t
be
doing
magic
at
school.
DING!
Nicole
gets
a
TEXT.
She
fishes
out
her
phone.
DION
Can
I
have
an
iPhone?
I
want
to
‘like’
things.
All
the
kids
at
this
school
have
an
app
where
they
send
messages
and
‘like’
stuff
—-
Nicole
reads
the
TEXT
--
is
ALARMED
and
quickly
deletes
it,
not
wanting
Dion
to
see.
DION
You’re
not
supposed
to
text
and
drive.
Who
is
it?
NICOLE
Nobody
--
(CONTINUED)
9
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
CONTINUED:
(2)
She
drops
her
phone
in
her
purse.
DION
Can
I
have
one?
NICOLE
We’ve
been
through
this
--
you
get
a
phone
when
you’re
thirteen.
DION
How
‘bout
an
iPad?
NICOLE
Things
are
tight
right
now,
baby
--
DION
How
am
I
supposed
to
‘like’
stuff?
NICOLE
You
like
stuff
by
liking
it.
Then
tell
your
friends,
‘that
thing
I
like,
I
like
that.’
The
word,
‘friends’
makes
Dion
sink
back
in
his
seat.
Nicole
knows
what
he’s
thinking.
NICOLE
(CONT'D)
What?
You
made
a
friend.
What’s
her
name?
DION
(eye
roll)
Esperanza.
She
doesn’t
count.
NICOLE
Why
not?
DION
‘Cause
she
doesn’t
have
any
friends,
either.
NICOLE
I'm
going
to
pretend
that
makes
sense.
You
made
friends
at
your
old
school
DION
These
kids
are
different.
They
ride
skateboards
and
play
on
the
app
and
I
can’t
do
either
one.
never
going
to
have
friends.
(CONTINUED)
10
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
CONTINUED:
(3)
NICOLE
It
takes
time,
Bug.
Just
be
you.
It’s
going
to
work
out.
Trust
me.
(then)
Have
I
ever
been
wrong
about
ANYTHING?
DION
(smirks)
What
to
feed
a
goldfish.
NICOLE
True,
but
--
DION
(enjoying
this)
The
capital
of
Nevada
—-
NICOLE
It
just
seems
like
it
should
be
Las
Vegas
--
DION
(giggling
himself
silly)
How
to
get
to
grandma’s
house
on
MARTA
——
NICOLE
(laughing)
MAYBE
I
DIDN’T
WANT
TO
SEE
GRANDMA!
You
ever
think
about
that?!
Dion
GUFFAWS.
NICOLE
(CONT'D)
Show
me
a
magic
trick.
Dion
grabs
his
props
and
sets
up
again.
Off
Nicole,
happy
to
hear
her
boy
laughing
again,
CUT
TO:
CLOSE-UP
ON
AN
IPHONE,
CURRENTLY
SHOWING
A
VIDEO
OF
SNEAKERS
ON
A
SKATEBOARD,
twisting
the
board,
popping
it
up.
The
feet
are
connected
to
CHRIS
(7
years
old;
African-
American;
confident;
a
natural
leader.)
The
iPhone
belongs
to
a
freckled
white
kid,
JONATHAN
(7;
perpetual
bad
mood)
Cheering
them
on
is
an
androgynous
kid,
STEFFI
(7;
biracial.)
We're
at
--
11
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
10.
EXT.
DION'S
SCHOOL
-
MORNING
Nicole
walks
Dion
to
the
entrance.
Dion
scans
the
crowd
of
kids
and
parents,
until
he
spots
Chris
and
his
Crew.
Anxious
to
make
his
mark,
he
takes
the
magic
props
out
of
his
backpack.
NICOLE
I’1l
pick
you
up
at
six.
DION
Don’t
make
me
be
the
last
kid.
NICOLE
Do
my
best.
I
love
you.
She
goes
to
kiss
him,
he
flinches.
NICOLE
(CONT’D)
Don’t
you
even.
Come
here.
Dion
leans
his
head
toward
Nicole,
she
kisses
it.
NICOLE
(CONT’D)
Go.
We
stay
with
Nicole,
who
hangs
back
and
watches
Dion
run
to
Chris
and
his
crew.
NICOLE’S
POV:
Across
the
way,
Chris
is
attempting
to
pop
up
off
his
board,
twist
his
body
to
face
the
other
direction
and
land
back
on
the
board.
Jonathan
is
filming
when
Dion
slides
up.
Nicole
watches
Dion
trying
to
be
friendly
as
he
pulls
out
his
magic
props,
but
the
kids
are
busy
with
their
skate
tricks.
Her
heart
breaks
for
her
boy,
trying
to
find
his
way
in.
MR.
FRY
(0O.S.)
Ms.
Warren?
A
teacher,
MR.
ANTHONY
FRY
(40;
African-American)
approaches
Nicole.
NICOLE
Hi
--
MR.
FRY
Anthony
Fry
--
I’m
Dion’s
science
teacher.
(CONTINUED)
12
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DION
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101
-
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-
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Draft
(01/17/18)
CONTINUED:
NICOLE
Oh.
Wow.
You’re
the
reason
we
tried
so
hard
to
get
into
this
school.
Science,
I
mean.
(re:
the
school)
The
science
magnet.
Dion
loves
science.
MR.
FRY
I
noticed.
He’s
always
grilling
me
about
scientific
concepts
—-
of
course,
most
of
them
come
from
comic
books.
NICOLE
Oh,
god
——
MR.
FRY
Nothing
wrong
with
that.
He
told
the
class
that
his
father
was
a
scientist?
NICOLE
He
studied
weather.
For
BIONA.
And
Dion’s
previous
school
was
adjacent
to
the
labs,
so
it
was
full
of
kids
whose
parents
also
worked
at
BIONA.
MR.
FRY
You’re
telling
me
Dion
transferred
here
from
the
Newton
Academy?
Nicole
nods,
yes.
Mr.
Fry
is
impressed.
NICOLE
I
wanted
to
keep
him
there,
but
on
my
salary
--
MR.
FRY
Hey,
their
loss,
our
gain.
(then)
The
general
program
here
is
good
but
we
also
have
a
program
for
gifted
students.
I'm
thinking
Dion
may
be
a
fit.
NICOLE
(music
to
her
ears)
Really?
11.
(CONTINUED)
13
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-
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12.
CONTINUED:
(2)
MR.
FRY
Science
Fair'’s
coming
up
and
those
projects
figure
heavily
into
who
gets
selected.
Good
place
for
Dion
to
shine.
NICOLE
So,
he
shouldn’t
make
a
baking
soda
volcano?
MR.
FRY
(smiles)
reading
my
mail.
(then)
Selections
for
the
gifted
program
will
be
made
at
the
end
of
the
school
year.
Let’s
get
him
ready?
NICOLE
Let’s
do
it.
The
BELL
RINGS.
Mr.
Fry
nods,
heads
over
to
Chris
and
Crew.
MR.
FRY
Jonathan,
that
phone
goes
in
your
backpack
or
it’s
going
in
my
drawer.
Chris
and
Crew
nod
and
grumble
as
they
fold
into
the
river
of
kids
heading
to
class.
Dion
gathers
up
his
magic
props,
stuffing
them
into
his
backpack
as
he
tries
to
keep
up.
Nicole
looks
back
to
Dion
with
renewed
hope.
He
just
may
find
his
place
after
all.
INT.
BROKERAGE
FIRM
-
RECEPTIONISTS’
DESK
-
MORNING
The
place
is
already
buzzing
with
activity.
BROKERS
move
confidently
in
and
out
of
glass
offices.
Nicole
hurries
in,
passing
RANDALL
(30s;
bespoke
suit;
a
little
too
flirty.)
RANDALL
Good
morning,
Nicole.
NICOLE
Morning.
As
she
moves
past
him,
Randall’s
eyes
linger
on
her
ass.
Nicole
takes
a
seat
with
the
others
behind
the
sleek
reception
desk.
(CONTINUED)
14
RAISING
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101
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-
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Draft
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13.
CONTINUED:
A
BLONDE
RECEPTIONIST
shoots
a
snarky
look
to
a
MALE
RECEPTIONIST,
points
to
her
watch
--
indicating
Nicole’s
arrival
time.
Nicole
places
her
purse
in
a
desk
drawer,
leaving
her
phone
on
the
desk
in
front
of
her.
She
gets
right
to
work,
snagging
a
RINGING
PHONE.
NICOLE
(CONT’D)
Good
morning,
Hudson
Trade
Group...
Nicole'’'s
cell
phone
LIGHTS
UP
with
a
PHOTO
TEXT.
Nicole
quickly
silences
it,
turns
the
phone
over.
The
Blonde
Receptionist
leans
over
to
Nicole.
BLONDE
RECEPTIONIST
You'’re
supposed
to
turn
off
your
phone.
NICOLE
I
know,
I
have
a
kid,
so
I
need
to
keep
it
on.
BLONDE
RECEPTIONIST
Looks
like
you’re
keeping
it
on
for
your
boyfriend.
NICOLE
No...
my
friend
gave
this
guy
my
number
and
he
won't
stop
texting
——
Suddenly,
boss,
BOB
(40s)
is
there.
BOB
Nicole,
I
need
to
speak
with
you.
Bob
turns
to
his
glass-enclosed
office.
The
two
snarky
receptionists
exchange
a
look.
Off
Nicole
with
a
sinking
feeling,
INT.
DION’S
SCHOOL
-
CAFETERIA
-
DAY
Dion
gets
his
lunch
tray
and
heads
into
the
dining
room.
Dion
doesn’t
see
anyone
he
knows
and
no
one
offers
him
a
seat,
but
then
he
spots
Chris,
Jonathan,
Steffi
and
a
couple
other
kids
at
a
table.
He
heads
over,
arriving
at
--
CHRIS'
TABLE
(CONTINUED)
15
RAISING
DION
~
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
CONTINUED:
Chris
look
DION
Hey.
s
up,
friendly.
CHRIS
Hey,
man.
You
need
a
chair?
There
are
no
empty
seats.
DION
Yeah
—-
CHRIS
You
can
have
this
one.
Chris
gets
up
and
the
others
follow
suit.
Dion
is
left
standing
alone
at
the
big
empty
table,
facing
a
little
girl
in
a
wheelchair
(ESPERANZA;
7;
glasses;
no-nonsense)
sitting
alone
at
the
table
opposite
his.
She
waves.
Resigned,
Dion
heads
over
and
sits
with
her.
She
resumes
a
trivia
game
they
played
on
another
day.
ESPERANZA
Mark
Hamill
and
Heath
Ledger.
DION
(sighs)
The
Joker.
ESPERANZA
Jason
Isaacs
and
Aasif
Mandvi.
DION
Admiral
Zhao.
“AVATAR:
THE
LAST
ATIRBENDER."”
ESPERANZA
Donald
Glover
and
Billy
--
DION
Lando
Calrissian.
ESPERANZA
(super
villain
voice)
You’re
good,
Mr.
Warren.
But
I
WILL
defeat
you.
Dion
watches
Chris
and
Crew
exit
the
cafeteria,
talking.
laughing
and
14.
16
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
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Draft
(01/17/18)
15.
INT.
SWEET
AUBURN
CURB
MARKET
-
DAY
produce
and
meat
market
surrounded
by
food
stalls,
housed
in
a
converted
historic
brick
warehouse.
Shoppers
peruse
the
goods.
Most
food
stalls
have
a
line
of
waiting
customers.
Nicole
sits
at
a
white
plastic
communal
table
with
her
head
in
her
hands
as
a
BURRITO
on
a
PLATE
is
placed
in
front
of
her.
NICOLE
What
is
this?
Nicole’s
friend,
WILLA
(late
20s;
African-American;
dancer)
sits.
WILLA
Pork
and
Jalapeno
Burrito
from
Bell’s.
NICOLE
(I
can't
eat)
I
just
got
fired.
WILLA
If
you
don’t
eat
your
burrito,
you
can’t
have
your
praline.
Willa
pulls
a
cellophane-wrapped
homemade
PRALINE
from
her
pocket,
waves
it
in
front
of
Nicole.
NICOLE
When’s
the
new
show
opening?
WILLA
Two
weeks,
runs
for
six.
The
day
it
closes
right
here,
eating
exactly
this.
Until
then
--
Willa
pushes
the
food
toward
Nicole,
hoping
to
watch
her
eat
it.
Nicole
can’t
even.
She
slumps
back
in
her
chair.
WILLA
You
hated
that
job.
NICOLE
It
paid
the
bills.
WILLA
And
killed
your
soul.
You've
got
money.
(CONTINUED)
17
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-
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16.
CONTINUED:
NICOLE
Why
would
you
say
that?
WILLA
Mark
made
money
-~
NICOLE
He
was
barely
out
of
grad
school
when...
(then)
We
had
some
savings,
but
Dion
and
I
have
been
living
off
that.
I
need
to
work,
Willa.
WILLA
So,
you’ll
find
a
job.
A
real
job.
Something
you
like.
Nicole
and
Willa
share
a
look.
WILLA
(CONT'D)
Besides
dancing.
(then)
You
know,
you
could
come
down
and
talk
to
Kwame
about
a
job.
NICOLE
What,
like
sweeping
the
stage?
No
thank
you.
WILLA
There’s
a
whole
office
there,
who
knows?
NICOLE
It’s
too
hard
to
be
that
close
and
not
be
part
of
it.
Willa
gets
that.
Something
catches
her
eye.
WILLA
Oop,
Liz’s
here.
LIZ
ROBERTS
(30;
African-American,
very
put
together)
rolls
a
black
sample
case
up
to
the
table.
She’s
wearing
a
conservative
pencil
skirt
and
a
plain
white
blouse.
LIZ
Where’s
my
coffee?
Willa,
I
texted
you!
(CONTINUED)
18
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Ep
101
-
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-
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Draft
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CONTINUED:
(2)
WILLA
I'm
not
looking
at
my
phone.
(pointedly)
I
was
talking
to
our
friend
--
LIZ
And
I'm
gonna
talk
to
her,
too.
I
just
wanted
a
spiced
gingerbread
latte
while
I
was
doing
it!
Liz
sits.
Nicole
looks
at
Liz’s
sample
case.
NICOLE
Are
you
going
to
try
to
sell
us
medical
supplies?
LIZ
There
were
some
sketchy-looking
dudes
in
the
parking
lot.
While
Nicole
and
Liz
talk,
Willa
begins
picking
at
the
burrito
with
a
fork,
pretending
she’s
not
going
to
eat
it,
but
is
soon
eating
it.
NICOLE
(to
Liz)
Where
are
you
headed
this
time?
LIZ
Chicago
for
three
days.
Dallas
for
two.
Back
for
one,
then
driving
to
Charleston.
When
is
Kat
going
to
get
me
into
Emory?
NICOLE
She’s
a
resident.
I
don’t
think
asking
her
who
they
should
buy
heart
valves
from.
LIZ
Just
get
me
in
the
door,
I’'ll
make
it
happen.
This
commission
life
SUUUUUUUUKS.
Turned
me
into
somebody
I
do
not
know.
WILLA
I
know
her.
LIZ
Shut
up.
(to
Nicole)
How’s
my
girl?
(CONTINUED)
17.
19
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101
-
"Pilot"
-
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Draft
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18.
CONTINUED:
(3)
NICOLE
Unemployed.
He
said
I
was
chronically
late
and
quote,
“the
level
of
chaos
in
my
life
was
disruptive
to
the
office,”
unquote.
LIZ
Translation:
You
were
hot,
so
I
hired
you,
but
now
that
I
know
we're
not
gonna
hook
up,
I
don’t
wanna
deal
with
your
single-mom
shit.
(gets
an
idea)
You
should
do
sales.
You
can
make
a
lot
of
money.
NICOLE
Oh,
is
that
what
SUUUUUUCKS
means?
WILLA
(mouthful
of
burrito)
She
can’t
travel
for
work,
she’s
got
Dion.
Liz
shoots
a
look
at
Willa,
then
-—
LIZ
(to
Nicole)
How’s
little
man?
Does
he
like
it
any
better
at
the
new
school?
NICOLE
He’s
going
to
like
it
today
because
I
can
finally
pick
him
up
on
time.
Nicole
gets
a
TEXT.
She
turns
it
so
Liz
can
read
it.
NICOLE
(CONT'D)
You
need
to
call
this
fool
off.
LIZ
Why?
NICOLE
I'm
not
interested.
LIZ
In
THAT
guy?
NICOLE
Any
guy.
Willa
snags
the
phone,
looks
at
the
guy’s
photo.
(CONTINUED)
20
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DION
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101
-
"Pilot"
-
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Draft
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19.
CONTINUED:
(4)
WILLA
Damn.
(to
Liz)
Girl,
why
didn’t
you
hook
ME
up?
LIZ
Because
Nicole
needs
to
get
out
of
her
house.
NICOLE
I
GOT
out
of
my
house.
Now
I
live
in
an
apartment
in
a
part
of
town
I
~-
don't
know.
My
kid
is
unhappy.
I
got
fired
today...
NICOLE
(overwhelmed)
I
just
want...
I
want
everything
to
stop.
Willa
and
Liz
share
a
look,
wrap
their
arms
around
Nicole.
A
moment
of
them
just
being
there
for
her,
then
Nicole
rips
open
the
praline
package,
breaks
it
into
three
pieces,
hands
them
out.
Off
the
three
women
getting
a
sugar
high,
together--
CUT
TO:
EXT.
DION’S
SCHOOL
-
ENTRANCE
-
LATE
AFTERNOON
Dion
fiddles
with
his
magic
props
as
he
sits
between
Esperanza
(in
her
wheelchair)
and
TWO
GIRLS
who
giggle
and
gossip
—-
all
waiting
to
be
picked
up
after
school.
One
lone
GYM
COACH
grades
a
massive
stack
of
papers
at
the
security
desk.
ESPERANZA
What
time
are
you
being
picked
up?
DION
(shrugs)
She’s
always
late.
She
works
downtown.
ESPERANZA
So
does
my
Dad.
He
says
traffic
on
Peachtree
is
a
bastard.
Dion
nods.
Makes
sense.
(CONTINUED)
21
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DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
CONTINUED:
ESPERANZA
(CONT'D)
(re:
his
props)
You
do
magic?
Dion
nods.
ESPERANZA
(CONT'D)
Show
me.
Dion’s
reluctant,
but
an
audience
is
an
audience.
He
uses
a
school
book
on
his
lap
as
a
‘table.’
He
performs
the
trick
with
the
spongy
red
ball,
blue
plastic
cup,
and
a
sheet
of
paper.
He
covers
the
cup
with
the
paper,
crunches
it
down
to
fit,
then
picks
up
the
paper-shrouded
cup
to
show
the
ball
underneath.
As
he
does
this
move,
he
drops
the
cup
from
underneath
the
paper
into
his
lap.
He
attempts
a
MYSTICAL
STAGE
VOICE
——
DION
You’ve
seen
the
ball,
have
you
not?
ESPERANZA
Uh-huh.
He
replaces
the
cup-shaped
paper
over
the
ball.
DION
Hold
your
breath,
for
I’'m
about
to
send
the
cup
through
the
table.
He
points
his
fingers
at
the
cup
and
says
—-
DION
(CONT’D)
Abracadabra!
He
slams
his
hand
down
on
top
of
the
paper,
smashing
it
flat.
DION
Thank
you!
Esperanza
applauds.
ESPERANZA
Nice.
I
didn’t
even
see
the
cup
when
you
dropped
it
in
your
lap.
deflated.
ESPERANZA
I
have
the
same
magic
kit.
(CONTINUED)
20.
22
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101
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-
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Draft
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21.
CONTINUED:
(2)
DION
you
ask
to
see
it
if
you
already
knew
how
it
worked?
ESPERANZA
To
see
if
you
did
it
better.
He
didn't.
Irritated,
Dion
retreats
into
gathering
up
his
magic
props.
ESPERANZA
(CONT'D)
You
know,
those
kids
are
at
the
skate
park.
The
ones
you’re
always
following
around.
This
gets
Dion’s
attention.
DION
How
do
you
know?
ESPERANZA
One
of
the
perks
of
being
an
invisible
person
is
you
hear
things.
Dion
thinks
for
a
beat,
grabs
his
backpack.
ESPERANZA
(CONT'’D)
What’s
your
plan?
You
can’t
just
walk
off
school
grounds.
You
want
to
be
an
Amber
Alert?
DION
I
just
don’t
want
to
sit
here
when
I
could
be
having
fun.
ESPERANZA
No
offense
taken.
(then)
Tell
the
coach
going
to
the
bathroom.
I’1l
distract
him
while
you
run
between
the
dumpsters.
DION
There’s
a
fence
back
there.
ESPERANZA
It’s
got
a
hole
in
it.
So
I
hear.
Dion
smiles.
Esperanza
smiles
back.
They’re
in
this
together.
Dion
heads
toward
the
Coach.
(CONTINUED)
23
RATISING
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101
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Draft
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22.
CONTINUED:
(3)
DION
(to
the
Coach)
Um...
I
need
to
go
to
the
bathroom?
Because...
I
have
to.
Coach
looks
up
from
his
papers,
nods,
goes
back
to
work.
Dion
looks
back
at
Esperanza,
who
gestures
for
him
to
GO.
As
he
hurries
away,
she
wheels
herself
up
to
the
security
desk.
ESPERANZA
(to
the
Coach)
I'm
thinking
of
starting
a
basketball
team.
The
coach
is
distracted,
Dion
takes
a
quick
left
turn
to
the--
DUMPSTERS
They
smell
terrible.
But
Dion
moves
between
them
to
the
chain
link
fence
at
the
back.
He
scans
the
fence,
sees
a
section
that
has
been
pried
away
from
the
posts.
He
shimmies
his
way
through
to
the
—-
OTHER
SIDE
Dion
takes
off
down
the
road.
EXT.
SKATE
PARK
-
LATE
AFTERNOON
Dion
arrives
at
the
skate
park,
looks
around
and
sees
Chris,
Jonathan,
Steffi,
and
a
COUPLE
OF
OLDER
KIDS
scarfing
snacks
from
7-11
and
flying
down
ramps
on
skateboards.
