Cap'n Oz a.k.a. William Chance a.k.a. Cap'n Oz . . . Confused yet? Imagine how Chance feels!
| Actually a member of the mystically-powerful ClanDestine and hiding among humanity in Australia, WILLIAM CHANCE used his superhuman powers to help him become the actor portraying Cap'n Oz-- a movie superhero. Recently, he decided to use his powers to help save the city, presenting himself as an all- new, all-real, masked Cap'n Oz-- national protector! | |
|
ALICE SPRINGS: Actress portraying the sidekick Taz in the Cap'n Oz films, she also is Chance's girlfriend. |
| RICKY McCOY: Chance and Alice's agent. | |
|
JENNY JACKSON: Frustrated entertainment journalist, she was on hand for Cap'n Oz' "first" appearance, and wants to pursue the story for her own purposes... |
# 2INTERIOR -- CHANNEL 4 NEWS -- NIGHT
"Ah, jeez," the young intern rolls
his eyes as Jenny Jackson enters the editing
bay at the Channel 4 news station. "Back
so soon? Ya been over this footage twelve
times by Tuesday..."
Jenny motions to the door with her thumb,
"Yeah, so I know how to lock up on my
way out."
The intern gathers his stuff and sighs as
he heads out the door, "Whatever...
I don't know what more you think you're going
to see..."
Settling into cue the footage she's been
watching all week, Jenny wonders the same
question. She watches the rough footage...
... a man dressed as a masked version of
the film superhero Cap'n Oz, fights another
costumed character in the middle of a haze-and-flame-filled
street...
... a final confrontation between them before
the mutant flamemaster, Pyro, sprints away...
... another set of film shows this Cap'n
Oz rescue a child from a burning balcony...
... and yet another shows Cap'n Oz triumphantly
returning the child to his mother and helping
Sydney firefighters combat the blaze...
Of course, Jenny remarks to herself with
a grimace, she wouldn't have to watch second-rate
home movies if the producer would have let
her film the story *live.* She was there,
after all, filming an entertainment section
with the actor of the Cap'n Oz films, William
Chance. Yes... that's it.... William Chance...
She hits the play button once more, to pour
over the footage again. There's a story here,
and she knows it. Australia's got a new super
hero, in the same vein as Dreamguard or Southern
Cross,
"and I'm *going* to crack this story,"
Jenny breathes under her breath. "I
just know it."
INT. -- CHANCE'S LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT
"I gotta tell ya, mate, I don't like
it. *TWO* Cap'n Oz's?" Ricky McCoy sits,
lounging, spread-eagled, in William Chance's
ergonomic and all-natural bean-bag chair.
"And this one looks like a dinkum super,
not just an actor in a movie. Somebody's
stepping on your gig, Billy. We got another
promotion for Cap'n Oz Forever coming up,
and I told the good folks at Mackers to expect
Cap'n Oz. Trouble is, I don't know *which*
Cap'n Oz is going to show up!"
Standing in front of the television, Chance
mutes it with the remote control, cutting
off yet another news report about the recent
appearance of Australia's newest hero. "Ah,
come on, Ricky. If anything, it's giving
the movie some extra attention."
"Yeah, I know," remarks Alice Springs,
lying on the nearby couch. Her casual clothes
do nothing to hide her ample frame. "I
mean, I know I want to go see the movie,
now!"
Ricky smirks, "You saw the film already,
Ally dear. And you co-starred in the damn
thing."
"Oh yeah..."
Chance just absently stares out the glass
which panels most of the posh living room
as Ricky continues, "But what's going
to stop this guy from developing his own
contracts or advertising deals, or marketing
tie-ins?"
Chance turns back to Ricky, "What, you
worried? Ricky, you're already the agent
for *one* Cap'n Oz... me! And don't forget,
it was as much *MY* work as it was yours
to get me to own the Cap'n Oz identity outright.
I'm not merely some actor playing a part..."
"Exactly," Ricky continues, straightening.
"This guy's infringing on all kinds
of copyright, trademark, and brand identities
that *YOU* own! This is all one big public
relations nightmare waiting to happen. We
gotta go court, that's what we gotta do!"
"I don't know," Alice looks worried,
"it's pretty late. I think we should
go tomorrow."
Ricky paused, then turned to Chance again,
"Billy C., I know what they say about
imitation and flattery, but still, there
are laws against such a thing..."
