The Umbrella Academy
The UmbrellaAcademy: Trade 1 – Apocalypse Suite
Based on the Comic Book Series by Gabriel Ba and Gerard Way
Screenplay by Austin Maggs
OVER BLACK
“Introduction”
FADE IN:
INT. ARENA, WRESTLING RING – NIGHT
Several angry and excited fans cheer on opposite opponents. The “face” wrestler is a muscular man, built like the hulk. This is TUSSLIN’ TOM.
The “heel” wrestler is not human. The crowd boos the heel. A seven-foot-long tentacle swings across the ring and smacks Tom out of the ring.
The audience chants, “Let’s go Tom!”
The REFEREE isn’t counting Tom, in favor of him.
The heel opponent is revealed to be a large alien squid with razor-sharp teeth and tentacles with a glue-type substance covering the tentacles. This is RIGEL.
The referee picking favorites outrages Rigel. One of Rigel’s tentacles forcefully wraps itself around the referee. He screams in panic. Rigel brings the referee closer and bites down over the top of his body.
Blood sprays, covering the ring mat with puddles of blood. Blood sprinkles mildly onto audience members in the front row.
Tom smirks at the monster. He is covered in the referee’s blood.
TOM:
You think that’s supposed to scare me!?
Tom digs his arms deep in the apron under the ring. He pulls out a steel chair with barbed wire wrapped tightly over it.
Rigel’s tentacles try to smack Tom but tom impales the wired chair into the tentacle. The tentacle is stuck onto the chair as Tom ties it in between the ring ropes.
Rigel screams in monstrous pain.
Tom them draws a baseball bat from under the ring as Rigel continues to try to free is restrained tentacle. Tom reenters the ring and takes a forceful swing to Rigel’s head, followed by another. Rigel squirms in pain.
Green blood is splattering from Rigel’s skull onto Tom.
The crowd grows wilder with more chants.
Rigel appears to be bloodied and half dead. Tom drops the bat and taunts to the crowd, gaining more cheers. He steps onto the turnbuckle of the ring and delivers a big frog-splash finisher.
A second REFEREE enters and counts to three. Rigel doesn’t answer the count and Tom wins. He celebrates his victory with the crowd and his handed a championship belt.
Tom’s entrance theme, “I’m your Boogieman” by Rob Zombie plays loudly throughout the arena.
ANNOUNCER:
Here is your winner… TUSSLIN’ TOM!
The screen PAUSES, focusing on a picture of Tom holding the belt around his shoulder.
A narrator with a smooth, older, and mildly creepy voice (similar to Malcolm McDowell’s) begins to speak.
NARRATOR:
It was the same year Tusslin’ Tom Gurney knocked out the space squid Rigel from Rigel X9. It happened at 9:38 PM. It came from a frog splash dive. And in that moment, without warning, and in an occurrence of complete coincidence-
INT. SUBWAY TRAIN (MOVING) – NIGHT
CLOSE IN – a crying newborn covered in slime and blood lays helpless on the floor of the train.
NARRATOR:
(Cont’d)
Forty-three extraordinary children were born.
PULL OUT – the passengers appear to either not notice or not care.
NARRATOR:
(Cont’d)
To mostly single women, who had shown no signs of pregnancy, in seemingly random locations around the world.
An old Einstein look-alike, SIR REGINALD HARGREEVES AKA THE MONOCLE, picks up the baby and wraps a blanket around it. The baby’s cries quiet down.
The man smiles and talks to the baby.
MONOCLE:
You’re an extraordinary child. Yes you are!
The baby looks at Monocle and recognizes him as a father.
NARRATOR:
(Cont’d)
This man here is Sir Reginald Hargreeves, a.k.a. The Monocle. A world-renowned scientist and wealthy entrepreneur.
EXT. EGYPT – DAY
The sun is beautiful but produces hot heat over several hard workers.
EXT. EGYPT, PIT – DAY
Monocle is shown defeating an opponent in a friendly round of fencing.
A tall body-builder-type bodyguard, ABHIJAT watches in the corner while sipping on a glass of water.
NARRATOR:
(Cont’d)
Inventor of the Televator, the Levitator, the Mobile Communicator, and Clever Crisp Cereal, Reginald Hargreeves was also an Olympic gold medallist and recipient of the Nobel Prize for his cerebral advancement of the chimpanzee.
