Heroes

(NARRATING) The sun rises on a new dawn,

yet few us realize the debt we owe to those responsible for this,

to those who dwell among us, anonymous, seemingly ordinary,

whom destiny brought together to repair, to heal,

to save us from ourselves.

If evolution can do this for even the smallest of creatures,

then why not these human beings?

If someone here found out about me, what would happen?

When will they stop?

I don't know.

She's a shiny new toy, and she's all mine.

(NARRATING) And they're still out there among us

in the shadows, in the light.

We pass them on the street without a glance,

never suspecting, never knowing.

Do they even know yet

that they are bound together by a common purpose,

a glaring reality, to be extraordinary?

Teleportation, tissue regeneration. These are no longer simply theories.

I have seen them with my own eyes.

(NARRATING) And when destiny does anoint them...

My name is Hiro Nakamura. I'm from the future.

How do they hide from it?

You may feel confined here,

but this is far freer a cage than the one they'd put you in.

(NARRATING) How long can they dwell in the shadows before either fate

or their own flawed humanity draws them out into the light again?

And how will they know what awaits them when it finally does?

And not only are these special individuals among us,

they bear a curse,

a virus which strips them of their powers

and leads to their eventual death.

In the last few months, I have discovered what I believe to be a plague.

A plague which targets only these unique individuals.

It's a disease which threatens to eradicate them all,

and in doing so, deprives our species of its evolutionary advancement.

Without this advancement, the challenges of the modern world,

global warming, terrorism, diminishing resources,

seem almost insurmountable on our thin shoulders.

The fate of humanity itself hangs in the balance.

But with proper funding and research,

we can stop the advancement of this disease.

I urge each and every one of you to take up this cause,

spread the word and fight those who would keep the world from the truth.

Thank you all for coming.

Inspirational lecture, Dr. Suresh.

I was wondering if I could trouble you for an autograph.

Your father would have been so proud.

So would your sister.

Who the hell are you and why are you following me?

This isn't necessary. I'm nobody.

What, you think I didn't recognize you?

You've been at three of my lectures. Yeah.

The Company send you to bag and tag me? Is that it?

A year ago I would've run. But not anymore.

That's good. Because if you had, I wouldn't be able to offer you a job.

I've been down that road before. It doesn't end well.

Where will you go, Dr. Suresh?

No one even believes they exist.

I found your father's book in the parapsychology section,

in between hypnosis and alien abductions.

They don't take you seriously. They all think you're nuts.

But not me.

So if you're really interested in saving the world,

the least you could do is let me buy you a drink.

All the electives I wanted filled up last semester.

Come on. It's your first day. You should be excited.

I am.

Well, that's easy for you to say.

You're not wading into the shark-infested waters of eleventh grade.

I don't have one friend. I'm shark bait.

You're gonna be fine.

They don't look any different from kids in Texas.

Okay. Except for her.

So maybe they're a little bit more sophisticated here.

But you're gonna fit right in.

If you say so.

Just remember what we talked about.

I know. I'm Claire Butler. I won't slip up.

It's not just the name. It's everything.

Trust me, the Company is still out there, and they will find us

unless we're flawless with our plan.

From now on, you have to be entirely un-extraordinary.

Right. Don't stand out in any way.

Exactly.

Don't raise your hand in class,

and don't even think about trying out for cheerleading.

Oh come on, Dad. That's so behind me.

Just blend in. Be ordinary, all right?

Got it.

You know, we might wanna start by you not driving me to school.

It kind of draws attention to me.

Ouch.

And, you know,

don't you think it might be easier on all of us if I had my own car?

Your mother and I were gonna surprise you on your birthday next month,

but...

Oh, my gosh, the Rogue!

Thank you, Daddy. Thank you!

It's yours.

You're the best dad in the world!

I know, I know.

Claire,

it's just...

I just can't help thinking about how many times

I've said goodbye to you on the first day of school.

I'm so sorry for everything I've put you through.

I hope you know how much I love you.

Sorry.

I'm asking one more time!

Come out with your hands up!

Look, I know this sucks, NYPD showing up at your door like this.

I get it. But this is what happens when you take somebody hostage.

I just need to make sure everybody gets out of there safely. Okay?

Don't shoot!

Both of you, hands up!

No! I'm the hostage!

Shoot her! No, I'm the hostage. Shoot him!

Shoot her. I'm the hostage.

I'm the hostage! Shoot her! I'm the hostage! No! Shoot him!

No, no! I'm not. Shoot her. Shoot him!

Shoot him. Shoot her!

Shoot her! Shoot her!

No, no!

Do it. It's her. Shoot her.

Shoot her! Shoot her!

How did you know?

Okay guys, good job. Let's clean this place up.

All guns to the armory.

How did you know which one to shoot?

I don't know. Tone of voice. Eye contact.

The hostage looked me in the eye. The other was looking for an exit.

Well, most people notice the gun under the bad guy's shirt.

Right. Yeah. That, too. Of course.

You know, guys who get shot like you did,

they just take that workers' comp and call it a day.

I've been...

I've wanted to be a cop my whole life.

Four bullets to the chest aren't gonna change that.

Well, we were gonna drag this out, make you sweat.

But I figured, what's the point? Take that off.

I figured that you'd rather have a real one.

Well, you gonna take it?

Yeah. Yeah. Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Turn on your Bunsen burners, people. And be careful.

You got a death wish?

Are you talking about that?

I was just seeing how hot it was.

Pretty sure it's hot. It's called a flame.

Yeah. I was just kidding around.

Like you were this morning?

When you stepped in front of my car?

No, it's okay. Made my morning interesting.

I'm West.

Claire.

You're new, right? Yeah.

So, what are you?

Meaning what, exactly?

Meaning, are you one of them

or one of the others?

I'm not sure I know what you're getting at.

Let me break it down for you. Are you a robot or an alien?

Because everyone in the world is one or the other.

Robots do what they're told. Stick with the herd.

Aliens, on the other hand, do their own thing.

Well, I don't know. Do I have to choose?

Most people do.

So, what are you?

Okay, everyone.

"In the struggle for survival, it is the fittest who win out"

"at the expense of their rivals."

Now. Who said this?

Come on, people.

Journey of the Beagle?

Evolution.

Anyone?

Charles Darwin. It's Charles Darwin.

Easy one.

You are late.

No, I believe I'm right on time.