"Hush!" Chance cuts his agent off
with a wave of his hand, suddenly focusing
on the television once more, bringing up
the volume with the remote.
An image of the villain from the first Cap'n
Oz film, "Cap'n Oz," is playing
on the screen: the image of... the Cheshire
Cat!
The Cat has no mask-- merely a man in garishly
coloured suit and pinstriped bow tie. He
has a large coif of brown hair swooping up
in a wave above his forehead. His eyes are
little more than squints. His most remarkable
and characteristic feature, of course, is
his grin-- impossibly large and freakishly
unnerving.
The news reporter continues his commentary:
"... was of course a fictional character
in the first Cap'n Oz movie, but the crime
is simply too close to the one depicted in
the film to be coincidental. Police have
yet to confirm that the crime was indeed,
literally, a "copycat" crime, but
are expected to release a formal statement
sometime tomorrow. We are back at the scene
to cover this late-breaking story . . ."
Ricky, Alice, and Chance stare at the TV
as it shows chaos and confusion having descended
upon an undistinguished shopping mall. Only
a few hours ago, several explosions rocked
the exterior of the building, shutting and
blocking the entrances and exits with huge
blocks of debris and fast-hardening polymer
foam. Next, the fire sprinkler systems began,
raining a mixture of chemicals upon the panicking
guests below. Mixing together, the chemicals
began a complex chemical reaction, forming
a horrible acid and harming hundreds of people,
disfiguring most, and killing some. In the
middle of it all, one man stood in a protective
raincoat, holding an rainbowed umbrella.
The grinning face was unmistakable beneath
the black bowler. The Cheshire Cat. He smiled
at the surveillance camera, and pointed to
a wall. Another explosion unfurled a banner
displaying a large, grinning cat's head:
the classic illustration by J. Tenniel for
Alice in Wonderland. The villain was nowhere
to be found when police and rescue crews
arrived on the scene.
"Oh my god!" Alice half-screams,
"That's... that's horrible!"
Ricky, looking pale and sickly, "Bloody
hell. That can't be real! That's what happened
in the movie! That's Cap'n Oz: the Movie
right there!"
Alice retorts, "Ew, you're right! I
hate that flick."
Chance shakes his head, dumbfounded, "I
don't believe it. I don't believe it! I don't
believe this."
The three pause for a moment, unsure of what
to say while the horror flashes rapidly across
the screen. Finally, Chance flips the control,
and the screen goes blank.
Ricky breathes in, starting to assert control
over the situation and speaking rapidly,
"Okay, Chancey, this isn't your fault,
you know that, mate. First thing, we gotta
get a press conference for tommorrow. Express
a few condolences... Offer up some charitable
contributions..."
"Ricky," Chance says, solemnely,
"I think it's time to go."
"Hey, just 'cause one man mixes fantasty
and reality... well, *TWO* men with that
other Cap'n Oz bloke... doesn't hold you
or your franchise liable. In fact...,"
"Now."
Pause. "Sure, Chance. Whatever you say.
I'll ring y'in the morning."
Ricky leaves, and Alice shifts uncomfortably
in silence for a while.
"Alice, why don't you go take a bubble
bath, hon."
"Uhm. Okay." Alice replies uncertainly.
As Alice leaves, Chance grabs her by the
arm and draws her close. "You know,
your brow furrows so prettily when you're
upset."
Alice giggles in spite of her self, and the
two share a long kiss before Chance breaks
away. Alice turns and disappears further
into the house.
Chance looks at Alice as she leaves. What
was it about her? It just started as a fling.
After all, wasn't every relationship just
a fling when you're upwards to 200 years
old, going on to 1000?
Chance paces the room. Bah! It's not like
you can help how you are born. So he was
born of an immortal and a genie! Born of
magic and blessed with abilities that humans
could hardly imagine! And doesn't everyone
use whatever abilities they have to better
themselves? Why shouldn't he use his own
abilities to create a comfortable level of
living?
Then why hide it? It's the same question
he's been asking his family, The Clan Destine,
for years. But he nonetheless agreed to scatter
across the globe, hiding from humanity. Hiding
behind the mask of William Chance...
In a blinding dash of speed, Chance runs
to his spacious bedroom. In his closet hangs
the Cap'n Oz costume-- and with a recent
addition. He had taken the makeshift mask
he hastily created when battling Pyro and
had sewn it to create a more professional
full-face mask to obscure his features. Yet
another mask to wear...
Later, Alice, her skin pink and warm from
her fresh bath, knocks innocently at Chance's
door, dressed only in her bathrobe. She knocks
intermittently, calling Chance's name playfully,
but after 20 minutes, finally grows indignant.
"Fine, you know! Uh, FINE! I just came
by to tell you, that, uhm, you need some
time alone! And since, you should be alone,
I will, uh, stay over. . .there!"
But Chance, now Cap'n Oz, is a blur, halfway
to Brisbane-- his blinding speed kicking
up a trail of dust as the only indication
of his passing.
INT. -- YARRANGO POWER STATION, BRISBANE -- PRE-DAWN
The power station appears cold and empty
from Chance's vantage point above the skylights.
A lone man stands amid the silent machines
and consoles. He stands dressed in a black
trenchcoat and bowler, but with gaudy checkerboard
shirts, pants, and shoes. He stands, still
and unmoving -- and smiling.
"Yeah, that's the Cheshire Cat, alright,"
Chance smirks. "At least, that's the
character appearing the Cap'n Oz films. And
he's following the plot, too. First at that
mall, and now the power station. Although
he is a bit early. Police sure aren't. They've
had to have caught the connection..."
Chance looks around to catch a glimpse of
any police cars or helicopters or something.
Instead, the man posing as the Cheshire Cat
calmly turns his head to stare eerily unblinking
at Chance's position. "Well, come on,
then. I haven't got all night."
As Chance started, dumbfounded, the first
rays of the dawn light broke out of the morning
clouds.
"Oh," the Cat cocks his head, "I
guess I did have all night. Well, come on
then, I haven't got all day!"
Steadying his resolve, Chance leaps/punches
his way through the glass, taking a long,
hesitating fall to the floor of the power
station.
He stands as quick as he can, roughly shaking
his body to discard as much loose debris
from his costume. The Cat grins, waiting
patiently.
"All right, mad fiend!" Chance
commands with a pointy finger, "Give
over, or get ready to fight!"
"Brav-o, Cap-tain! Right on cue!"
A pause.
The Cat raises his eyebrows, plaintively.
Chance raises his eyebrows, uncertainly.
"You're line, Cap'n," The Cat prompts,
his smile faltering almost imperceptably.
"Uh," Chance looks askance, half
expecting a movie crew around him, "excuse
me?" Chance's sudden deja-vu makes him
realize that his entrance and lines were
exactly as written and played in the CO film.
"This isn't a game!" Chance retorts.
"Now will you come with me, before anyone
has to get hurt?"
The Cheshire Cat shakes his head slowly,
his lips playing over his smile with Jim
Carrey-like exaggeration as he speaks out
loud, to himself, "Hmm, he's ad-libbing
a bit, and the delivery's a bit off, but
not entirely without passion."
Then, "No, no, no, Captain. You see,
first we exchange snappy banter, then engage
in fisticuffs. I get you on the ropes, until
your sidekick Taz distracts me, enabling
you to save the day with a mighty coup d'
grace. But I forget myself..." The Cat
pulls out of a trenchcoat pocket, a remote
control with a large red button. "The
detonator, which will allow this power station
to blow sky high, carrying on its cloud of
fire a virus which will sweep over the City,
withering all plant and animal life it touches.
Imagine my enjoyment in watching the chaos
that will ensue!"
"Villain!" Chance seethes, "Not
while this city is under the protection of
Cap'n Oz!" Within a heartbeat, Chance
rushes the Cat with superhuman speed. Impossibly,
however, the Cat sidesteps at the last moment,
and the two opponents square off again.
"Yes! Now you are getting it! Cut! That's
a print!" the Cat laughs.
Chance curses how easy it was to slip into
the Cap'n Oz movie role. Was it habit, mere
deja-vu from having multiple takes of one
scene? Or does he have no idea how to act
as a hero except by, in fact, *ACTING* as
hero?
"Fine then," Chance stands and
folds his arms, "I won't do it. I won't
fight you, then you won't have to feel compelled
to blow up the power station."
The Cat's face falters a bit, his eyes fearful,
panicky. "But... but we have to fight!
It's what happens next! You can't change
what happens!"
"No. This isn't a movie! You are not
the Cheshire Cat. Stop this insanity. Put
down the detonator."
"But I *AM* the Cheshire Cat! My whole
life-- it was there, on the screen! My parents...
my nanny... the way I killed them all..."