CHRIS'
BROTHER
and
another
TEENAGED
BOY
hang
nearby.
DION
(faux-casual)
Wow,
you
guys
are
here!
They
look
up
to
see
Dion,
indifferent
to
his
presence.
CHRIS
Whatssup?
DION
Just
on
my
way
home.
CHRIS
Did
you
bring
your
board?
DION
Uh,
no,
I,
no...
(CONTINUED)
24
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
23.
CONTINUED:
Jonathan
wipes
out
attempting
a
rail
stand
and
his
skate
board
rolls
across
the
asphalt
toward
Dion.
CHRIS
(to
Dion)
Take
it.
JONATHAN
(not
happy)
Hey
—-
CHRIS
Let’s
see
what
he
can
do.
Chris
takes
a
swing
of
a
gigantic
CHERRY
SLURPEE,
then
lines
up
at
the
top
of
a
ramp
with
Steffi.
Dion
grabs
the
board
and
joins
them.
Steffi
takes
off,
flying
down
the
ramp
and
catching
air
at
the
other
side.
As
he
rides
his
board
down
the
ramp
heading
back,
Chris
takes
off
down
the
ramp,
flying
up
the
other
side
and
holding
his
board
as
he
catches
air
and
spins.
Jonathan
pushes
Dion.
JONATHAN
Go,
if
you're
going!
Unprepared,
Dion
goes
flying
down
the
ramp
and
WIPES
OUT,
to
a
chorus
of
jeers.
Off
Dion,
embarrassed
--
MONTAGE
OF
FAILURE
—--
Dion
kicks
off
at
the
top
of
the
ramp
and
immediately
falls
backward;
the
board
goes
on
without
him.
——
Mid-air,
Dion
rolls
off
of
his
board
and
keeps
rolling.
Facedown
on
the
ramp,
Dion
picks
himself
up
while
trying
to
avoid
the
other
KIDS
flying
past
him
on
their
boards.
Steffi
flies
over
Dion’s
head,
using
him
as
an
obstacle.
Insult
to
injury.
Dion’s
part
of
the
ramp,
now.
END
MONTAGE
Dion
makes
it
to
the
top,
banged
up,
frustrated.
He'’s
met
by
Jonathan,
who
goes
for
his
board.
JONATHAN
(CONT'D)
You
suck!
Angry,
Dion
jumps
on
the
board,
pushes
off,
flying
down
the
ramp.
(CONTINUED)
25
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
24.
CONTINUED:
(2)
As
he
catches
air,
his
board
starts
to
fly
out
from
under
his
feet.
He
can
feel
himself
losing
altitude.
He
looks
at
the
board
and
screams
--
DION
Brake!
Brake!
And
the
board
FLIPS
AROUND
and
FLIES
UNDER
DION'S
FEET!
His
feet
come
down
on
the
board.
He
squats
down
and
grabs
the
board
with
both
of
his
hands,
to
steady
himself.
STEFFI
Holy
shit!
No
one
is
more
surprised
than
Dion
--
WHO
IS
STILL
HANGING
IN
THE
AIR
Levitating
the
board
unconsciously.
He
takes
a
breath
and
--
Gravity
comes
back
online,
sending
the
board
and
its
rider
down
the
ramp
--
imperfect,
but
in
triumph.
The
boys
all
run
down
into
the
bowl,
high-fiving
Dion.
The
older
kids
gather
around
him,
too.
CHRIS
That
was
some
serious
magic
carpet
shit!
Show
me
how
to
do
it
--
STEFFI
How’d
you
hold
yourself
up
in
the
air?
CHRIS
Yeah
--
The
cool
kids
are
all
hanging
on
his
every
word.
He
likes
this.
DION
It’s
a
lot
about
the
speed.
The
kids
all
start
trying
to
mimic
what
Dion
just
did,
hopping
their
boards
up
in
the
air
but
of
course,
the
physics
don’t
make
sense.
They
drop
to
the
ground
like
flies.
Jonathan
takes
a
particularly
hard
fall
right
in
front
of
Dion,
who
can’t
help
taking
a
little
pleasure
in
it.
DION
(CONT’D)
Yeah.
Just
keep
doing
that.
(CONTINUED)
26
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
25.
CONTINUED:
(3)
NICOLE
(O.S.)
Dion?!
Dion
looks
up
to
see
his
mom
stomping
across
the
parking
lot.
DION
Uh-oh.
NICOLE
You
left
school?
The
kids
smirk,
laugh.
Glad
it’s
not
them.
DION
Don’t
get
upset
--
NICOLE
I
thought
you’d
been
kidnapped
or
something
until
that
girl,
Esperanza,
told
me
where
you
were.
CHRIS
Dion’s
got
a
girlfriend.
Dion’s
mortified.
NICOLE
Get
in
the
car.
Dion
looks
stricken
as
Nicole
heads
back
to
her
car.
While
Chris
goes
for
his
Slurpee,
Jonathan
snatches
his
board
out
of
Dion’s
hands.
He
hops
on
the
board
and
heads
toward
the
other
kids.
As
Dion
turns
and
stomps
toward
Nicole’s
car,
he
swings
his
fists
and
lets
out
an
unconscious
angry
GRUNT,
at
which
time,
the
TRASH
CANS
in
the
skate
park
ALL
BLOW
BACK
AT
ONCE,
as
if
hit
with
an
EXPLOSIVE
PULSE.
Chris’
cherry
Slurpee
SPLATTERS
all
over
him.
DION
turns
back
to
see
what’s
happening.
Suddenly
worried
that
HE
made
that
happen,
he
RUNS
to
his
mom’s
car.
INT.
NICOLE’S
CAR
-
PARKING
LOT
-
LATE
AFTERNOON
Nicole
gets
back
in
the
car,
SLAMS
the
door.
Dion’s
waiting
with
a
guilty,
kiss-ass
smile
on
his
face,
pretending
everything’s
normal.
DION
How
was
your
day?
(CONTINUED)
27
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
26.
CONTINUED:
Nicole
glares
at
him,
starts
the
car.
Off
Dion,
wondering
how
bad
this
is
going
to
get,
INT.
APARTMENT
BUILDING
-~
HALLWAY
-
EVENING
Nicole
stalks
down
the
hallway,
fuming.
Dion
follows
closely
behind,
still
sheepish
--
when
they
see
their
neighbor,
GEORGE
(late
60s;
wearing
a
VFW
trucker
hat;
retired
drill
sergeant;
everything
he
says
sounds
like
an
order)
standing
at
their
doorway
talking
with
--
PAT
ROLLINS
(30s;
bio-engineer;
boyish
good
looks;
wire-
rimmed
glasses;
Spaghetti
Monster
T-shirt,
Converse
high-
tops.)
He’s
holding
a
stack
of
vintage
comic
books.
DION
Pat!
Dion
runs
to
Pat,
giving
him
a
hug.
Nicole
seems
less
excited
to
see
him.
GEORGE
(barks,
to
Nicole)
This
your
BOYFRIEND?
NICOLE
What?
No
--
GEORGE
Get
my
CAKE?
NICOLE
We
got
it,
George.
Thank
you
--
GEORGE
What’d
you
do
to
your
HAIR?
NICOLE
(ignoring
George;
to
Pat)
Why
are
you
here?
PAT
Dion
invited
me
for
dinner.
Nicole
looks
to
Dion,
who
points
to
Pat’s
comic
books.
DION
He
brought
the
Todd
McFarlands!
Nicole
doesn’t
know
what
that
means.
(CONTINUED)
28
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
27.
CONTINUED:
GEORGE
(to
Nicole)
There’s
a
RACCOON
living
in
the
DUMPSTER.
He
says
it
like
it’s
her
fault.
Nicole
can‘t
deal
with
any
of
this.
She
opens
her
door,
Pat
and
Dion
follow
her
inside.
INT.
NICOLE’'S
APARTMENT
-
LIVING
ROOM
-
EVENING
(CONTINUOUS)
Nicole
throws
her
purse
on
the
breakfast
bar.
Pat
sees
the
unfolded
laundry
on
the
couch,
breakfast
dishes
on
the
counter.
Nicole
feels
the
silent
judgment.
NICOLE
I
wasn’'t
expecting
company.
PAT
I
don’t
need
to
be
company.
I’'1ll
take
Dion
for
pizza.
Give
you
a
little
time
--
NICOLE
Dion’s
not
going
anywhere.
DION
Mom!
NICOLE
You
ran
away
from
school.
PAT
He
what?
NICOLE
Don’t
worry
about
it,
Pat.
Just...
(to
Dion)
Go
to
your
room
--
which
you
can
clean.
Dion
looks
to
Pat,
then
runs
down
the
hallway
and
SLAMS
his
bedroom
door.
PAT
Can
we
——
Nicole
sees
a
LINE
OF
ANTS
ON
THE
FLOOR,
where
Dion’s
cereal
fell
this
morning.
Nicole
lets
out
a
GROAN
--
ants
again???
(CONTINUED)
29
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
CONTINUED:
She
grabs
a
wad
of
paper
towels,
runs
water
over
them,
drops
to
the
floor
and
starts
swiping
ants.
Pat
looks
at
the
clock
--
it’s
already
7:15pm.
He
kneels
down
to
Nicole’s
level,
speaks
calmly
so
he
doesn’t
set
her
off.
PAT
Hey.
Here’s
an
idea
—-
Nicole
sighs.
She
knows
she’s
a
mess
right
now.
PAT
(CONT'D)
It’s
7:15,
the
boy
needs
to
eat
--
(before
she
can
speak)
--
so0
I'll
take
him
for
pizza,
spend
a
little
time
with
my
godson,
talk
about
stupid
stuff
for
an
hour
because
he
likes
pizza
and
I
like
talking
about
stupid
stuff.
(then)
And
you
get
an
hour.
Nicole
exhales,
gives
in.
NICOLE
No
soda,
no
dessert.
Pat
almost
argues
for
dessert,
but
instead,
nods,
okay.
TIME
CUT
TO:
INT.
NICOLE’S
APARTMENT
-~
DOORWAY
-
NIGHT
Nicole
watches
Pat
and
Dion
disappear
down
the
hallway,
chatting
away
as
Dion
unbags
a
70S
COMIC.
PAT
The
first
super-villain
he
fought
was
Supercharger:
The
Living
Battery.
DION
No,
it
was
the
Vulture.
PAT
(chuckles
melodramatically)
Excellent,
my
young
padawan.
You
fell
into
my
trap
—-
They
turn
the
corner,
Nicole
goes
back
inside
her
apartment.
28.
30
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
29.
INT.
NICOLE’'S
APARTMENT
-
LIVING
ROOM
-
NIGHT
(CONTINUOUS)
Nicole
considers
the
unfolded
laundry
on
the
couch.
And
the
dishes
on
the
kitchen
counter.
Then
--
INT.
NICOLE’S
APARTMENT
-
BATHROOM
-~
NIGHT
Nicole
draws
a
bath.
INT.
NICOLE’'S
APARTMENT
-
BATHROOM
-
NIGHT
(LATER)
We
glimpse
a
bold
tribal
tattoo
cascading
down
the
right
side
of
Nicole’s
back
as
she
sinks
into
the
sudsy
water.