INT. HOME, MONOCLE’S BATHROOM – NIGHT
White walls with a green tiled floor. A wide mirror is placed in the main wall, covering the entire space above the sink.
Monocle approaches his sink. He digs his fingers into the skin under his chin.
The mask of what appears to be Monocle’s face is sat over a stack of magazines on the septic tank of the toilet.
NARRATOR:
(Cont’d)
No one knew their beloved scientist was a space alien.
EXT. AIRSTRIP – DUSK
The sun sets over a private and deserted airstrip. A lit space vessel waits in the middle as the entrance platform slides down. Monocle and Abhijat run up the platform in a hurry.
The platform closes. The vessel takes off.
NARRATOR:
(Cont’d)
For reasons unknown, Sir Reginald ser out with his bodyguard Abhijat aboard his private vessel, The Minerva… rumored to be powered by the remains of King Amen-Kharej IV. Using methods undisclosed, he sought to track down and adopt as many of the children as he could.
INT.HOSPITAL, NEWBORNCARECENTER
Various shots of seven white glass cribs. Each contains a newborn with a mask covering their eyes. Two infants are pale, one is bald, one has white hair, and the other three appear to be normal looking (other than the mask).
NARRATOR:
(Cont’d)
He only found seven of them-
INT. PRESS CONFERENCE – DAY
Dozens of news anxiously curious reporters surround a very calm Monocle. Pictures are being constantly taken of him.
From Monocle’s back view, the crowd of reporters grows bigger and bigger with more questions. Monocle sits there, appearing determined.
NARRATOR:
(Cont’d)
Wiping their identities and concealing the children from the world, Sir Reginald held a press conference in Stockholm in which journalist Cosimo De’Lostromo from Milan asked, “Why have you adopted these seven children?”
EXT. SIDEWALK – DAY
Rain is pouring over several heavily coated civilians, surrounding the windows of an electronics store. They watch Monocle’s press conference.
MONOCLE:
(From television sets)
To save the world, of course!
NARRATOR:
To which they asked-
EXT. NEWSPAPER STAND – DAY
A stack of issues of The City Paper is tossed in front of the stand. CLOSE IN on paper headline. The headline reads, “FROM WHAT?”
EXT.MONOCLEMANSION, STAIRWELL - DAY
Monocle walks down the steps, exiting his mansion. Abhijat and seven bodyguards in black with strollers follow Monocle.
Camera flashes are coming from all angles.
NARRATOR:
(Cont’d)
They received no answer. It was the last time Sir Reginald and the children were seen. Until-
OVER BLACK
Chapter One: “The Day the EiffelTower Went Berserk”
EXT. PARIS, CITY VIEW – DAY
A beautiful view on a sunny morning.
EXT. PARIS, CONCESSION STAND – DAY
Under the EiffelTower, A concession stand OWNER is organizing souvenirs for sale. He posts a large red umbrella over the top of it.
CRASH! A quickly seen figure crashes onto the concession stand, breaking it in half. The owner is puzzled and shocked.
He approaches his totaled stand. A bloodied and broken corpse lies over it.
EXT. PARIS, CONCESSION STAND – LATER
The owner is explaining what happened to a scrawny POLICEMAN.
OFFICER:
Just flew out of the sky?
STAND OWNER:
(Outraged)
Yes!
OFFICER:
You don’t think he jumped?
STAND OWNER:
No, he was pushed.
OFFICER:
That’s ridiculous.
A force is heard landing hard onto the concrete behind both men. They turn around and find it is another broken body.
Another body crashes onto the concrete in front of both men. A puddle of blood explodes out of the back of the body’s head.
Several more bodies appear falling, breaking, and exploding blood out of their skulls.
People on the surface begin to flee in panic.
OFFICER:
(To Stand owner)
Get out of here!
The Stand Owner runs and exits the frame.
OFFICER:
(On radio)
Send backup! We need more men and medics!
BOY:
(O.S.)
Officer?
The officer turns around and finds five CHILDREN with eye masks and dressed in black private school uniforms- THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY. The boy speaking has white hair and is the leader of the group. This is 0.01 AKA SPACEBOY (LUTER HARGREEVES).
SPACEBOY:
Can we be of assistance?
OFFICER:
(Confused)
Who the hell are you?
SPACEBOY:
Your EiffelTower has gone insane and needs to be stopped at all costs.
OFFICER:
(Confused)
What?
(Annoyed)
It is you children who are insane!
SPACEBOY:
(Pointing to girl in his group)
Allow me to introduce my subordinate, Number Three!
The children float off the ground.
0.03 AKA THE RUMOR (ALLISON HARGREEVES) begins to speak.
RUMOR:
Attention, citizens of Paris! I heard a rumor that the Musee D’orsay is giving away many of its finest paintings and they’re also serving crepes.
The rest of the panicked citizens, including the police, forget about the chaos at the EiffelTower and run the opposite direction for the art gallery.
SPACEBOY:
(Sighs)
Now we’ll have to recover those paintings!
0.02 AKA THE KRAKEN (DIEGO HARGREEVES) points up above.
KRAKEN:
(Pointing at EiffelTower)
Number one!
Green energy beams begin to build around the top of the tower.
BOOM! An explosion of green flames separates the children. All hell breaks loose.
0.06 AKA THE HORROR (BEN HARGREEVES) transforms the bottom of his body into floating tentacles.
The children spread out.
SPACEBOY:
(Commanding the Academy)
Spread out and attack!
EXT. SKY OF PARIS – DAY
Aerial View – hovering over the exploding EiffelTower is the UmbrellaAcademy’s official modified plane.
INT. ACADEMY PLANE – DAY
Abhijat is shown piloting the plane.
A member of the UmbrellaAcademy, 0.07 AKA WHITE VIOLIN (VANYA HARGREEVES), pouts as she watches over the action on ground.
SEVEN:
(In a down voice)
Dad, I mean Mr. Monocle, Sir? Why can’t I play with the others?
MONOCLE:
There is just nothing special about you, Number Seven.
SEVEN:
(Pouts)
Oh!
(Argues)
Where’s Number Five? I don’t see him down there!
MONOCLE:
He’s in the future, I presume. No doubt, run away from home. I can’t be sure, nor bothered. Why don’t you go play your violin?
Vanya leaves and begins to unhappily play her violin.
INT.EIFFELTOWER – DAY
The children fly as fast as they can to the top on the inside of the tower.
0.04 AKA THE SÉANCE (KLAUS HARGREEVES) begins to think.
KRAKEN:
(To Séance)(Sighs)
What are you doing?
SÉANCE:
Don’t let go! I’m trying to contact a dead engineer from the spirit world! He can tell us to stop it.
KRAKEN:
(Bitterly)
Save your breath, we’re all gonna die!
SPACEBOY
Why don’t you shut up?
EXT.EIFFELTOWER – DAY
BOOM! Part of the tower explodes furiously. The explosion sends the children flying.
The dismantled part of the tower collisions to the sidewalk.
Horror, Séance, Rumor, and Kraken follow Spaceboy.
SPACEBOY:
To the control tower! I got a hunch.
INT. CONTROL TOWER – DAY
An older android with a gruesome zombie appearance, GUSTAVE EIFFEL, appears to be controlling the tower.
CRASH! The UmbrellaAcademy kids forcefully crash through the wall.
SPACEBOY:
Just as I expected… Gustave Eiffel!
GUSTAVE:
(In French)
Mutant infants!
HORROR:
(Shocked)
You’re alive after all these years?
KRAKEN:
(Sarcastically)
Not for long!
Kraken draws a knife.
SPACEBOY:
(Attempting to stop Kraken)
NO!
Too late. The knife flies and impales Eiffel in the forehead. He falls dead onto the control panels.
The computers shut off automatically.
The legs of the tower begin to separate from the ground.
SPACEBOY:
(Yells)
Everyone out now!
EXT. GROUND – DAY
The UmbrellaAcademy exits the tower in a hurry. The EiffelTower launches from the ground like a rocket.
The kids appear shocked.
RUMOR:
(Confused)
Why is it taking off?
Monocle appears behind the children, unbeknownst to them.
MONOCLE:
Because it’s not a monument, children!
KIDS:
(At same time)(In shock)
Dad!
MONOCLE:
Don’t call me “Dad.” And while you lost the EiffelTower, you saved Paris. And you know what that means!
EXT. PARADE – DAY
French civilians are appreciative and chanting the UmbrellaAcademy for saving their city.
The kids are given ice cream cones while Monocle is given a key to the city as a reward.
Monocle notices Spaceboy appears melancholic.
MONOCLE:
What’s wrong, Number One?
