Gayle Summers, a woman who never wanted to be a single mother's husband, a Navy Seal is injected with a super serum makes love to his wife then dies on a mission. Gayle, now pregnant with a super baby that gives her the ability to float, super strength and the ability to be hard as bone, as long as she holds her  breath must evade all of the factions hell-bent on taking her baby. Her super powers are all that stands between her and her baby, the last thing she has of her husband, and my money's on Mama!

SYNOPSIS:

Loosely based on the myth of Prometheus and Pandora, The Pandora Principle is about the myths of old penchant for blaming woman for the fall of mankind, and how that affects the story that women tell themselves. It's time for history to reflect a more powerful herstory!

THE PANDORA PRINCIPLE

EXT. NEW YORK SKYLINE - DAY

CARD: NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE

LADY LIBERTY births a diverse cavalcade of distant cousins as they make their way to the NEW WORLD.

INT. TRAIN STATION

A woman waits on the J train. She taps her technology enhanced reading spectacles.

WOMAN’S POV(INSIDE THE GLASSES) -

A digital version of THE NEW YORK TIMES is displayed. HEADLINES: Genetically enhanced fetus program miserable failure. Funding pulled. She taps her spectacles twice - the “read more” icon is highlighted.

Her glasses freeze. She taps incessantly to bring her specialized glasses back online.

WOMAN’S POV ENDS -

WOMAN

(To no one/everyone.)

Brain freeze?

The train pulls into PARSONS AND ARCHER station. People get on and off. It takes off again. A woman laughs.

EXT. VA -

A little boy cries. O.S. WE HEAR a siren in the distance.

EXT. ROAD - DAY

A police car siren screeches past the edge of NORTHERN BOULEVARD as it speeds past a tree. A SINISTER MAN IN BLACK CLOTHES conceals himself behind that tree.

Satisfied that the police car has turned the corner, the man, keeps his back to us, and advances on ...

EXT. THE FRANKLIN HOUSING DEVELOPMENT - DAY

A well manicured two story home which sits on the corner.

EXT. PORCH

Now WE SEE he’s A WHITE MAN IN A UNIQUE MASK, six foot tall, late 20s and extremely fit. He rings the doorbell. He jumps into the bushes to peek through the window at...

INT. BEDROOM -

GAYLE SUMMERS, a 37 year old beauty with an adventurous, freaky edge. A daddy’s girl who lost him at a very young age. She looks up from her concerted effort to do a new, difficult yoga pose. Her headphones play.

SOOTHING VOICE

(V.O.)

You need to hold on to you. Let go of anything that holds you back. Do what works for you.

Finally, she does an excellently poised HANDSTAND SCORPION. A degree on the wall bears her name, a MASTERS from PRINCETON in CHILD PSYCHOLOGY and a minor in EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT.

INT. GAYLE’S HOUSE -

DING! Pictures of GAYLE’S husband NEAL with his mother and father, and four siblings. At least four or five pictures of a happy family. Gayle has a picture of her with grandmother. It reads (Grand) Ma.

And one picture of a man’s arm holding her hand, she holds the PANDORA DOLL. We can’t see his torso or face. The caption reads: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! LOVE DADDY. Finally, she takes off the headset.

DR. PHIL

(V.O.)

This is very important. Please explain sexual over stimulation.

She towels off with a sensual touch as she listens, almost like an exhibitionist. The door bell rings again. DING!

DR. MELECHIA

(V.O.)

When a prepubescent child’s touched inappropriately creating arousal but not capable of an orgasm they stay in a perpetual state of arousal. Thereby demanding a sexual over stimulation to achieve satisfaction in their romantic adult relationships.

She answers the door.

GAYLE

If you lose that key one more time... I swear I’m going to take it and shove it up your...

EXT. PORCH

She half opens the door. The chain link halts her. She sees his face.

GAYLE

You! I’m calling the cops you freak!

He shoves his hand in the door. SLAM!

MAN IN MASK

OUCH!

She bites it.

MAN IN MASK (CONT’D)

Aaarh!

She slams the door shut. BEAT.

INT. GAYLE’S HOUSE -

He breaks through the door. She breaks a vase over his head. CRASH!

DR. MELECHIA

(V.O.)

Sexual over stimulation is only one form. Loud music - the dark web are all forms of this. An indicator of a troubling reality. Over stimulation as a way of life.

She dives into the...

INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

GAYLE

911! 911!

