TITLE:  “CITY OF DREAMS - Chapter 1”
EXT. MANHATTAN SKYLINE – SUNRISE
NARRATOR:	Mom always wished she knew better people. People with ideas and dreams. She said the people she knew were small. So consumed with ‘getting by’ that they never imagined life beyond it. She swore the people with ideas and dreams—the artists, the entrepreneurs, the preachers--were better than most, even if they weren’t successful, because they didn’t see or talk like the people she knew.
EXT. MIDTOWN – DAYBREAK
NARRATOR:	The dreamers, she said, were always careful with absolutes. Nothing began or ended. No one was completely wrong or right. Nothing was ever clear-cut or stagnant. Nothing impossible seemed that way. They saw some part of truth of this life that no one else could see. They would look back, but they always talked forward.
EXT. APARTMENT – CHINATOWN –EARLY MORNING
NARRATOR:	She said they were the only people just as likely to destroy something as make something wonderful.
INT. DEVON APARTMENT - MORNING
	A young man, DEVON, lean and tense, sits at the kitchen table of a cramped, darkened apartment. The blinds in the kitchen of a cramped second-floor apartment are drawn tight, no light peeks through. The kitchen is dirty, bare, and tight. Across from him is his father, CHARLIE, a thin man in his forties with a blank demeanor. They sit in silence over matching bowls of untouched cereal, never making eye contact. Devon glances at his father.
DEVON:	I’m going to get the rent money today. Are you planning on going out?
	Charlie calmly rises from his seat.
DEVON:	C’mon, Dad. I didn’t--
	As Charlie passes by him, Devon bites his lip in frustration.
INT. NIGHTCLUB – MEATPACKING DISTRICT - MORNING
	It is almost pitch black inside the nightclub. There are no windows and no signs of natural light. The front doors swing wide open and a wave of harsh sunlight floods into the club. TONI, a twentyish waif with slight curves, pricey shoes, designer jeans and a wife beater tee, and half-full glass of champagne, steps into the light. She uses her hand to shield the sun from her eyes. She staggers a bit then props herself against the wall of the club. She callously gulps down the remaining bit of champagne. The moment the champagne hits her stomach, she shakes her head as if to shake off dizziness then she doubles over and throws up on the sidewalk. Her cell phone rings. She spits out the remaining bile as she reaches for her cell phone. She checks her phone. It reads “1 Missed Call. Devon”
TONI:	Shute.
	She snaps the phone shut and walks away from the club.
EXT. BANK – BROADWAY NEAR WASHINGTON SQUARE MORNING
	Devon listens to a message play on his phone as he stands in front of an ATM machine.
VOICE MESSAGE:	Hey. This is Toni. Just because I’m too busy to take your call right now, doesn’t mean I won’t call you back.
	He prepares to get money from the machine. The screen reads: “This Machine is Temporarily Out of FUNDS. Please visit one of our other nearby locations.” Disappointed, he slams his head against the ATM. He enters the bank to use one of the ATMS inside the lobby. Inside the bank, a young Hispanic couple sits with a LOAN OFFICER. They are both visibly agitated. The FEMALE is distraught, her eyes misting with tears. The MALE is nervous and inattentive.
LOAN OFFICER:	Mr. and Mrs. Munoz, I’m sorry, but the way things are, the bank can’t approve your loan.
MR. MUNOZ:	Please... Por Favor
LOAN OFFICER:	I’m...Lo siento
	Devon punches in his PIN at the ATM. The money dispenser on the ATM opens. It dispenses a single bill. Devon looks suspiciously behind his back. He closes his eyes and concentrates. He telekinetically holds the money dispenser open. The ATM strains. A large stack of bills is dispensed. The click of a gun disrupts Devon’s concentration. He turns around to see the Hispanic male with his gun trained on the loan officer. Devon rolls his eyes then grabs the money. The Hispanic male is panicked and shaking. His wife tries to clam him.
MR. MUNOZ:	What are we supposed to do?
	The loan officer is petrified, tears stream down her cheek.
LOAN OFFICER:	I don’t know.
	Devon interrupts.
DEVON:	It’s not her fault.
	He steps in front of the Loan Officer.
DEVON:	People way above her make those kind of decisions and I doubt it made her day to deny you guys.
	Munoz cocks the gun. Devon locks eyes with Munoz. He sees the desperation in his eyes. Munoz fires nine shots.
SFX:	“POW. POW. POW. POW. POW. POW. POW.”
	The bullet stops in mid-air. It drops to the ground. Sirens wail in the background. Officers surround Munoz.
POLICE:	Freeze!
	Distraught, Munoz puts the gun to his head.
SFX:	BLAM!
	The gun goes off. Munoz falls to the ground. Devon reaches out to him. Behind Munoz, Devon sees Toni.
TONI:	C’mon, Devon.
DEVON:	Toni?
	She smirks and points towards the back. Devon turns to look out back. Toni nods her head to the right. Devon turns his head to see Munoz hiding. He smiles slightly.
EXT. ALLEY – THREE BLOCKS FROM BANK – MORNING
	The Munozes hold each other close Devon and Toni try to avoid staring at the couple. Devon reaches into his pocket, and pulls out the money he stole from the ATM. He approaches the Munozes. Mr. Munoz looks up at Devon.
MR. MUNOZ:	How’d you all do that, back there?
DEVON:	Magic. (pause) You guys live in the city?
MR. MUNOZ:	Brooklyn. (pause) Thank you so much.
DEVON:	We did our best, but between the witnesses and the camera’s the cops are gonna be on you sooner than later. (hands Mr. Munoz the money) Here. It’s not much, but it’ll get you started. Whatever. Just go before the cops start doing sweeps.
	The Munozes turn to walk away solemnly.
TONI:	You gave him all your money? You’re sweet.
DEVON:	No, I’m broke.
TONI:	You could’ve killed him.
DEVON:	But, I didn’t.
TONI:	Gotta say, you’re better than me. I would’ve killed him.
DEVON:	I know you would’ve. So...You make people see things?
TONI:	You stop bullets, now? My trick keeps me out of trouble. What’s your excuse?
DEVON:	Does it? Honestly though, I’m impressed. Here I thought all you mind-readers could do was tell me what I was thinking and maybe tell more impressionable people what to do.
TONI:	Right, and all you telekinetics can do is use your frontal lobe to play magic tricks on tourists and move stuff you’re too lazy to pick up on your own. C’mon, you know better.
	Devon smirks.
TONI:	So, did you have a plan to get out of there or were you gonna stop a hail a gunfire all on your own?
DEVON:	If I was smart enough to pull the video feeds before I jumped in front of dude’s gun then clearly I had a plan.
TONI:	Yeah…lucky I showed up.
DEVON:	I guess. How’d you find me?
TONI:	Good thing the panic meter in your head was going off like crazy. Drowned out everybody’s brainwaves for like two blocks.
DEVON:	Maybe I was lucky you showed up. (beat) Good to see you, Toni.
TONI:	You too, Devon.
	They hug.