This guy is seriously disturbed, Chance thinks,
and adds aloud, "Come on, what's your
*real* name?"
"I... I..." the man's smile fades
entirely. He looks slowly down to the detonator
in his hand. "But Cap'n Oz has to save
the day. Otherwise, the Cheshire Cat would
be able to blow up the station."
The man smiles blankly, almost automatically,
and raises a finger to press the button.
"Without Cap'n Oz, thousands will die.
What a pity."
Damn! Chance realizes. "Without a Cap'n
Oz" indeed... Isn't that what he's been
wrestling with ever since choosing to fight
the mutant Pyro?
With a yell, Chance rushes the villain again.
This time, the detonator flies out of the
Cat's hand and scatters across the station
floor.
The Cat laughs, and receives several more
blows, which pound him backwards and against
some control consoles. He then reaches into
his trenchcoat to pull out an umbrella. Using
it as a baseball bat, he cracks Chance against
his masked head, sending him reeling.
What was that? Chance fumbles. My skin and
endurance are nowhere near a normal man's!
That should barely have fazed me! And why
won't this guy fall! My strength can lift
whole automobiles!
The Cat ungraciously pirouettes about the
station, his umbrella crackling with electricity,
and offers more blows, laughing all the while
and sending Chance tumbling this way and
that. Chance retaliates with blows of his
own, but neither man is able to gain a significant
advantage.
Police sirens begin to sound in the distance.
Search lights from helicopters begin to play
along the skylights and the roof. Finally,
Chance thinks, I hate to know what this guy
did to the night crew here. But I hoped the
police would catch the connection to the
film sooner or later.
Chance staggers to his feet, being thrown
to a grating overlooking the station's open
area to the basement-levels. "All right,
drongo," Chance grumbles, "Time
to skip to the end, eh?"
With that, Chance brings out a small tape
recorder, "It's not the entire state-of-the-art
audio system of an implausibly designed power
station, but it should be 'bout right."
A finger presses the button...
"AUSTRALIANS ALL LET US REJOICE,
FOR WE ARE YOUNG AND FREE;
"Yes!" The Cheshire Cat breathes,
then recovers, shouting melodramatically,
"I mean, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Clutching his head which causes his bowler
to tumble from his head, the Cat carefully
and slowly crumbles to his knees.
"WE'VE GOLDEN SOIL AND WEALTH FOR TOIL,
OUR HOME IS GIRT BY SEA;"
At the same time, the police crash down the power station doors, covering each other, scattering inside and soon canvassing the area. The police slowly moved into position, glancing at Chance as Cap'n Oz, who merely shrugged, holding the tape player.
"OUR LAND ABOUNDS IN NATURE'S GIFTS
OF BEAUTY RICH AND RARE;
IN HISTORY'S PAGE, LET EVERY STAGE
ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR!
IN JOYFUL STRAINS THEN LET US SING,
"ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR!"
Soon, the police drag the excessive Cheshire
Cat to his feet, who still smiles at Chance.
"Thank you," he plaintively sighs.
"It wasn't quite up to Cap'n Oz standards,
but we played it well, don't ya think?"
"Oh, get some help, mate," Chance
exasperates and stops the tape player, "and
learn to live with yourself. What are you
doing aping some movie character?"
"Hey, knocker" the Cheshire Cat
genuinely laughs, as he is courted away,
"it must be working for *some!*"
Chance just walks slowly over to the wall
and nods absently at whatever the police
start to question him. Was it just the fact
that he appeared to mimic Cap'n Oz that someone
else decided to mimic a Cap'n Oz character?
No, this guy was already seriously disturbed.
And he certainly had more power than the
simply-crazily-dressed-movie-Cheshire-Cat.
And since the plot was now worked through,
wouldn't the Cheshire Cat basically never
need reappear?
Chance sighs. Truth is definitely stranger
than fiction. Maybe it would be better to
stay in the make-believe world of Aussie-Hollywood.
EXT. -- YARRANGO POWER STATION, BRISBANE -- DAWN
The man calling himself the Cheshire Cat
stares blankly ahead as the policemen guide
him to the police car. "Ho, hum. Do
de dum. Game's all done. Time to run."
The police go about their business, the Cat
placed in the back of a car, all but forgotton.
And softly and silently, the Cheshire Cat
fades away.
THE MIDDLE