She body barricades the door. He pushes through then dives on top of her. She knees him in the groin.

MAN IN MASK

Aaah!

GAYLE

My husband will be here any minute.

NEAL

(Man in mask.)

Honey! I’m home.

She rips off his mask, kissing NEAL SUMMERS, her husband. Their wedding picture sits on the dresser. They rip off his clothes. They kiss and writhe, they’re insatiable. She feeds him a condom with her teeth. He spits it out.

She hands him another one. He head butts her hand, knocking it to the ground. She slams another, flat palm to his forehead. Beet red, he jumps out of bed.

GAYLE

Infant!

NEAL

Waaa! Next time don’t rob the cradle.

He barely ducks a candy apple red stiletto she hurls at him.

GAYLE

I don’t need another baby!

INT. GARAGE -

Neal revs his motorcycle. His cell phone buzzes. He checks it.

INT. CELL PHONE READOUT -

Did you tell her yet? MOM. He texts a reply.

EXT. WENDY COLLINS’ HOME -

A well decorated cottage, complete with a picket fence.

INT. WENDY’S LIVING ROOM -

WENDY, Gayle’s mom, nosey and resourceful, a woman with a past that will make your toes curl. She texts like a teenager. She receive NEAL’S reply.

INT. WENDY CELL PHONE READOUT - CONTINUOUS

No! And don’t you tell her either! Please... I know she’s your daughter but she’ll never give me a baby if she finds out. NEAL.

INT. LIVING ROOM -

Wendy grimaces. She looks at Gayle’s number, reluctantly she dials. The phone rings.

INT. GAYLE’S CELL PHONE READOUT -

It comes up. DON’T ANSWER.

GAYLE

(She does anyway.)

Stay out of my life.

WENDY

I want a grandchild. He wants a son. You’re not getting any younger. What would your father say?

GAYLE

That’s the whole point. He’s not here is he?

She looks at an unopened box which carries THE PANDORA DOLL. It’s on the mantel. It seems to look right through her.

FLASHBACK BEGINS - (BLACK AND WHITE, GRAINY)

EXT. LOCAL 7-11 - NIGHT

A parking lot with a single car. Otherwise, empty and peaceful.

INT. LOCAL 7-11 -

A WHITE MAN IN AN UNIQUE SKI MASK holds a gun to SAHID, a 37 year old employee’s head, he frantically empties the cash register.

EXT. LOCAL 7-11 - DAY

DOUGLAS COLLINS, a courageous and capable 42 year old OFF DUTY COP. He leaves his daughter, an 8 year old GAYLE, in the car. He checks the PANDORA DOLL’S battery needs. Double A’s.

MICHAEL

I’ll be right back birthday girl.

She’s on top of the world. She rolls up her window. He enters the ...

INT. 7-11 - CONTINUOUS

The MAN IN MASK looks to DOUGLAS. Sahid grabs a bat. DOUGLAS grabs his gun.

POV FROM CAR

Blaw! Blaw! Blaw! Her father slides down the store glass, smoking gun in hand. He gives GAYLE a worried stare as he gives up the ghost.

GAYLE

Aaaah!

MUTED. Her screams go on DURING THE FOLLOWING.

EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY

The MASKED MAN stops. He sees GAYLE he stumbles towards her. She locks the door. He puts the gun to the window.

GAYLE

Aaah!

He shoots through the window. A gloved hand covers her mouth. He drags her behind the

EXT. DUMPSTER - NIGHT

His hand reaches under her dress and snatches her panties off. Blood creeps down her pale thigh and into her frilly socks. She’s frantic.

FLASHBACK ENDS.

She cries hysterically.

WENDY

It’s mother’s day weekend. It’s your birthday. It’s the anniversary of his death. Mama gets it.

GAYLE

No you don’t. Nobody does...

EXT. THE ST. ALBANS VA MEDICAL FACILITY - DAY

A five story building. There are smaller buildings on the property, all a part of the larger facility.

EXT. SECURITY GUARD HUT - DAY

A black SECURITY GUARD waves in people as they show their ID. A shadowy figure darts behind the hut unnoticed.

INT. HALLWAY

She follows an orderly pushing a gurney past a door that reads “LAB.” She enters the ...

INT. LAB

It’s cold, metallic and void of emotion. The wall’s lined with cages of chimpanzees. The shadowy figure’s ARTEMIS, the redheaded genetically enhanced G.O.D. OF WAR, both lethal and aggressive she’s always looking out for Artemis.

