"Pilot": 05-11-08

INT. RAYNES LAB

Medium shot from inside the darkened lab toward the doorway as it is unlocked and opened. Thad's hand reaches in and turns on the lights.

Reaction shot of Thad as he stands in the doorway.

THAD
Oh my god!

Scott is behind Thad. His face is not shown.

SCOTT
What?! What happened?

THAD
(voice high)
It's gone! It's all gone! They've stolen everything!

Scott pushes Thad aside, stopping beside him in the doorway.

His eyes narrow. Thad breaks into laughter.

THAD
You are so gullible, dude . . .

Scott mumbles something that cannot be quite made out and pushes his way past Thad.

Thad watches Scott for a moment with a pleased expression.

Wide shot of their lab space, following the brothers as they walk into the main area.

To one side is a large machine that somewhat resembles a high-tech generator. Scott walks beside it to one of the consoles connected to it. He presses some controls and a few areas of the device begin to glow faintly.

THAD
Why don't you ever just rev up this thing? (looks it over) We're done preflight on it enough times . . .

Scott's attention remains focused on the controls for a moment. He looks up at Thad, but part of his attention is still on the device.

SCOTT
Because I don't think we really want to be standing in a crater. (two beats) Oh, wait . . . we would be part of the crater . . .

Thad chuckles.

Scott finally relaxes and smiles. He nods toward a crate near Thad.

SCOTT
Can you haul that over here?

THAD
Sure thing, bro.

Thad walks over and stops before the crate. He stands there, flexing his muscles in an almost-parody of the classic bodybuilder movements.

SCOTT
(snickers)
Don't hurt yourself before you bring it over, okay? (laughs)

THAD
(grins)
You're just jealous of my flawless physical form.

SCOTT
Uh huh.

Thad carries the crate over, trying to hide the amount of effort that it's really taking him.

THAD
(grunting slightly)
What the hell's in this anyway?

SCOTT
(not looking away from his work, almost smiles)
Kryptonite.

THAD
(rolls his eyes)
Oh good. I was afraid you were going to tell me it was anti-matter or ditrilithium-something.

SCOTT
(distracted)
Dilithium.

THAD
(shakes head)
Bro, you really need to get out more.

SCOTT
(reaches for a tool)
I get out enough.

THAD
(seriously)
Your sessions with Doc Bohl don't count.

Scott fixes Thad with a sharp stare. Thad returns Scott's gaze for a moment and then backs down with only a hint of chagrin.

SCOTT
There.

THAD
"There" what?

SCOTT
I think I fixed that weird variance we were seeing in the secondary wave guides.
Thad walks over and peers inside the open chassis.

THAD
Oh?

SCOTT
(points with the tool)
I added a buffer panel. I think we were seeing a resonance build up. (rises) It'll hold for now, but we'll need a better design before we can increase the power throughput.

THAD
(sighs)
I'll add it to the list . . .

Scott gets up and closes the chassis. He steps back and gestures to Thad.

SCOTT
Go ahead. Fire it up. (smiles) You know you're dying to.

Thad grins and works several controls on a nearby panel.

Several indicator lights on the device come up and there is the audible sound of it powering up.

Scott steps over to another console and checks the status indicators there. He nods, adjusting a few of the controls.

SCOTT (CONT'D)
(small smile)
Yeah . . . much better.

Thad adjusts some controls on his console and the noise increases. He grins at Scott, clearly pleased with the results.

There is a sudden, discordant noise. The lights on the device flicker and then it shuts down.

Both Thad and Scott work their controls, but in vain. The device refuses to come back to life.

SCOTT (CONT'D)
(softly)
Damn it.

THAD
(quietly)
Yeah . . .

Scott sighs and walks back down to the chassis and starts taking it apart again.

FADE TO: