JUDE
Oh, wow, this place is fancy!

APOLLO
Yeah, it’s real nice. You’ll like it.

JUDE
Did Val manage to get us a reservation?

APOLLO
Val?

JUDE
Oh, yeah. Dr. Val Delaney, that’s DCA’s name. It’s technically knowledge that’s available to the public, but it’s kind of niche knowledge all the same.

APOLLO
Are they gonna be okay with you sharing that with me?

JUDE
Like I said, public knowledge! Besides, if they made the reservation, it’s probably in their name.

APOLLO
Good point. Excuse me, reservation for Dr. Val Delaney?

RESTAURANT HOST
Oh my, Mosaic and Solis! R-Right this way!

(walking)

RESTAURANT HOST
Here are two menus, c-can I get you anything to start with?

JUDE
We’ll need a minute, thanks.

RESTAURANT HOST
Yes, yes, of course! Okay!

(they quickly walk away as Jude and Apollo sit down)

JUDE
Jesus, these prices! Uh, do you want me to pay-?

APOLLO
(villainously) The city can pay! 🔫

JUDE
Uh, no, that’s okay, I’ll just cover it. 😅

APOLLO
Oh. Right, yeah, no, that’s- I can pay, don’t worry.

JUDE
Legally, or with stolen money?

APOLLO
Legally! Seriously, I can pay. I just… forgot it wasn’t as easy as walking in in my costume anymore.

JUDE
Do they know you here?

APOLLO
Yeah, me and Providence used to come by all the time.

JUDE
Why didn’t the staff call me!?

APOLLO
Uh, because we asked them nicely not to? While showing off our very offensive powers? 🙄

JUDE
I’m surprised they let you in, now that you’re committed to not hurting people.

APOLLO
It’s not like I don’t tip.

JUDE
(laughs) Of course, my bad.

(pause)

APOLLO
Goddammit, the press are here.

JUDE
I’m not surprised. We came straight here from the tower, of course the press followed us.

APOLLO
Yeah, but- Ugh. I miss when they were too scared to get this close to me.

JUDE
(sympathetically) There’s definitely an adjustment period. It’s exhausting having so many people care so much about your life. But, that’s why we have our secret identities, I guess.

APOLLO
You should stand up for yourself more.

JUDE
What?

APOLLO
You don’t have to answer every question they ask you. You’re not there for their entertainment. You’re there for their safety.

JUDE
I am literally a public servant.

APOLLO
Yeah, but not like that. You deserve your privacy, even in your hero get-up. You’re already doing so much for them.

JUDE
…I guess I’ve never thought of it like that.

APOLLO
Well, now you have. And if you’re too worried about DCA getting mad, I’ll take the heat. I don’t mind yelling at a reporter.

JUDE
I’m pretty sure you actively take joy in it, actually.

APOLLO
😏That’s true, I do.

JUDE
(laughs) I’ll keep that in mind, Mosaic. Thank you.

APOLLO
Yeah. No problem.

-SCENE CUT 1-

(Apollo walks into his and Nevaeh’s apartment, happy and confident.)

APOLLO
(humming to himself)

NEVAEH
I think we need to set some ground rules.

APOLLO
(startled) Jesus!

NEVAEH
If you’re going to do something this stupid, you should at least go about it in as smart a way as possible.

APOLLO
Okay, then what do you suggest?

NEVAEH
Number one: No using Vindicator secrets to catch us in the act.

APOLLO
Obviously.

NEVAEH
Number two: No giving away sensitive information about the Vindicators.

APOLLO
Well, yeah, duh. That’s a given.

NEVAEH
I can never tell with you. Number three: No falling in love with the damn superhero.

APOLLO
(splutters) I would never! Who do you think I am?

NEVAEH
An idiot.

APOLLO
I’m not- I won’t fall in love with them, god. They’re my nemesis!

NEVAEH
Yes, and now you’re taking them on dates at the most expensive place in town.

APOLLO
You heard about that?

NEVAEH
It was all over the news, everyone heard about it. Az and Liar Liar are not happy.