Water’s
a
little
too
hot,
maybe.
She
leans
back
against
the
tub,
closes
her
eyes
and
breathes.
Again.
But
the
exhaustion
isn’t
easing
up.
She
looks
around
the
small
bathroom,
notices
a
crack
in
one
of
the
pink
tiles.
More
than
one.
Several.
She
starts
counting
the
cracks
--
all
that’s
wrong
with
this
room,
this
apartment
--
then
catches
herself.
She
stands
up
and
steps
out
of
the
tub,
dripping
wet.
INT.
NICOLE'S
APARTMENT
-
KITCHEN
-
NIGHT
A
GLASS
OF
WINE
is
poured
and
carried
out
of
frame.
Nicole’s
hand
comes
back
to
take
the
BOTTLE,
reconsiders,
leaves
it.
INT.
NICOLE'S
APARTMENT
-
BATHROOM
-
NIGHT
Nicole
drains
her
wine
glass,
leans
back
in
the
bath,
closes
her
eyes.
Images
FLOAT
through
her
mind
--
a
SWIRL
of
SUNLIGHT
and
MARK'’S
SMILE
--
A
GLIMPSE
OF
WILDFLOWERS
clutched
in
Nicole’s
hand
--
People
stream
around
the
delirious
newlyweds
as
they
kiss
on
COURTHOUSE
STEPS,
but
we’'re
CLOSE
in
the
kiss
—-
in
Nicole’s
sense
memory
of
the
moment.
--
Mark
holds
BRIGHT-EYED
BABY
DION.
Nicole
smiles,
wraps
her
arms
around
them.
A
happy
family.
--
Nicole
watches
Mark
tinker
with
a
thin
METAL
CONTRAPTION
on
his
workbench.
He’s
trying
to
fold
it
like
an
accordion.
NICOLE
Why
does
it
have
to
fold?
(CONTINUED)
31
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
10l
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
30.
CONTINUED:
MARK
Because
it’s
easier
to
carry
--
Mark
takes
the
contraption
outside,
into
the
--
OPEN
FIELD
(NEAR
THE
LAKE
CABIN)
MARK
(CONT’D)
--
and
when
I
need
it
He
unfolds
it
and
it
POPS
into
the
shape
of
a
domed
cage.
MARK
(CONT'D)
Voila!
Nicole
inspects
the
dome.
NICOLE
And
why
are
you
making
the
roof
of
a
Volkswagon?
MARK
Smartass.
It's
a
Faraday
Cage.
When
you
wrap
metal
in
a
particular
way
around
something
—-
NICOLE
You
can
re-route
electrical
currents
to
the
ground.
I
know
what
a
Faraday
cage
is.
It’s
why
you're
safe
in
a
car.
MARK
And
I
want
to
be
able
to
sit
in
a
storm
and
play
with
lightning,
but
I
don’t
want
to
lug
a
heavy
iron
cage.
This
new
metal
alloy
is
light
AND
rustproof.
NICOLE
Well,
it’s
adorable.
Does
it
work?
MARK
(shrugs)
Won’t
know
until
lightning
hits
it.
NICOLE
That
sounds
safe.
He
places
the
cage
over
her.
She
looks
ridiculous.
(CONTINUED)
32
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
31.
CONTINUED:
(2)
NICOLE
(CONT’D)
Does
this
Faraday
Cage
make
me
look
fat?
MARK
You
look
hot
--
NICOLE
Hot,
like
I’ve
been
hit
by
lightning?
MARK
Little
trust,
please?
I
got
you.
NICOLE
(suddenly
serious)
Please
be
careful.
It’s
not
just
you
out
in
the
wind
and
rain.
You’re
dragging
my
heart
around
with
you.
He
nods,
he
knows.
He
leans
in,
kisses
her
through
the
cage.
NICOLE
(CONT’D)
This
isn’t
weird
at
all.
They
both
laugh
while
continuing
to
try
to
kiss.
From
NICOLE’S
POV
—-
MARK’S
BROAD
SMILE
DISSOLVES
INTO
MARK
—--
STRUGGLING
IN
DARK,
SWIRLING,
THRASHING
WATER
--
fighting
to
keep
his
head
above
water.
He’s
dying
INT.
NICOLE’S
APARTMENT
-
BATHROOM
-
NIGHT
-
PRESENT
Nicole
opens
her
eyes.
Tries
to
shake
off
the
image.
Her
breath
is
ragged.
Unable
to
hold
it
off,
she
gives
up
and
lets
herself
cry.
INT.
PIZZA
JOE’S
-
NIGHT
Dion
stuffs
his
mouth
full
of
pizza,
Pat
holds
up
an
old
issue
of
THE
AMAZING
SPIDER-MAN.
PAT
ASM
#282.
Dion
reaches
for
it,
Pat
pulls
it
away.
PAT
(CONT'D)
Hey!
Pizza
hands!
I’ve
had
this
one
since
I
was
thirteen.
(CONTINUED)
33
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
CONTINUED:
Dion
wipes
DION
Is
it
worth
anything?
PAT
Like
three
bucks,
but
it’s
mine
and
I
don’t
want
it
smeared
with
cheese
grease.
his
hands.
PAT
(CONT'D)
Spider-Man
fights
Jean
Grey
in
this
one.
She
has
telepathy
AND
telekinesis.
And
boots.
Triple
threat.
DION
Which
one
means
you
can
move
things
with
your
mind?
PAT
Telekinesis.
It’s
like,
superpowers
101.
All
the
Greats
have
it
--
Luke
Skywalker,
Neo,
Mary
Poppins...
DION
No
--
PAT
How
do
you
think
she
floats
around
with
an
umbrella
all
day?
DION
She
scares
me.
PAT
Dude,
she
is
the
stuff
of
nightmares.
When
she
was
with
those
kids,
they
were
drugged,
chased
by
cops.
Lady
is
stone
cold
evil.
DION
I
don’t
want
to
be
evil.
32.
Pat
doesn’t
realize
this
has
turned
into
a
real
conversation.
PAT
Then
use
your
powers
for
good.
DION
I
don’'t
even
know
how
to
use
my
powers.
(CONTINUED)
34
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
33.
CONTINUED:
(2)
PAT
So,
you’re
a
superhero,
now?
DION
I
can
do
magic.
PAT
Cool.
You
got
a
name?
DION
Dion.
PAT
A
superhero
name.
Like
Pizza
Face
or
Fart
Boy
—-
Dion
giggles.
DION
You're
Fart
Grown-Up.
PAT
And
together
we’re
a
crime-fighting
duo
NO
ONE
wants
to
see
coming!
Dion
makes
fake
FART
SOUNDS,
Pat
joins
in.
People
at
neighboring
tables
turn
and
look
at
them.
PAT
mind
us,
we’re
fighting
crime.
(back
to
Dion)
You’re
gonna
need
a
suit,
like
a
leotard
with
like
a
giant
F
on
it.
DION
Or
a
cape
with
a
fart
bubble!
PAT
And
you
can’t
let
anybody
know
your
true
identity
because
if
the
government
finds
out,
they’ll
lock
you
away
and
experiment
on
you!
DION
Really?
PAT
Yeah.
The
government
is
always
looking
for
people
with
special
powers
so
they
can
harness
them
and
use
them
as
weapons
(CONTINUED)
35
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
—
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
34.
CONTINUED:
(3)
DION
My
mom
wouldn’t
let
them
do
that.
PAT
Might
not
be
her
call.
Remember
Batman’s
parents?
Spider-Man’s
uncle?
Superman’s
whole
PLANET
--
Dion
retreats.
Pat
realizes
he’s
picked
a
scab.
PAT
(CONT'D)
Hey,
I
was
just
kidding.
Nothing’s
gonna
happen
to
your
mom.
DION
Something
happened
to
my
Dad.
A
beat.
PAT
Yeah.
(then)
He
was
my
best
friend,
you
know.
Since
before
I
owned
that
comic.
Dion
looks
at
the
comic
book
as
if
his
father
is
in
it.
PAT
(CONT'D)
We
met
at
a
robotics
competition.
DION
Who
won?
PAT
Who
do
you
think?
Dion
smiles
—--
his
Dad
was
the
best
at
everything.
PAT
(CONT'D)
He
talked
me
into
coming
to
work
for
BIONA
with
him.
He
was
already
a
storm
chaser.
I
became
his
stats
guy,
doing
the
math,
recording
the
data.
The
dynamic
duo.
DION
Were
you
with
him
when
it
happened?
PAT
(shakes
his
head,
no)
I
didn’t
even
know
he
was
going
until
it
was
too
late.
(CONTINUED)
36
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
35.
CONTINUED:
(4)
DION
They
never
found
him,
you
know.
Pat
hears
the
hope
in
Dion’s
voice
and
it
breaks
his
heart.
DION
(CONT’D)
Mom
won’t
tell
me
what
happened.
Just
says
it
was
a
storm.
PAT
That’s
the
problem
with
chasing
storms.
Sometimes
you
catch
one.
Dion
waits
for
Pat
to
f£ill
him
in,
but
it’s
not
his
place.
Instead,
he
takes
a
different
tack
—-
PAT
(CONT’D)
But
what
I
remember
most
about
your
Dad
is
that
he
LOVED
to
fish.
His
Dad
taught
him
when
he
was
a
little
kid.
You
know,
his
Dad
built
the
lake
cabin
himself.
Your
grandfather.
(then)
We
used
to
go
fishing
up
there
any
chance
we
got
but
we
had
a
rule
that
we
only
ate
what
we
caught.
So
if
the
fish
weren’t
biting,
we
didn’t
eat.
DION
Did
he
catch
a
lot
of
fish?
PAT
Tons.
Dude
was
amazing...
Off
Dion,
hanging
on
every
word
about
his
epic
father.
PRE-LAP
of
the
DOOR
BELL
RINGING.
INT.
NICOLE’'S
APARTMENT
-
DOORWAY
-
NIGHT
Nicole
(in
yoga
pants
and
a
sweatshirt)
opens
the
door
to
a
big
hug
from
Dion.
Pat
waits
in
the
hall,
holding
a
SMALL
PIZZA
BOX.
DION
Pat
says
I
can
have
these
comics
as
long
as
I
keep
them
in
the
plastic.
NICOLE
You
say
thank
you?
(CONTINUED)
37
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
CONTINUED:
PAT
Loud
enough
to
scare
people.
NICOLE
(to
Dion)
What’s
on
your
shirt?
DION
Mint
Chocolate
Chip.
Nicole
gives
Pat
a
stern
look.
He
grimaces,
Sorry!
NICOLE
(to
Dion)
Brush
your
teeth.
Dion
runs
into
the
apartment.
PAT
(apologetically)
He
wanted
ice
cream
and
I
wanted
him
to
like
me...
NICOLE
You
should
worry
more
about
me
liking
you.
PAT
Copy
that.
Pat
hands
her
the
pizza
box,
a
peace
offering.
NICOLE
Thanks.
Pat
nods,
pauses
--
not
sure
if
he
wants
to
say
this,
but
--
PAT
He
asked
me
how
Mark
died.
Tough
for
Nicole
to
hear.