SPACEBOY:
Mr. Monocle, Sir, I want to go into space when I grow up.
MONOCLE:
(Supportively)
And so you shall, Number One. So you shall.
OUTER SPACE
Insert Head: “Twenty Years Later”
EXT. MOON - DARK
A large astronaut stands over the moon. He is built like a giant.
CLOSE IN- Astronaut. He is half human and half guerilla. It appears to be Spaceboy.
ANNHILATION CONTROL:
(V.O.)
Come in Number One! You have a call.
SPACEBOY:
Tell them I’m busy!
ANNHILATION CONTROL:
(V.O.)
It’s Dr. Pogo on the phone.
SPACEBOY:
Keep him on the line!
Spaceboy launches his jet boots off the moon. He flies into his-
INT. SHIP, OFFICE – DARK
The walls are covered with newspaper articles and framed magazine covers.
One of the framed articles reads, “Mars Mission Failure: Spaceboy critically injured. Hargreeves performs experimental surgery to save his life.”
The picture shows Spaceboy in a guerilla-sized body with the same sized space suit.
Spaceboy enters. He picks up his phone.
SPACEBOY:
Pogo! Any good news from Earth? Is that it…? Negative Pogo… you know I can’t leave my post. A threat may finally-
(Unpleasantly surprised)
What? Oh. I see. I’m on my way.
INT. SPACE CAPSULE
A one-seater, Spaceboy steps inside and activates the launch program.
EXT. MOON – DARK
The capsule launches and takes off at fast speed from the surface.
EXT. THE CITY – NIGHT
The City is peaceful at night. Eerie-but-nice silence.
INT. SEVEN’S APARTMENT, BEDROOM – NIGHT
A messy bedroom with books scattered everywhere. A copy of “Extraordinary: My Life as Number 7” lies next to the phone on the nightstand.
RING! RING! The phone rings.
Seven stands up out of bed. She is tall and beautiful with a short haircut. He is only wearing a white tank top and a thong.
SEVEN:
(Answering the phone)(Half awake)
Hello?
INT. OFFICE – NIGHT
CLOSE UP on mouth of MYSTERY CALLER.
The conversation cuts back and forth between Seven’s apartment and the Caller’s office.
CALLER:
I suppose I didn’t expect you to be broken up. You wrote a lot of nasty things about your family in your book.
SEVEN:
(Fully awake)
What do you want?
CALLER:
I’m conducting a suite, the first of its kind. It appears my chair for first violin has been rendered vacant. I’d like you to audition.
SEVEN:
(Looking through window blinds)
Now why would I do that?
CALLER:
(V.O.)
Revenge! Be at the Icarus Theatre at noon tomorrow!
CLICK! The line disconnects.
INT.ACADEMYMANSION, HALLWAY – NIGHT
An isolated but luxurious hallway with several family portraits and art pieces hung on the walls. Spaceboy runs through the hall anxiously and bursts through the doors of the-
INT.ACADEMYMANSION, POGO’S OFFICE – NIGHT
SPACEBOY:
(Anxiously)
Dr. Pogo, is it true?
A talking chimpanzee sits behind the desk, dressed in a suit. This is POGO. There is a ten-year-old boy, who is a member of the UmbrellaAcademy next to him. The boy is 0.05 AKA THE BOY.
POGO:
Yes. Sir Reginald Hargreeves is dead.
BOY:
And something worse is coming!
INT.ACADEMYMANSION, SPACEBOY’S ROOM – NIGHT
Spaceboy is asleep in a king-sized mattress. He has an oxygen supply hooked up to his suit.
The sun peaks through the cracks of the blinds onto Spaceboy’s face.
More light enters as the curtains open.
POGO:
(O.S.)
Wake up, Spaceboy!
Spaceboy wakes up slowly.
SPACEBOY:
(Yawns)
What time is it?
POGO:
(Sipping on a cup of coffee)
Eight A.M.! Your sister has arrived.
SPACEBOY:
The Rumor?
POGO:
Allison, yes. She’s been standing beneath Ben’s statue for thirty minutes. You should go down and help her with her bags. She looks nervous…
EXT. ACADEMY MANSION, COURTYARD – DAY
Leaves blow around Rumor. She is now tall, slender, and beautiful but narcissistic. She stands in the middle of the yard, staring at a tall statue referred to as Ben’s Statue.