She holds her breath then floats up to the ceiling. She barely escapes detection as DR. E. P. METHEUS, saviour to some-butcher to others, reaches into one of the cages. The older, wiser chimps scurry away in fear.

DOTTY, a needy baby chimp with a polka dot bow on her head, rushes into his arms.

OLDER CHIMP

Eeee!

The older chimp grabs for DOTTY. At super speed METHEUS, genetically enhanced but carried in a human womb, A DEMI-G.O.D., whisks her away. He coddles her as he carts her off to her doom. She’s the proverbial sacrificial lamb.

DR. METHEUS

(Singing.)

Rock a bye baby on the tree top, when the wind blows the cradle will rock, when the bough breaks the cradle will fall. Then down will come baby cradle and all...

ISHI, a cold,seductive geneticist, is a deadly NORTH KOREAN spy. Her mission, get the FIRE serum. Her feelings, however are changing-she’s falling in love with him.

Dr. Metheus attaches black electrodes that monitor the chimp’s heart rate. He injects the mucus green FIRE gel into the back of her skull.

DOTTY

Eee...

The chimps in the cages go insane. The color coded pressure gauge on the CUBE reveals Dottie’s heart rate. It ranges from green to yellow to red. He drops her into the

INT. PLEXIGLASS CUBE -

It’s the size of an enormous fish tank. She’s agitated.

INT. LAB -

He passes the syringe to Ishi, she meets him with a passionate kiss, they get lost in it. Artemis watches from the ceiling, lost in the lust.

INT. PLEXIGLASS CUBE -

The adult chimp, BRICK, slides in behind her. She leaps onto the ceiling, upside down, she beats her chest. He howls aggressively. He attacks DOTTY.

DOTTY

Eeee!

He hurls her body against the wall, she rises full of anger, the pressure gauge launches into the green. She lifts BRICK into the air.

BRICK

Aaaa!

She bludgeons him. It goes from green to yellow. She tosses him into the wall. He lunges at her again, sending her into the red. She bares her teeth. She body slams him. He’s dead.

INT. LAB -

Dr. Metheus pushes Ishi away. They both observe intently.

INT. PLEXIGLASS CUBE -

She leaps into the air beating her chest. Above the top of the red. BOOF! Her heart explodes. She plummets to the bottom then lands on his dead carcass. Dead as well.

INT. LAB

They drop their heads in failure. Artemis watches, she grins then slips into...

INT. (INNER OFFICE) LAB -

At super speed, she tries different combinations to unlock the safe labeled FIRE. No luck.

INT. LAB -

Muffled voices heard o.s.

INT. (INNER OFFICE) LAB -

She floats to the ceiling. Dr. Metheus enters, carrying the FIRE syringe. He enters the safe’s combination except for the last digit. He’s careful to cover the numbers from Ishi’s prying eyes.

Artemis waits in great distress while she holds her breath. He pauses, deep in thought.

DR. METHEUS

There must be another way.

Ishi stands in the doorway. She stands above her, unnoticed. She’s turning blue.

ISHI

But her brain tumor has disappeared.

She refers to the X-ray of a chimpanzee’s skull. A sharpie marker has circled where the tumor used to be. It says Dotty’s X-ray. DURING THE FOLLOWING Dr. Metheus refers to X-RAYS marked DOTTY’S HEART and BRAIN.

DR. METHEUS

But her heart and brains’ are enlarged. It does us no good to save the Navy Seals from their brain tumors if they’re hearts burst. We have to go back to the drawing board.

ISHI

But the Seals are dying. We must move now.

He opens the safe, he puts the syringe with the other fifteen vials of FIRE synthetic. He pauses, like a black cat just walked across his grave. Finally, she gasps for air. She lands on top of Ishi.

ARTEMIS

I know how you love these pathetic meat sacks. Out of my way.

She takes her by her neck, gagging. METHEUS steps aside.

DR. METHEUS

Where is my brother?

Artemis, at super human speed, tries to pass him. He catches her mid-stride, they fall to the floor in a heap. Ishi wrestles free. METHEUS chokes ARTEMIS.

ARTEMIS

(Gasping for air.)

Are you your brother’s keeper?

She accesses the voice mail on her brother’s cell phone, she presses “SPEAKER”.

CELL PHONE

This is Mistress Natasha. Call me you worm.

Embarrassed, she presses the “next message” feature.