NICOLE
What
did
you
say?
PAT
Changed
the
subject.
(then)
But
if
I
were
him,
I’'d
want
to
know.
He
could
be
proud
of
--
NICOLE
Good
night,
Pat.
(CONTINUED)
36.
38
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
CONTINUED:
(2)
As
she
closes
the
door.
PAT
Okay,
it’s
up
to
you,
obviously.
I--
The
door
closes.
INT.
NICOLE’S
APARTMENT
-
LIVING
ROOM
-
NIGHT
37.
Nicole’s
facing
the
door,
her
hand
still
on
the
doorknob.
PAT
(0.S.)
(through
the
door)
‘Night!
Dion’s
kneeling
at
the
coffee
table
in
his
jammies,
playing
with
LEGOS
and
ACTION
FIGURES.
NICOLE
You
need
to
talk
to
me
before
you
invite
people
over.
Nicole
starts
folding
the
clean
laundry.
DION
Are
you
mad?
NICOLE
This
wasn’'t
the
plan
for
tonight.
You
ran
away
from
school.
DION
I
invited
him
before
I
did
that.
NICOLE
How?
DION
Messaged
him
on
Playstation.
NICOLE
You
can
do
that?
Why
didn’t
I
know
that?
I
need
to
know
who
you’re
talking
to
--
DION
But
you
work
all
the
time.
NICOLE
That’s
not
fair,
I
take
care
of
you.
But
somebody
has
to
pay
the
bills
--
(CONTINUED)
39
RATISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
38.
CONTINUED:
DION
I
don’t
want
to
live
here.
I
like
our
old
house
better
--
NICOLE
Honey,
we
—-—
DION
If
Dad
comes
home
he
won’t
know
where
to
find
us!
That
stops
Nicole
cold.
Trying
not
to
feel
anything,
she
turns
back
to
folding
the
laundry.
DION
I'm
sorry.
Nicole
shakes
her
head
as
if
it’s
okay,
but
he
knows
it’s
not.
Dion
doesn’t
know
how
to
un-~do
this
moment.
He
looks
at
his
toys
—-
his
heart
is
full...
and...
HIS
“LAST
JEDI”
REY
ACTION
FIGURE
WOBBLES
SLIGHTLY.
Dion
lights
up.
DION
(CONT’D)
Mom?
NICOLE
It’s
okay.
Go
brush
your
--
Nicole
looks
over
and
sees
Action
Figure
Rey
WOBBLE
UP
OFF
THE
TABLE,
into
the
air.
Nicole
moves
across
the
room.
Dion’s
happy
to
see
Nicole’s
mood
change
as
ANOTHER
ACTION
FIGURE
(KYLO
REN)
wobbles
up
and
the
two
start
circling
each
other
in
the
air.
DION
They’re
playing.
NICOLE
How
—--?
Dion
smiles
and
shrugs
--
and
all
of
the
LEGO
PIECES
FLOAT
UP
into
the
air
at
once
and
begin
circling
gently
around
Nicole,
SATELLITING
her
at
waist
level,
like
the
rings
of
Saturn,
ROTATING
THEIR
ORBIT
AROUND
HER
—--
A
BUBBLE
OF
GENTLY
FLOATING
LEGOS
--
It’s
magical
--
but
not
to
Nicole.
NICOLE
(CONT'D)
What
IS
this?
(CONTINUED)
40
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
39.
CONTINUED:
(2)
DION
(sweetly)
Magic.
Suddenly,
more
objects
join
the
flying
circle
--
BOOKS,
OPENED
BILLS,
A
SCENTED
CANDLE,
DION’S
CLEAN
UNDERWEAR
FROM
THE
LAUNDRY
PILE
--
picking
up
speed
with
Dion’s
enthusiasm
but
Nicole
is
getting
more
FREAKED
OUT
as
the
objects
fly
FASTER
and
FASTER,
SWARMING,
forming
a
cyclone.
NICOLE
No,
no,
no
--
Objects
begin
to
WOBBLE
in
their
orbits,
becoming
erratic.
CRASHING
into
one
another.
A
LEGO
glances
off
Nicole'’s
shoulder.
Dion
tries
to
get
control
back
--
but
his
efforts
seem
to
accelerate
the
chaos.
He’s
no
longer
proud
and
excited,
he's
frantic.
A
BOOK
smashes
the
glass
of
a
FRAMED
PHOTO
and
the
broken
glass
joins
the
swirl
of
objects.
Nicole's
arm
is
nicked
by
a
SHARD
NICOLE
(CONT'D)
ow!
Stop
it,
stop
it,
STOP!!!
LEGOS
and
ACTION
FIGURES
SLAM
themselves
into
walls.
Dion
looks
over
in
time
to
see
A
LAMP
flying
toward
Nicole.
Nicole
SHRIEKS
--
Dion
SCREAMS
--
And
EVERYTHING
STOPS.
Flying
objects
FREEZE
in
mid-air.
Nicole
is
facing
the
lamp,
which
is
frozen
in
the
air,
INCHES
away
from
her
face.
Eyes
wide
with
fear,
her
heart
is
racing.
We
hear
BANGING
ON
THE
WALL,
muffled
yelling
from
George
—-
AND
ALL
AT
ONCE...
THE
FLOATING
OBJECTS
DROP
TO
THE
FLOOR
WITH
A
CRASH.
Shaking,
Nicole
drops
to
her
knees,
sits
on
the
floor,
examines
the
small
cut
on
her
arm.
Dion
runs
to
her.
DION
I
didn’t
mean
to
hurt
you!
NICOLE
Honey,
you
didn’t
do
that
--
(CONTINUED)
41
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
40.
CONTINUED:
(3)
DION
I've
been
doing
magic
--
NICOLE
With
a
kit
you
bought
at
Walgreens!
(scans
the
debris)
I
don’t
understand.
How
did
that
happen?
never
seen
anything
like
it.
DION
I
have.
Nicole
looks
to
Dion.
He'’s
serious.
DION
(CONT'D)
There’s
a
pen
in
my
room
that
comes
when
I
need
it.
Off
Nicole’s
gathering
panic
--
CUT
TO:
CLOSE
ON:
A
PEN
ON
HIS
DESK,
IN...
INT.
NICOLE'S
APARTMENT
-
DION’S
BEDROOM
-
NIGHT
Nicole
watches
skeptically
as
Dion
stares
at
the
felt
tip
pens
and
colored
Sharpies
lying
among
all
of
the
LEGOS
scattered
on
his
desk.
Nothing
moves.
He
looks
back
at
his
mom,
then
turns
back
and
walks
closer
to
the
desk.
He
concentrates,
but
nothing
happens.
NICOLE
Which
one
are
you
trying
to
move?
DION
The
black
Sharpie.
I
use
it
for
faces,
but
it
must
be
mad
at
me.
NICOLE
Sharpies
can’t
get
mad,
honey.
DION
(under
his
breath)
I'm
pretty
sure
they
can.
She
notices
a
FIGURE
he’s
made
out
of
LEGOS:
HIMSELF
AS
A
SUPER
HERO,
wearing
a
cape.
(CONTINUED)
42
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
41.
CONTINUED:
NICOLE
(0.S.)
Is
this
you?
Dion
looks
embarrassed.
NICOLE
(CONT’D)
You’re
really
getting
good
—--
focus
on
the
sculpture
brings
them
back
to
normalcy
for
a
moment.
Dion
puffs
up,
proud.
DION
I
want
to
draw
something
on
his
cape,
like
flames
or
NICOLE
Flames
are
cool
—-
DION
Yeah
and
I
want
them
to
be
jagged,
like
this
--
The
black
Sharpie
flies
across
the
desk
and
into
Dion’s
hand.
Nicole
GASPS.
Dion
quickly
looks
to
her
--
DION
(CONT'D)
Are
you
mad
at
me?
NICOLE
No,
‘course
not.
It’s
just...
this
is...
different.
From
anything.
She
hugs
him
close,
in
part,
to
reassure
him,
but
also
to
keep
him
from
seeing
just
how
scared
she
really
is.
NICOLE
(CONT’D)
Bedtime.
Dion
looks
up
to
check
her
expression,
then
nods
and
climbs
into
bed.
Nicole
tries
to
put
on
a
good
face,
but
she’s
not
okay.
Her
hands
are
shaking
as
she
pulls
the
covers
up
around
him.
DION
Is
the
government
going
to
take
me
away?
NICOLE
What?
(CONTINUED)
43
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
42.
CONTINUED:
(2)
DION
Pat
says
the
government
will
take
me
away
and
experiment
on
me.
I
don’t
want
any
shots.
I
hate
shots!
NICOLE
Did
you
show
him
this?
Dion
shakes
his
head,
--
no.
DION
I
told
him
I
do
magic.
NICOLE
Nobody’s
taking
you
away.
Nicole
crooks
her
finger,
Dion
presents
the
top
of
his
head
and
she
kisses
it.
We
can
feel
her
anxiety
even
as
she
tries
to
shield
it
from
Dion.
Dion
settles
into
bed,
closes
his
eyes.
Nicole
softly
traces
his
face
with
her
finger
-
their
bedtime
ritual
--
and
Dion
begins
to
relax,
drifting
off
to
sleep.
Off
Nicole,
letting
her
guard
down,
scared,
CUT
TO:
INT.
NICOLE’S
APARTMENT
-
KITCHEN
-
NIGHT
CLOSE
ON
NICOLE’S
CELL
as
she
taps
numbers
with
SHAKY
HANDS.
Nicole’s
huddled
in
the
far
corner,
cell
phone
to
her
ear.
NICOLE
(CONT'D)
(whispering;
into
phone)
Pick
up
the
phone,
Kat!
I've
been
texting
you
for
an
hour.
It’s
about
Dion.
He's
I
need
to
--
She
breaks
off,
stymied.
No
words.
NICOLE
(CONT’'D)
Just
call
me.
She
hangs
up,
texts
—-
We
see
a
LINE
OF
TEXTS
to
Kat,
all
unanswered.
Nicole
turns
to
her
computer,
urgently
reading
and
clicking.
(CONTINUED)
44
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
43.
CONTINUED:
(3)
CLOSE
ON
NICOLE'’S
COMPUTER
SCREEN
The
results
of
a
GOOGLE
SEARCH
on
HALLUCINATIONS.
We
read
a
few
words
before
the
window
is
closed,
revealing
ANOTHER
GOOGLE
SEARCH
on
BRAIN
TUMORS.
That
search
is
erased
and
“TELEKINESIS”
is
typed
in,
bringing
up:
SEARCHES
RELATED
TO
TELEKINESIS:
-
telekinesis
real
-
telekinesis
training
-
telekinesis
powers
-
telekinesis
superpower
The
cursor
hovers
over
the
word
SUPERPOWER...
we
HEAR
the
DING!
of
a
text.
Nicole
grabs
her
phone
and
reads:
FROM
KAT:
GOING
INTO
SURGERY
SOON.
TAKE
DION
TO
E.R.
Not
what
Nicole
wanted
to
hear.
Feeling
desperate
and
alone
—-
CUT
TO:
INT.
