MARVEL'S THUNDERBOLTS
The past decade has seen an alarming increase in the number of enhanced individuals who intentionally use their abilities in the commission of criminal and violent acts that threaten the safety of many U.S. citizens. However, there has also been an increase in the number of enhanced individuals who unintentionally pose a threat to the safety of themselves and others and desperately seek help regaining a sense of normalcy in their lives. To address these concerns, the President and the Secretary of State have initiated a U.N. approved, inter-agency program called Project: Reintegration which enlists specially trained enhanced individuals to help safely resolve high-risk situations and help garner goodwill between the so-called "super-powered" community and the general public. Spearheaded by retired Lieutenant General and current Secretary of State Thaddeus E. Ross, the first team to successfully run off-site missions for the program have been nicknamed "The Thunderbolts" in the media.
Not as long of a read as most of my other post. I thought that if the series was to show on a weekly basis, then the network would be wise to give fans some show-related content while they wait between episodes. So I thought a webseries could also run parallel to the show and fall at some midway point between episodes. It's not a solution for fans who like to binge watch seasons...but it's something.
CAST & CHARACTERS (By Order of Appearance)
Delroy Garrett Jr. (Triathlon)
Actor - Brian White
Personality - Skilled tactician. Decisive. Affirming. Observant. Natural problem solver. Easy to relate to. Occasionally too impulsive.
Enhanced Abilities - Superhuman speed. Superhuman strength. Elevated stamina. Superhuman senses and reflexes. Accelerated healing factor. Heightened resistance to sedatives and depressants.
Character History - Marvel Wikia
Garrett is an ATCU operative and team leader for The Thunderbolts who is enlisted in Project: Reintegration on a voluntary basis. He is a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corp who was court-martialed and discharged after severely assaulting the man that his fiance had been having an affair with - an attack which left the man severely injured and in a coma. Garrett worked as a private military contractor after his release and sustained serious injuries during a security assignment in Bogota, Colombia where an armed group attempted to kidnap his client, Dr. Jonathan Tremont - the CEO of Triune Pharmaceuticals. In gratitude for saving his life and the life of his family, Tremont handled all of Garrett's medical and personal expenses while he recovered from the attack, and offered him the opportunity to enter into a research trial that his company was holding for the treatment of nerve damage, neuropathy, and chronic pain. For unknown reasons, the drugs and the galvanic processes used during the trial did more than treat Garrett's symptoms, they also enhanced his strength, speed, agility, and sensory acuity to roughly three times that of peak human potential. However, two notable side effects have arisen since the treatment concluded. Garrett now suffers from relatively long periods of insomnia as well as infrequent episodes of brief but intense tremors.
Sheri Dennon
Actress - Ryan Michelle Bathe
Personality - Intelligent, Reserved, Shy, Passionate about her work.
Enhanced Abilities - None
Character History - Comic Vine
Dr. Dennon is a biochemist and researcher with the company Triune Pharmaceuticals. She was one of the lead scientists working on the experimental nerve damage drug therapy that resulted in Delroy Garrett Jr. receiving his enhanced abilities. She is now one of a select group of researchers working closely with the owner and CEO of Triune Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Jonathan Tremont, as he studies and treats the side effects of the enhancements. It his her hope that insights into how Garrett’s unique physiology came to be will significantly advance medical interventions related to chronic pain, nerve damage, paralysis, and neurodegenerative disorders.
Giuletta Kristina Nefaria (Madame Masque)
Actress - Jessica Szhor
Personality - Intelligent, Introverted, Assertive, Narcissistic, Paranoid, Possibly emotinally disturbed,
Enhanced Abilities - None
Character History - Marvel Wikia
Not much is known about the contessa and heiress Giuletta Nefaria. She is the daughter of the European nobleman and industrialist Luchino Nefaria and an art history student Renata Nefaria (nee Cicero). She is said to have grown up almost exclusively under the care of au pairs and wait staff on the Nefaria estate in upstate New York due to her father’s desire to distance himself from much of the world after his wife's death (Renata died while giving birth to Giuletta). Shortly after turning 25, Giuletta’s health began to decline after she was diagnosed with an extremely rare degenerative disease that gradually attacks her nervous and integumentary systems. As a result, she rarely makes public appearances.
PLOT SYNOPSIS
EPISODE 1.5: CHEMISTRY (WEBISODE)
As the side-effects of his enhanced abilities begin to show more and more, Thunderbolt's team leader Delroy Garrett Jr (Triathlon) secretly reaches out to a friend from his past to help keep the symptoms at bay.