APOLLO
Did you tell them I’m only doing this to infiltrate the Paragons?

NEVAEH
Yes, I told them. They think you’re on thin fucking ice. Absolute Zero is keeping an extra close eye on you.

APOLLO
Yeah, well, tell him to fuck off. I can take care of myself.

NEVAEH
(sighs) Just… be careful, okay? We’re not just worried about you betraying us. You’re my brother, Apollo, I trust you. But being so buddy-buddy with the Paragons… You could get jailed, or hurt, or worse.

APOLLO
Solis would never seriously hurt me.

NEVAEH
What makes you think that? Like you said, they’re your nemesis.

APOLLO
They’ve never tried to harm me lethally before. They don’t like killing people.

NEVAEH
Yeah, well. Solis isn’t the only one I’m worried about. The other Paragons are a threat, too.

APOLLO
…Yeah. Yeah, I know. But I just have to play my cards right. I took Solis on that date to really sell it, to convince the people and the Paragons that we’re actually together.

NEVAEH
Okay. I do trust you. Just… remember where you came from, and remember that you can come back to us whenever you need to.

APOLLO
I will, Nevaeh. Goodnight.

NEVAEH
Goodnight.

-SCENE CUT 2-

(people talking as Mariangel walks by)

(Apollo humming)

(Apollo and Mariangel both grunt as they run into each other. Books fall to the ground)

APOLLO
Shit-

MARIANGEL
Oh, I’m so sorry!

APOLLO
It’s okay, I wasn’t paying attention.

(They pick up each other’s books)

MARIANGEL
Wow, are you a writer? Sorry, I didn’t mean to read your notebook, but ‘Evil Plan’ is written at the top of the page in bubble font.

APOLLO
😳That’s… um… yes. Yes, I am a writer. I’m… writing. About… supervillains.

MARIANGEL
How fun!

APOLLO
Right. And, you’re a… a… (confused) What the hell is this stuff?

MARIANGEL
(laughs) It’s abstract, I’m an art student. Trade me?

APOLLO
Yeah, of course. Here’s your sketchbook.

MARIANGEL
And here’s your notebook!

APOLLO
Cool. Okay, bye.

(they both enter the Cat’s Meow, the bell jingles)

APOLLO
(dead inside) Ohhh we’re both going to the same place. This sucks.

MARIANGEL
(laughs) Don’t worry about it. Hey, Jude!

JUDE
Hey, Mari! The usual?

MARIANGEL
Yes please! And I’ll cover this guy’s drink, too, to make up for how awkward that interaction was.

APOLLO
(embarrassed) Don’t tell people about it!

JUDE
(laughs warmly) It’s okay, I won’t judge. Hey, you’re Nevaeh’s brother, right? I’ve seen you around a ton but never really introduced myself.

APOLLO
Yeah, I’m Apollo. And you’re… Jude…?

JUDE
Yeah! Uh oh, does Nevaeh talk about me?

APOLLO
(dryly) Yes, a lot. You’re rarely on time.

JUDE
Heh. I live a busy life. 😅

APOLLO
Eh, I get it.

MARIANGEL
Apollo, here, is a writer!

JUDE
Ooh, fun! What do you write about?

APOLLO
Uh… Supervillains. And heroes, too! Your friend probably thinks I’m a psychopath.

MARIANGEL
I’m sure there are perfectly normal reasons to have ‘Evil Plan’ written in your notebook. Such as: Being a writer!

JUDE
(laughs) Hey, like I said, I won’t judge.

MARIANGEL
Hey, Jude, can I slip behind the counter for a second?

JUDE
I… guess so?

(Mariangel hops the counter)

JUDE
Ope, okay. Now I have to clean that.

MARIANGEL
(whispered/quietly) Hey, I can tell you think he’s cute. You should go after him. Get your mind off of you-know-who.

JUDE
(quietly) You are my worst nightmare come to life.

MARIANGEL
I love you, too.

(she hops the counter again)

MARIANGEL
When’s your shift over, Jude?

JUDE
Oh, just a few minutes. I worked the early morning shift today.