NICOLE’S
APARTMENT
-
DION’S
BEDROOM
~
NIGHT
Nicole
gently
wakes
Dion.
NICOLE
Sweetie,
c’'mon,
we
need
to
go
see
Aunt
Kat...
Shhh,
it’s
okay,
let’s
put
your
coat
on...
She
wraps
his
jacket
around
him.
He’s
half
asleep
and
at
7,
heavier
than
the
boy
she
used
to
be
able
to
carry
easily.
INT.
HOSPITAL
-
RECEPTION
AREA
-
NIGHT
Nicole’s
shaking
hands
fumble
with
the
soda
machine
until
a
bottle
of
water
comes
out.
She
gives
it
to
Dion,
who
is
slumped
in
a
chair
half-asleep,
just
as
Nicole’s
sister,
KAT
NEESE
(late
20s;
wearing
surgical
scrubs)
gets
off
the
elevator.
NICOLE
Kat
goes
straight
to
Dion.
(CONTINUED)
45
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
CONTINUED:
KAT
(to
Dion)
Hey,
buddy.
not
feeling
well?
Dion
yawns.
Kat
feels
his
forehead.
KAT
No
fever,
that’s
good.
Something
hurting?
He
shakes
his
head,
sleepily.
Kat
looks
to
Nicole,
who
looks
like
hell.
KAT
I'm
going
to
talk
to
your
mom.
Stay
right
here,
okay?
44.
Dion
sleepily
snuggles
into
the
chair.
Kat
leads
Nicole
away.
KAT
(CONT’D)
I
told
you
to
take
him
to
the
E.R.--
NICOLE
I
need
you
to
look
at
him.
KAT
Nicky,
I
was
about
to
scrub
in.
He
doesn’t
even
look
sick.
NICOLE
(blurts,
bluntly)
He
can
move
things
with
his
mind.
A
beat.
A
look.
KAT
What
are
you
doing?
NICOLE
I’'m
telling
you
--
he
made,
like,
a
hurricane
or
a
cyclone
of...
THINGS.
LEGOS
and
—-
It
was
CRAZY
and
it
scared
the
SHIT
out
of
me
—-
KAT
Okay,
okay
--
Kat
hurries
Nicole
down
the
hall.
She
peeks
in
the
window
of
the
CHAPEL,
opens
the
door
and
pushes
Nicole
inside.
46
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
45.
INT.
HOSPITAL
-
CHAPEL
-
NIGHT
A
small
room
with
a
stained
glass
altar.
It’s
empty.
They
sit
on
one
of
the
pews.
KAT
Did
you
take
something?
I
gave
you
those
Lorazepam
in
case
of
an
emergency
NICOLE
I'm
telling
you,
something
is
happening
with
Dion.
I
saw
it!
He
made
things
fly
around
the
living
room
and
I'm
bleeding
--—
KAT
You’re
saying
Dion’s
violent?
NICOLE
I'M
SAYING
HE
HAS
POWERS!
WEIRD,
SCARY
POWERS!
Nicole
breaks
down,
crying.
KAT
You
have
so
much
on
you
right
now
NICOLE
Don’t
DO
that.
Don’t
MINIMIZE
--
KAT
I'm
trying
to
figure
out
what'’s
going
on
because
tell
you
right
now,
Dion
does
not
have
powers!
Nicole
Jjumps
up.
NICOLE
Come
with
me,
I’1l
show
you
--—
KAT
No!
Stop
it!
You’re
acting
nuts!
You
don’t
get
to
DO
this
anymore!
You’re
somebody’s
MOTHER,
for
godssake!
NICOLE
You
don’t
think
I
know
that?
Kat
takes
a
deep
breath.
Gets
back
on
track.
(CONTINUED)
47
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
46.
CONTINUED:
KAT
You
need
to
talk
to
someone
--
NICOLE
I'm
talking
to
YOU
—-
KAT
I
mean
a
professional
because
no
kid
needs
to
see
their
mom
looking
like
you
do
right
now.
You
need
to
get
it
together.
A
long
beat.
She’s
right.
Nicole
nods,
okay,
and
confesses
NICOLE
I
lost
my
job
today.
KAT
Oh
god...
(then)
Okay...
I
have
to
go
into
surgery,
now.
You
need
to
go
home,
don’t
watch
the
news,
get
some
rest.
I'm
on
call
all
weekend
but
I’'ll
be
over
as
soon
as
I
can,
we’ll
figure
it
out.
But
right
now,
I
gotta
--
“GO..."
Nicole
nods.
Conversation’s
over.
Time
to
be
an
adult
again.
As
Nicole
moves
to
the
door
--
KAT
(CONT'D)
Hey.
Kat
sticks
out
her
pinky
finger.
Exhausted,
Nicole
wraps
her
pinky
finger
around
Kat’s
--
a
hold-over
from
childhood.
A
connection.
A
promise.
No
matter
what.
INT.
HOSPITAL
-
RECEPTION
AREA
-
NIGHT
Kat
waves
to
Dion
as
he
exits
the
hospital
holding
his
mother’s
hand.
Nicole
is
working
very
hard
to
keep
it
together.
INT.
NICOLE’S
CAR/DRIVING
-
NIGHT
Nicole
drives
in
almost
total
darkness,
her
face
lit
by
passing
cars.
Exhausted.
Confused.
Ill-equipped
for
this
moment.
She
looks
at
Dion,
sleeping
up
against
the
passenger
window,
also
exhausted,
but
somehow
trusting
enough
to
fall
asleep.
(CONTINUED)
48
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
47.
CONTINUED:
Nicole
looks
back
to
the
road
just
in
time
to
see
RED
TAIL
LIGHTS.
She
reflexively
SLAMS
on
the
BRAKES
and
veers
off
to
the
shoulder
of
the
road
to
avoid
hitting
the
car
in
front
of
her.
Dion
rustles
awake.
NICOLE
We'’'re
okay,
baby.
He
settles
back.
Off
Nicole,
staring
out
at
the
dark
road,
wondering
what’s
next.
INT.
NICOLE'S
APARTMENT
-~
LIVING
ROOM
-
NIGHT
Nicole
turns
off
the
lights
in
the
kitchen
and
the
living
room.
As
she
heads
off
to
bed,
she
steps
on
the
REY
ACTION
FIGURE.
She
places
it
on
the
coffee
table
and
observes
the
mess
Dion’s
cyclone
created.
BOOKS,
LAUNDRY,
TOYS
scattered
across
the
floor.
Something
catches
her
eye:
LEGOS
EMBEDDED
IN
THE
WALL.
She
wrenches
one
free,
but
half
a
dozen
others
are
buried
deep
in
the
drywall.
She
looks
around
at
the
mess.
It
was
real,
wasn't
it?
INT.
NICOLE’'S
APARTMENT
-
NICOLE’'S
BEDROOM
-
NIGHT
(LATER)
Nicole
is
in
bed,
holding
the
LEGO
she
pulled
out
of
the
wall,
staring
up
at
the
dark
ceiling,
tears
in
her
eyes.
The
door
to
her
room
inches
open
and
Dion’s
there,
backlit
--
a
tiny
person
casting
a
long
shadow.
DION
Mom?
Nicole
tries
to
wipe
away
her
tears
so
Dion
won’t
see
them.
NICOLE
Yes,
sweetie.
DION
I
can’'t
sleep
—-
(then)
Are
you
crying?
NICOLE
I'm
fine,
I'm
fine.
Come
here.
(CONTINUED)
49
RAISING
DION
—
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
48.
CONTINUED:
Dion
crawls
up
onto
the
bed.
Nicole
snuggles
up
next
to
him.
Nicole
covers
him
with
the
blanket,
wraps
her
arms
around
him.
NICOLE
(CONT’D)
That
better?
DION
Yes.
She
holds
him
for
a
moment
and
he
lets
her.
still
a
little
boy.
DION
(CONT'D)
Are
you
scared
of
me?
NICOLE
No.
I'm
—-
(then)
How
long
has
this
been
going
on?
Dion
shrugs.
Dunno.
DION
So,
things
don’t
come
when
you
want
them?
She
shakes
her
head,
no.
DION
(CONT'D)
Happens
in
comics...
and
movies...
NICOLE
Those
things
aren’t
real.
Dion
thinks
hard
on
that.
DION
Am
I
not
real?
NICOLE
You
are
the
only
real
thing
in
my
life.
A
beat.
Then
--
NICOLE
(CONT’D)
Pat
said
you
were
asking
about
your
Dad.
DION
You
never
talk
about
him.
(CONTINUED)
50
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
CONTINUED:
(2)
NICOLE
It
just
made
you
so
sad.
DION
Made
you
sadder.
Nicole
nods,
it’s
true.
DION
(CONT’D)
He
was
a
storm
chaser.
NICOLE
Yes.
He
got
caught
in
a
hurricane
in
New
Orleans
—-
and
he
saw
a
woman’s
car
go
into
the
river.
So,
he
jumped
in
to
save
her.
DION
And
did
he?
NICOLE
He
did.
But
the
river
took
him
instead.
DION
He
should’ve
just
come
home.
NICOLE
That’s
not
what
heroes
do,
right?
A
lady
named
Charlotte
Price
went
home
to
her
family
that
night
because
your
Dad
was
a
hero.
Dion
retreats.
DION
(softly)
I
forget
him.
This
knocks
the
wind
out
of
Nicole.
Nicole
gathers
herself,
picks
up
her
iPhone
from
the
top
of
her
night
stand.
Clicking
a
few
times,
she
hands
the
phone
to
He
sees:
Dion.
NICOLE
What?
DION
(so
sad)
Sometimes.
A
VIDEO
OF
MARK
—-
talking
to
the
camera:
49.
(CONTINUED)
51
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
—
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
50.
CONTINUED:
(3)
MARK
(ON
VIDEO)
Hey
baby.
How
was
your
day?
Dion’s
eyes
go
wide.
Mark
leaves
space
on
the
video
for
Nicole
to
answer
back.
She
tamps
down
her
own
pain
and
plays
along,
for
Dion’s
sake.
NICOLE
(to
the
video)
A
little
weird,
Mark.
Stuff
flew
around
the
living
room.
Oh,
and
Pat
took
Dion
out
for
pizza.
the
video,
Mark
nods,
as
if
he’s
hearing
her.
NICOLE
(CONT'D)
(to
Dion)
Your
dad
was
traveling
so
much
that
last
year,
he
made
this
video
for
me.
MARK
(ON
VIDEO)
...
That’s
great.
How’s
my
little
man,
Dion?
Dion’s
eyes
brighten.
Nicole’s
mist
with
tears.
NICOLE
(to
the
video)
Dion’s
great.
Best
kid
ever.
MARK
(ON
VIDEO)
I'm
telling
you,
Nicole,
that
kid
is
going
to
rule
the
world...
Nicole
smiles,
hugs
Dion.
MARK
(ON
VIDEO)
(CONT’D)
I
wish
I
could
be
there,
but
--
you
got
this...
Nicole
wants
to
believe
that
more
than
ever.
...
When
I
get
back,
we’ll
go
up
to
the
cabin,
just
the
three
of
us.
Okay?
Nicole
nods,
yes,
then
moves
her
lips
along
with
Mark
as
he
says
--
MARK
(ON
VIDEO)
(CONT'D)
I
miss
you.
