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EXT. SHUSTER HIGH - DAY

We see the font of the school, pulling back slowly to reveal a lawn bustling with STUDENTS. They're laughing as they meet up at the start of a new, beautiful spring day.

 We travel back farther to see more students coming in off the sidewalk in front of the school.

 We're in the street now, as oblivious kids on bikes ride haphazardly in the middle of the street.  Huge smiles are on their faces.

Not so with the drivers of the stop-and-go cars piling up behind them.

 We move further back until we land...

INT. PARKED CAR - CONTINUOUS

We settle behind CLARK, 16, just shy of obese, as he watches the bustling lawn with a growing smile, behind glasses too big for his face.

CLARK
This is gonna be good.

WOMAN (O.S.)
Yeah?

Clark turns in the passenger seat to look at JOYCE, his mom who's 40, rail thin, and who sits up anxiously in her seat as she locks eyes with her son.

CLARK
Yeah.  I'm gonna make friends here mom.  I have a good feeling.

JOYCE
That's great Clark!  I know Ohio was hard.

CLARK
It wasn't so bad.

JOYCE
Honey, after a month you stopped talking.  And we were there for a year.

CLARK
I was just shy!  Besides, I must've said some stuff.

JOYCE
You texted me everything.  Even "Happy Birthday mom."

CLARK
Oh yeah.

JOYCE
But you know how I know it was really bad?

CLARK
How?

JOYCE
I didn't hear you sing once.

CLARK
S'not that big a deal mom, I just...didn't think about it.

JOYCE
What did you think about?

CLARK
Honestly?

JOYCE
Honestly.

CLARK
Girls.

JOYCE
Ok.

CLARK
And superheroes and video games, but mostly girls.

JOYCE
That makes sense.

Clark breaks eye contact with his mom and stares off.

CLARK
Doing dirty things.

JOYCE
Focus Clark.  I don't need details.

CLARK
Sorry mom.

JOYCE
It's ok.  I just...I know I've dragged you all over these past couple years.  And I love that when we move to a new place, you're brimming with positivity...

CLARK
Mom, you don't have to worry.  This isn't gonna be Ohio all over again.  

JOYCE
Promise?

CLARK
Yeah.  I was different.  They ignored me.  It's just like the X-Men.

JOYCE
This isn't the X-Men.

CLARK
No, I know.  It's New Jersey.

JOYCE
Clark.

CLARK
Forty-five minutes from New York City.  Center of the universe.

JOYCE
Clark.

CLARK
That's from Rent.

JOYCE
I gotta ask...

CLARK
Mom, you don't.

JOYCE
Yes I do.  And you ask me.  Cause it's just you and me in this, and that's our deal.  Right?

CLARK
Right.

JOYCE
Ok.  So...are you happy?

CLARK
Yeah mom, I'm happy.  Are you?

JOYCE
So long as you are.

Clark CLAPS his hands together.

CLARK
Ok then!  Let's get this awesome day started!

Clark opens his door and steps out of the car.

EXT. SIDE OF THE BUSY STREET - CONTINUOUS

JOYCE (O.S.)
Clark?

Clark turns around and bends down to the open passenger side window.

JOYCE
If today isn't "amazing," don't let it scare you, ok?  Don't get all in-your-head and keep to the side. You wanna make friends, you gotta get out there and show people who you are.

CLARK
Mom, honestly, I feel good about this place.  I'm gonna fit in here.

JOYCE
Ok.  Love you.

CLARK
Love you.

Clark stands up straight and turns the face the school.  He's proud and confident as he starts walking across the street.

CLARK
(Singing softly to himself)
Morning glow by your light/We can make the new day bright

Clark stands up straighter and gets just a hare louder as his confidence builds.

CLARK
(Singing)
And the phantoms of the night/Will fade into the past

Suddenly a TEENAGER ON A BIKE zooms past Clark, narrowly colliding with him.

TEEN BIKER
Watch it fatty!

OPENING CREDITS.

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