Also the mysterious heiress Giuletta Nefaria makes her presence known to someone very close to Delroy.
COLD OPEN
The camera cuts to various items in a small motel room. We see a baseball cap, some shades (something along the lines of the standard “undercover” gear used by many MCU heroes while on the run), and a Swiss Military watch lying on an unused bed. We see a cellphone charging on a nightstand. “ABC World News Now” is playing on the television (making it some time after 2:00 am). After a few moments, Delroy Garrett Jr (Triathlon) and a Triune Pharmaceuticals researcher named Sheri Dennon hurriedly enter the room carrying bags and equipment. A series of quick-cuts show the two setting up an I.V. infusion pump, various I.V. drugs and saline, some monitors, and Dennon’ laptop on a nearby desk. We close with Garrett being attached to the monitors, having an I.V. line placed in his arm, and Dennon working the I.V. pump.
Sheri Dennon: “Dr. Tremont has made some adjustments in the dosage of your treatment based on the results of your last episode. We believe we have a pretty good handle on the tremors, but we still need to get the insomnia and restlessness under control.”
“How long has it been since you’ve slept?”
Delroy Garrett Jr: “I’ve been awake for about three days now.”
Sheri Dennon: “Have you noticed any new symptoms that you feel may be associated with your condition?”
Delroy Garrett Jr: “Not really...just the usual.”
Sheri Dennon: “Any chest pain? shortness of breath? nausea? dizziness? blurred vision? headaches?
Delroy Garrett Jr: “No”
Sheri Dennon: “Any visual or auditory hallucinations?
( Images of Moonstone and Songbird flying through the air while performing aerial maneuvers, Taskmaster in full tactical gear, and some of the creatures from the Roxxon oil refinery attack quickly flash on screen)
Delroy Garrett Jr: “...nope.”
Sheri Dennon: “Have you noticed yourself feeling unusually nervous, anxious, irritable, or on edge lately?
Delroy Garrett Jr: “No. Well….no”
( Dennon looks away from her work and gives Garrett a moment to continue. He only offers up a forced smile.)
Sheri Dennon: “Please feel free to share Mr. Garrett. In order for me...us...to help, I need you to share any and all new information. No matter how minor or embarrassing you think it may be.”
Delroy Garrett Jr: “It’s nothing really. It’s just this new assignment. It’s ...uhmmm...different. I’m still getting adjusted to a new team of people. A new environment. New responsibilities.
( Sheri ’s body language changes as the tone of the conversation shifts from a straightforward clinical assessment to something more personal. )
Sheri Dennon: “I know that certain aspects of your job need to remain confidential, Mr. Garrett….”
Delroy Garrett Jr: “Delroy. Please, call me Delroy.”
Sheri Dennon: “Okay. Delroy. I know that you can’t really talk about certain parts of your job. But I just want you to know that, in addition to helping you deal with the physical side effects of your condition, I am also available to talk about…whatever... day or night.”
( Dennon nervously averts her gaze away from Garrett. )
Delroy Garrett: “Thank you doc.”
“And I guess I should apologize for asking you to meet me at a shady, no-tell-motel in the middle of the night. I just don’t want the people at the base to start asking questions or doubting my ability to do my job. You have no idea how much I appreciate all the help that you’ve given me over these past few months. I really owe you one.
Sheri Dennon: “I’m just glad that I can help, Delroy.”
( The two share a quiet moment before Dennon slips back into doctor mode. )
Sheri Dennon: “As you know, with your unique physiology, it usually takes a few minutes for the medicines to start showing signs of working. Although we’re still adjusting your dosages, we seem to have a pretty good understanding of where the lower limits of an effective dose lies. Still, if you start to feel nauseous, lightheaded, short of brea…”
-
( Delroy raises both his hands to eye level. They go from their steady trembling, to shaking at an unnaturally high speed - even for Garrett. As Garrett stands up, the high speed shaking quickly engulfs his entire body. The monitors start to alarm from the elevated readings. As both Dennon and Garrett attempt to remove the I.V. from his arm, Garrett abruptly stops shaking and appears to be perfectly fine. Both are clearly shocked by the intense episode and lock eyes in a shocked, “what-the-hell-was-that” sort of way. Both remain perfectly still as they wait to see what will happen next. )
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