I
love
you.
IL'll
see
you
soon.
(CONTINUED)
52
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
51.
CONTINUED:
(4)
The
video
ends.
Nicole
and
Dion
are
silent
for
a
beat.
Nicole
has
an
idea
--
NICOLE
I
don’t
think
you
should
go
to
school
tomorrow.
Dion
looks
up
at
Nicole
--
INT.
NICOLE'S
CAR/DRIVING
-~
HIGHWAY
-
DAY
The
window
is
opened
just
slightly,
and
the
breeze
feels
good
on
Nicole’s
face
as
she
drives
onto
the
freeway.
She’s
a
little
more
relaxed
than
we’ve
seen
her.
Not
carefree,
but
she
can
breathe.
Dion
watches
her
face
to
gauge
their
situation.
She
feels
his
eyes
on
her,
looks
over
at
him
and
smiles.
Her
smile
releases
his,
and
Dion
rolls
down
his
window,
leaning
into
the
rushing
wind,
grinning
from
ear
to
ear.
Nicole
loves
seeing
him
happy.
Makes
her
happy,
too.
As
they
head
out
of
the
city,
she
turns
on
the
radio
and
hears
RIHANNA’S
“UMBRELLA."
NICOLE
Oh,
hell
yeah.
Nicole
CRANKS
it
up,
sings:
RIHANNA
(ON
THE
RADIO)
Because
/
When
the
sun
shines,
we’ll
shine
together
/
Told
you
I'll
be
here
forever
/
Said
I'll
always
be
your
friend
/
Took
an
oath
I'mma
a
stick
it
out
‘till
the
end...
Dion
sings
along,
while
doing
the
best
dance
moves
his
seat
belt
will
allow.
Cracks
Nicole
up,
which
is
what
he
was
going
for.
Nicole
mimics
the
dance.
They
both
sing
at
the
top
of
their
lungs:
RIHANNA
(ON
THE
RADIO)
(CONT'D)
Now
that
it's
raining
more
than
ever
/
Know
that
we’ll
still
have
each
other
/
You
can
stand
under
my
umbrella
/
You
can
stand
under
my
umbrella,
ella,
ella,
eh,
eh,
eh...
(CONTINUED)
53
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
52.
CONTINUED:
Off
Mom
and
Son,
letting
loose
as
they
head
to
the
country.
EXT.
RURAL
ROAD
-
DAY
Nicole’s
car
turns
onto
a
two-lane,
country
road.
Lots
of
trees,
not
a
lot
of
houses.
They
pass
a
run-down
Bait
and
Tackle
shop
and
keep
going.
EXT.
LAKE
CABIN
-
DAY
Nicole’s
car
carefully
navigates
the
gravel
road
leading
to
a
small,
rustic
A-Frame
cabin
with
a
wrap-around
porch,
surrounded
by
trees,
facing
the
water.
A
“FOR
SALE”
SIGN
leans
at
an
angle
in
the
front
yard.
Looks
like
it‘s
been
there
for
a
while.
The
car
stops
on
the
grassy
suggestion
of
a
driveway.
Down
the
hill,
lies
a
crystal
blue
lake
ringed
with
trees.
Not
another
house
in
sight,
this
place
is
secluded,
idyllic.
And
the
sight
of
it
is
painful
for
Nicole.
Dion
jumps
out
and
runs
down
toward
the
water
as...
WE
HOLD
WITH
NICOLE.
She
steps
out,
takes
in
the
view.
The
forest,
the
water,
the
breeze
—--
they
all
smell
and
feel
like
Mark
to
her.
This
was
his
place.
Nicole
pulls
out
their
bags
and
takes
them
to
--
EXT.
LAKE
CABIN
~
FRONT
DOOR
-
DAY
CLOSE
ON:
An
old
set
of
KEYS
on
a
RUBBER
FISH
KEY
RING.
Nicole
flips
through
them,
trying
to
remember
which
key
goes
to
the
front
door.
Tries
one...
nope...
tries
another,
it
fits
but
it
takes
a
little
jiggling
to
get
the
key
to
turn.
Finally,
it
does
and...
The
door
opens.
We
PEER
inside...
INT.
CABIN
-
DAY
Nicole
walks
into
the
living
room
and
is
hit
with
a
wave
of
nostalgia.
The
place
is
just
as
they
left
it
on
their
last
visit.
She
looks
around,
breathing
deeply,
trying
not
to
cry.
(CONTINUED)
54
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
53.
CONTINUED:
We
HEAR
Dion
outside
happily
making
airplane
sounds,
pretending
to
fly
as
he
runs
down
to
the
lake
--
but
WE
STAY
WITH
NICOLE
as
she
takes
in
the
room.
Nicole
is
drawn
to
the
dusty
bookshelf,
to
the
framed
photos
of
20-SOMETHING
MARK
AND
NICOLE
having
drinks
at
sunset;
Nicole
and
BABY
DION
swimming
in
the
lake;
Mark
and
4-YEAR-
OLD
DION
fishing.
They
all
looked
so
happy.
She
touches
the
books
on
the
shelves,
which
bring
back
memories
of
relaxing
family
times
“THE
SNOWY
DAY,”
“HARRY
“A
BRIEF
HISTORY
OF
TIME,”
“ELLINGTON
WAS
NOT
A
STREET."”
Her
attention
goes
to
a
closed
door.
INT.
CABIN
-
STUDIO
-
DAY
Nicole
enters.
An
empty
room,
cleared
of
all
furniture.
Wooden
floor.
Big
windows
looking
out
to
the
water.
A
FLOOR-
TO-CEILING
MIRROR
is
propped
against
one
wall
and
in
front
--
A
BALLET
BARRE.
Nicole
walks
up
to
the
barre.
Her
feet
naturally
go
into
first
position.
CLOSE
ON
HER
HAND...
as
she
places
it
on
the
wooden
barre.
Her
body
aligns
and
we
see
the
dancer
she
once
was.
She
closes
her
eyes
and
feels
like
herself
again
—-
A
FLASH
OF
NICOLE
PERFORMING
A
MODERN
DANCE
SOLO
ON
AN
IMPRESSIVELY
LARGE
STAGE
BARE
FEET
--
LEAPING
--
ATHLETIC,
STRONG
—--
LANDING,
TWISTING,
CREATING
TABLEAUS
WITH
HER
BODY
—-
ENERGY
AND
JOY
--
SEGUES
INTO
--
THIS
SAME
ROOM
IN
THE
CABIN,
IN
THE
PAST
--
NICOLE
TRYING
TO
TEACH
MARK
ONE
OF
HER
DANCE
MOVES.
HE’S
NOT
GREAT
AT
IT
BUT
HE’S
GIVING
IT
HIS
ALL.
NICOLE
LAUGHS
HERSELF
SILLY
WHILE
MARK
CLOWNS
AROUND
--
NICOLE
THROWS
HER
ARMS
AROUND
HIM
AND
THEY
FALL
INTO
A
SLOW
DANCE
--
SENSUAL,
SEXY
--
WE'RE
CLOSE
ON
FACE
--
MARK'S
SMILE
--
MARKS
EYES
--
WHEN
-—-
Nicole’s
reverie
is
interrupted
by
Dion’s
MUFFLED
SCREAMS
—-—
DION
(0.S.)
Mom!
Mom,
come
here!
Hurry!
Help!
Nicole
rushes
out
--
55
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
54.
EXT.
CABIN
-
BEACH
-
DAY
Nicole
runs
to
the
beach
to
find
—--
Dion
pushing
a
RICKETY
ROWBOAT
into
the
water.
No
danger,
just
a
little
boy’s
curiosity.
DION
Help
me!
NICOLE
That
thing
is
so
rusty,
it
probably
doesn’t
even
float
--
DION
Look!
He
holds
up
an
old
fishing
pole.
NICOLE
We
can’t
go
fishing,
Dion
--
DION
Why
not?
NICOLE
Because...
we
don’t
know
how.
DION
You
put
the
pole
in
the
water.
C'mon!
Let's
go.
NICOLE
It
doesn’t
work
like
that,
you
need
bait—-
But
Dion
has
pushed
the
boat
into
the
water
and
is
climbing
inside.
NICOLE
You’re
not
going
out
there
by
your—-
She
gives
up
and
runs
to
the
water’s
edge,
gets
inside
the
boat
with
Dion.
He’s
grinning
from
ear
to
ear.
EXT.
LAKE
BAY
/
INT.
RICKETY
BOAT
-
DAY
(LATER)
Dion
tries
to
fish
while
Nicole
tries
not
to
throw
up.
Dion
throws
his
fishing
line
into
the
water
--
waits
for
a
split
second
before
pulling
it
out
and
throwing
it
into
the
water
on
the
other
side
of
the
boat.
(CONTINUED)
56
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
55.
CONTINUED:
NICOLE
Dion,
please
stop
rocking
the
boat.
DION
I
can’'t
find
the
fish.
He
switches
sides
again.
NICOLE
Maybe
there
aren’t
any.
DION
It’s
water!
There
are
fish!
He
pulls
his
line
out
of
the
water
again.
NICOLE
Just
let
it
sit
for
a
minute.
See
what
happens.
Dion
plops
the
line
back
in,
watches
for
a
split
second,
then-
DION
Can
I
see
your
phone?
I
want
to
show
you
the
app
I
want.
NICOLE
If
you’ll
sit
still
—-
She
hands
her
phone
to
Dion,
who
pulls
up
the
app
online.
DION
Here
——
it’s
this
--
Nicole
looks
at
the
phone,
sees
a
KID
SKATE
ON
A
BOARD.
NICOLE
Is
that
Chris?
DION
No.
You
can’t
see
Chris’
videos
unless
you
have
an
account.
And
I
don’t
have
an
account.
Which
is
why
I
can’t
‘like’
anything.
NICOLE
Right.
She
hands
the
phone
back
to
Dion,
who
keeps
watching
videos.
NICOLE
(CONT’D)
This
never
ends,
you
know.
(CONTINUED)
57
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
56.
CONTINUED:
(2)
DION
What?
NICOLE
Wanting
to
fit
in.
Trying
to
figure
out
what
to
do
or
buy
or
wear
or
say.
I
mean,
what
do
you
actually
like?
LEGOS,
comic
books...
DION
Chris
doesn’t
like
comic
books.
NICOLE
So?
You
like
them.
Maybe
you’ll
teach
him
about
comic
books.
Point
is,
if
you
let
people
see
who
you
are,
you
won’t
just
have
friends,
you’ll
have
the
right
friends.
(then)
Who's
ready
for
macs
and
cheese?
Nicole
picks
up
one
of
the
oars.
DION
We
only
eat
what
we
catch.
We
have
to
keep
fishing.
NICOLE
That’s
not
happening.
And
I'm
not
letting
you
starve
because
we
don’t
know
how
to
fish.
Help
me
row.
Instead,
Dion
turns
to
the
water,
sticks
out
his
‘Abracadabra
hands,’
and
concentrates.
NICOLE
Dion.
Stop
that.
Dion
crooks
his
eyebrow
and
intensifies
his
efforts.