MARIANGEL
Huh. Interesting. 😉

JUDE
Right. Yeah. Totally. Um, here’s your drinks.

APOLLO
Thanks.

JUDE
Will you… be sticking around?

APOLLO
Does anyone come to a cat cafe just for the drinks?

JUDE
A surprisingly large amount of people do, actually.

APOLLO
Oh. Well, not me. I’m here for the cats.

JUDE
Cool! Um, maybe I could… sit with you? After my shift ends?

APOLLO
Um… yeah, okay. Why not?

JUDE
Awesome! I’ll clock out as soon as Nevaeh gets here.

(Nevaeh walks through the employee door)

NEVAEH
Just clock out now, then. Hi, dumbass.

APOLLO
Hi, asshole.

MARIANGEL
(dreamily) I wish I had a sibling.

NEVAEH
No you don’t.

APOLLO
Come on, I usually sit by Tabitha if I can find him.

JUDE
Oh yeah, I think I saw him over by the window.

(they walk over to Tabitha, who meows loudly as they sit down)

APOLLO
(lovingly) Hi, Tabs. How was your day?

(Tabitha meows)

APOLLO
Wow, mine too.

JUDE
He is kneading your arm. Doesn’t that hurt?

APOLLO
Sometimes love hurts, Jude. What can ya do.

JUDE
(laughs) Right, sorry. So, do you work?

APOLLO
Not… really.

JUDE
How come?

APOLLO
You know how some people jokingly say they have a touch of the ‘tism? Yeah, well, I have the whole word.

JUDE
Oh, my cousin’s autistic!

APOLLO
I don’t know what to do with this information.

JUDE
Yeah, sorry, I don’t know why I said that.

APOLLO
It’s okay.

JUDE
Well, what about hobbies? Besides writing, of course.

APOLLO
Oh, uh. I mostly spend time here, secluded in a corner with Tabitha or some other cat. I, uh. Really like cats.

JUDE
Ooh, what kind of breed is Tabs? I’ve never been able to tell.

APOLLO
(brightening) He’s a Somali! They’re also called fox cats.

JUDE
He does look like a fox!

APOLLO
Somali cats are like, the long-haired version of Abyssinians. They can be traced back to this one cat, Raby Chuffa of Selene, who was the first Abyssinian in the U.S. to have the long-haired trait.

JUDE
Wow, you really do like cats.

APOLLO
Oh, I- Sorry.

JUDE
No, no, it’s okay! That’s cool, it’s neat to learn about Tabitha’s heritage.

APOLLO
(happy) Yeah, that’s… Yeah! For sure.

JUDE
Sooo tell me about your writing!

APOLLO
Oh, it’s- I don’t know what to say about it.

JUDE
Do you write based on real superheroes and villains?

APOLLO
No, no, I- I don’t really keep up with all of that. Not big on super stuff in real life.

JUDE
Damn, Mosaic could make for some really good inspiration when it comes to evil plans!

APOLLO
(playing dumb) Oh, really?

JUDE
(gushing) Yeah, he’s so smart. Just, uh. Misguided, I’d say!

APOLLO
🤨Misguided.

JUDE
Yeahhh. I wouldn’t be surprised if Providence’s latest attack on the bus station was taken right from one of Mosaic’s plans.

APOLLO
Yeah, well, the bus system in this city is incredibly outdated and incredibly underfunded and has been for ages now. The governor doesn’t give a shit about public transport despite the fact that many people used to rely on it before the station started breaking down. Maybe now they’ll rebuild the station bigger and better, and our public transport can finally improve.

JUDE
…You would really like Mosaic, actually.

APOLLO
Oh, that’s- I don’t know. I don’t think we’d get along.

(soundscape switches to outside wind, mosaic walking along on glass while Solis rocket-boots beside him.)

APOLLO
It’s stupid and outdated, and that’s why the bus system needs a total rehaul! 😤

JUDE
(amused) Heh. Yeah.

APOLLO
So- (confused) Yeah?

JUDE
Yep, you’re right on this one.

APOLLO
Oh. I… Cool.

JUDE
Hey, have you ever considered writing?