NICOLE
(CONT’D)
It’s
cheating
and
--
don’t
do
that!
Nicole
waves
her
hands
in
the
air
as
if
dispelling
magic,
but
Dion’s
attention
goes
to
something
over
her
shoulder.
His
EYES
GET
WIDE
and
he
SMILES
BROADLY.
NICOLE
(CONT'D)
There’s
a
fish
right
behind
me,
isn’t
there?
(CONTINUED)
58
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
57.
CONTINUED:
(3)
Grinning,
Dion
shakes
his
head,
NO.
Nicole
turns
around
to
see
AN
ENTIRE
SCHOOL
OF
FISH
HANGING
IN
THE
AIR
--
twisting
and
flipping
their
tails
--
gasping
for
air,
confused.
Nicole
SQUEALS
—-—
NICOLE
(CONT’D)
Oh
my
lord
—-
(to
Dion)
Put
them
down
--
DION
But
—-
NICOLE
They
need
water.
They
can’t
breathe
up
there!
Dion
concentrates
his
Abracadabra
hands
on
the
gasping
fish.
The
fish
stay
put
but
WATER
FROM
THE
LAKE
flies
up
and
surrounds
each
fish
--
their
own
private
fish
bowls.
The
fish
begin
to
slowly
ROTATE
around
the
boat.
Nicole
and
Dion
are
surrounded
by
the
school
of
fish,
swimming
around
them
in
the
air.
Nicole
stares
at
the
phenomenon
in
wonder
--
even
more
so
when
she
sees...
The
WATER
touching
the
shore
of
the
lake
around
them
begins
to
RIPPLE.
Nicole
looks
around,
trying
to
understand
what
is
happening,
as
--
With
the
warm
creak
of
ancient
wood,
all
of
the
TREES
surrounding
them
on
the
bank
of
the
lake
begin
to
BEND
toward
them,
as
if
bowing.
Dion
smiles
--
loving
it
--
in
awe.
Nicole
watches
her
son
delighting
in
this
impossible
event.
NICOLE
(CONT'D)
(carefully)
Let
the
trees
go,
sweetie
—-
Dion
looks
to
her
--
oh,
okay...
He
points
his
Abracadabra
hands
--
but
the
TREES
keep
bending.
We
hear
the
GROAN
and
CREAK
of
wood
being
strained
beyond
its
capacity.
NICOLE
Dion
--
(CONTINUED)
59
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-~
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
58.
CONTINUED:
(4)
DION
They’re
not
listening.
We
hear
the
SNAP
of
a
BRANCH
BREAKING
--
LEAVES
come
flying
in
Dion’s
direction
--
TWIGS,
SMALL
BRANCHES
torn
from
the
massive
trees
pelt
Nicole.
Dion
dodges
them
as
best
he
can
but
his
cheek
is
CUT
by
flying
debris.
A
RUMBLE
shakes
the
ground
as
the
ROOTS
of
a
LARGE
TREE
are
PULLED
OUT
OF
THE
GROUND.
The
tree
leans
farther
toward
the
center
of
the
lake.
NICOLE
Make
it
stop,
Dion
--
DION
I'm
trying
--
The
last
roots
of
the
large
tree
snap
and
TREE
COMES
CRASHING
DOWN
INTO
THE
LAKE
--
Nicole
looks
up
to
see
--
A
HUGE,
HEAVY
BRANCH
COMES
HURTLING
TOWARD
THEM
--
FAST
STRAIGHT
AT
DION
--
NICOLE
LUNGES
FOR
DION
BUT
CAN'T
GET
TO
HIM
BEFORE
--
THE
BRANCH
REACHES
DION'S
FACE
AND
--
NICOLE
Dion!
THE
BRANCH
PASSES
WITHOUT
CONNECTING.
Where
Dion
just
was,
there
is
only...
A
PUFF
OF
BLACK
SMOKE
The
branch
FLIES
PAST,
tumbling
into
the
water.
Nicole
sees
--
DION
Standing
on
the
shore.
HAVING
JUST
TELEPORTED
THERE
FROM
THE
BOAT!
He
has
no
idea
how
he
did
it
or
even
that
he
could.
The
remaining
trees
snap
back
to
their
upright
positions.
Dion
looks
to
Nicole,
still
crouching
in
the
boat
--
both
electrified
with
fear
and
HOLY
SHIT
at
what
just
happened.
60
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
59.
INT.
CABIN
-
DION’S
BEDROOM
-
NIGHT
Nicole
studies
the
sleeping
Dion’s
perfect,
innocent
face
at
rest,
trusting
that
he’s
safe
and
loved.
He
is.
Almost
unbearable
how
much.
THUNDER
RUMBLES
in
the
distance.
INT.
CABIN
-
HALLWAY
-
NIGHT
Nicole
exits
Dion’s
room.
Closing
his
door
softly,
she
sees
a
CLOSET
DOOR
in
the
hallway,
opens
it.
Hanging
in
the
closet
among
the
SWEATERS,
FISHING
VESTS
and
WATERPROOF
WADERS
is
MARK’S
WOOL
JACKET.
Nicole
takes
it
off
the
hanger,
feels
the
material,
puts
it
to
her
face,
smelling
him
still
there.
Soon,
we’'re
—-—
INT.
CABIN
-
KITCHEN
-~
DAY
(FLASHBACK)
Nicole
hand-washes
a
plastic
WINNIE
THE
POOH
dish
and
sippy
cup
as
Mark,
wearing
the
WOOL
JACKET,
sweeps
by
Nicole
to
a
travel
mug
with
coffee.
MARK
Did
he
go
down
for
a
nap?
NICOLE
You’'re
going
to
be
gone
when
he
wakes
up.
Can’t
you
hold
off?
MARK
There’s
one
flight
to
New
Orleans.
NICOLE
This
was
supposed
to
be
our
time
away
--
MARK
And
it
will
be
--
as
soon
as
I
get
back.
She
shoots
him
a
look
--
he
knows
that’s
not
going
to
fly.
MARK
I’'ve
been
trying
to
connect
with
this...
expert
for
weeks.
Suddenly,
I
hear
back
and
there’s
a
clock
on
it-—
(then)
(CONTINUED)
61
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
60.
CONTINUED:
MARK
(CONT'’D)
Just
stay,
hang
out
with
Dion
--
watch
Phineas
and
Ferb
seven
thougand
more
times
and
I’'1ll
be
back
before
you
know
it.
Nicole’s
trying
not
to
be
won
over.
She
warns:
NICOLE
You
know
I'm
going
to
let
him
eat
macs
and
cheese
and
stay
up
‘til
midnight.
MARK
He
loves
macs
and
cheese.
He
wraps
his
arms
around
her.
MARK
(CONT’D)
And
I
love
you.
He
kisses
her.
She
melts.
Goddamn
it.
When
they
part,
he
looks
in
her
eyes
and
prompts:
MARK
(CONT'D)
And...?
NICOLE
What?
MARK
And
you...
(nothing
from
her,
so
--)
...
Love...
NICOLE
Don’t
go.
She’s
serious.
He
drops
the
joke.
We
see
something
very
complicated
and
difficult
going
through
his
mind.
He
wants
to
explain
—--
confide
--
make
her
understand.
He
MARK
If
there
was
any
way...
Nicole
gives
up
--
he’s
going.
Mark
knows
he
can’t
make
this
right.
As
he
goes
to
pick
up
his
bags,
he
rethinks
his
jacket.
Taking
it
off,
he
opens
the
hall
closet
door,
swaps
it
for
a
waterproof
raincoat,
leaving
the
wool
jacket
hanging
as
he
heads
to
the
door.
(CONTINUED)
62
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
—
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
61.
CONTINUED:
(2)
MARK
(CONT’D)
Nic.
(she
looks
at
him)
I
love
you.
She
accepts
it
but
still
doesn’t
say
it
back.
Mark
exits.
Off
Nicole,
BACK
TO
PRESENT
INT.
CABIN
~
HALLWAY
-
NIGHT
-
PRESENT
Nicole
feels
the
wool
jacket
at
her
face
--
then
puts
it
on,
zips
it
up
--
it’s
huge
on
her.
Feels
as
if
Mark’s
all
around
her,
embracing
her.
She
slips
her
hands
inside
the
pockets
and
--
pulls
a
FOLDED
PIECE
OF
PAPER
from
one
pocket.
It’'s
A
NOTE,
written
in
Mark’s
handwriting:
CHARLOTTE
PRICE
504-782-3287
Nicole
is
bereft.
Charlotte
Price
was
not
some
random
woman
Mark
saved.
He
knew
her.
Nicole
hears
the
SCREEN
DOOR
FLAPPING.
Shaken,
she
heads
to
the
front
door.
EXT.
LAKE
CABIN
-
FRONT
DOOR
-
NIGHT
The
front
screen
door
FLAPS
with
the
wind.
Nicole
goes
to
close
it
and
the
SKY
LIGHTS
UP,
illuminating
Dion,
in
his
pajamas,
standing
out
in
the
clearing
staring
up
into
the
night
sky.
NICOLE
Dion?
(yells
——)
What
are
you
doing
out
of
bed?
Dion
looks
up
at
the
storm
with
scientific
curiosity,
enthralled,
drawn
to
it.
DION
Looking
at
the
Rain
People
——
NICOLE
We
need
to
get
back
inside
--
(CONTINUED)
63
RAISING
DION
-
Ep
101
-
"Pilot"
-
Studio
Draft
(01/17/18)
62.
CONTINUED:
Nicole
runs
to
where
he
is,
takes
his
hand,
but
stops
when
she
sees
what
Dion
sees
—-
OUTLINES
OF
SEVERAL
OF
PEOPLE,
STANDING
IN
THE
VEIL
OF
RAIN.
GHOST-LIKE,
SEE-THROUGH.
Nicole
is
stunned.
Dion
steps
toward
one
of
the
Rain
People,
walks
right
through
him.
Dion
smiles
-—
and
walks
through
another.
out
of
the
corner
of
her
eye,
Nicole
sees
ONE
of
the
Rain
People
move
forward
--
toward
her.
It’s
MARK.
LIGHTNING
crashes
over
the
lake.
The
storm
is
moving
in.
‘Mark’
reaches
out
to
Nicole,
screaming
something
--
a
warning?
He
can’t
be
heard
above
the
wind.
NICOLE
(CONT'D)
Mark?
Dion’s
moving
in
and
out
of
the
Rain
People.
He
turns
to
look
at
Nicole
and
sees
her
reaching
out
to
MARK.
DION
Dad?
Just
as
Nicole
and
Mark
are
about
to
touch,
LIGHTNING
FLASHES
MARK
AND
THE
OTHERS
BURST
INTO
A
MILLION
PIXELS
AND
ARE
SUCKED
BACK
OVER
THE
LAKE
INTO
THE
STORM.
THE
STORM
DISAPPEARS.
Suddenly,
it’s
a
cloudless
night.
Nicole
is
left
breathless.
DION
(CONT’D)
Was
that
my
Dad?
(then)
Where’d
he
go?
Where’d
he
GO?!
Off
Nicole,
staggered,
looking
into
the
night
—-
SMASH
TO
BLACK:
END
OF
PILOT
64
Script
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