Episode 1 - Past in the Present
TEASER:
As we open up the scene, the camera pans out, rising across an ocean to a small house. It seems peaceful enough, except for one fact: the house is on fire. A middle aged woman, in 17th century clothing, is standing outside side screaming, howling for help. It’s obviously somebody is trapped inside. “Somebody please, save them!” She tries to run towards the house, but is stopped almost instantly by two burly men. “It’s to dangerous.” One of them said, despite the women’s efforts to get to the house.
The other man takes of his topcoat, and nods to the pair. “Stay here.” he warned. Before he could be stopped, he heads off towards the manor, but it erupts into a flaming mass and it is nearly impossible for him to get in. He glanced back at the woman, an apologetic look of sorrow on his face and a heavy soul for he knew there was nothing he could do.
Meanwhile, within the manor, a man and his teenage son are looking desperately for a way to escape. As fire nears an open window, there is only time for one of them to escape and both exchanged looks…they both want the other to live. However, the man takes his son's attention and says, "Son, I want you to have a good life, and may your hearts pure wishes come true."
Before his son has time to react, for it is evident the father is willing to sacrifice his own life, he then launches his son through the window and down to safety even though it meant sealing his own fate. Seconds later, the fire passes, bursting through the house in a mighty roar; burning any chance of escape. As shouting and screaming ensues, now joined by the cries of a loving son, the man looks around at the fire surrounding him, and slowly closes his eyes…
ROLL OPENING CREDITS
ACT ONE:
The bright glare of the sun shone through the window, glistening of the sheets on the bed, hiding the figure underneath. The young figure lying in bed, moved from her temporary haven, beneath the comforting covers. Her long dark hair and sea-green eyes greeting the signs of morning, squinting as her eyes first adjust the brilliant light.
“DESTINY!” A woman’s voice reached her ears in an unwelcoming shout, though that was far from the intention. Destiny looked up and groaned.
“Another day...” she muttered to herself, forcing herself to get up, despite her urge to retreat under the covers once more. Instead, she pulled out her clothes before her sister appeared in the doorway; Hope Katra. Your typical lavish California girl, with an appearance—tall, blonde haired and soft blue eyes, the works—which made her seem very intimidating, even to Destiny.
“Having Breakfast?” she asked.
“Hope, you know I don't have time.” Destiny said with a slight air of annoyance in her voice.
“Okay, college girl doesn't have time for her little sister and worrying mom.” she sighed
“She’s not-” Destiny began.
“Your mom and I'm not your sister?” Hope said, cutting her off. A habit developed after hearing the words one time too many. “I know…honestly D, if you made half as much an effort at your social life as you did not being in this family, you'd be as popular as...well...me!” she added with a tone that flaunted the fact if she was any more a Barbie doll, she'd be plastic.
“Well, little sister, if you would just get off my back, I'd be fine.” Destiny shouted back angrily.
Hope stared at her, unsure how to react. Things have been a little tense with her sister lately. She shook her head in disappointment. She had been leaning in the doorway for just little over a minute and she'd already made her sister angry. She shook her head and walked away.
If only Destiny knew what was going through the mind of her sister as well as she thought she did. Maybe then, she wouldn’t be so hard on her. The truth was that she was almost jealous of her little sister. She looked through her wardrobe and managed to pull on a pair of jeans and a little red peasant top.
She then proceeded to follow her suit of her sister, unintentionally, as she walked down the stairs. Her mom, Lisa, who was pouring out cereal in the kitchen, instantly greeted Destiny.
“Are you having breakfast? I made Cereal.” she asked cheerfully, a very different tone than she had used to wake up her rebellious other daughter.
“How do you make cereal, you just add milk? Anyway, no; Emma and I are going down to the library before class today, so we'll just grab a latté or something.”
Lisa eyed her, concerned. It happened often enough that Destiny was able to notice before getting a lecture, or interrogated. She pretended not to notice as she picked up her bag from behind the counter.
“Are you-” her mother began, but was cut off.
“I'll be fine Lisa, honestly.” she held up her hands, like she did a lot, to point out that she was not going to argue anymore.
“Emma's here!” chimed in Hope, giving Destiny a much-needed reprieve. “I gotta go to school. See ya Mom...D.”
Destiny watched the 18-year-old teenager run out and jump onto some guy’s motorbike. “A different guy to the one she left with yesterday morning.” Destiny noted.
“That girl...” Lisa muttered.
Heeding Hope’s alert, Destiny stepped outside and gazed at the site before her. Her friend, Emma, had done a hand painted job on her car. It now looked very artist, with a few hundred butterflies painted on the body. Though, it came as no surprise to her. Emma was an alternative dresser, a badass rock chick punk gal if one ever was. Her trench boots and multi-colored hair was just as precisely done and planned out her outfits as tediously as any dumb blonde would.
“DESTINY!” Emma called out, in a fashion much like the calling Destiny had woken up to. She gave a playful beep of the horn in order to hurry the girl up. “Like the car?” She added less seriously.
“Coming!” Destiny yelled in response, and stepped in Emma's car. Her own, mildly expensive one was up the drive, but she didn't really care. “Cheyenne's already in Joey's.” As they were driving out of the street Destiny looked at Emma anxiously.
“Where did you learn how to drive?” She asked.
“You have to learn?” Emma said in a mockingly serious tone.
They drove off to Joey's, a coffee shop, with the College next-door, as you could tell by the number of people there, it was a popular spot. The Music playing gave it a warm, kind of country, sunny day feel which made it attractive place to chill before class. Emma and Destiny made there way over to a little table where a girl with perfectly curled, long silky blonde hair was already sitting there looked up and groaned.
“Nice to see you too, Chey.” Emma said sarcastically sitting down next to her.
“Sorry, bad day.” she said, apologetically, with a slight uncomfortable tone, as if she new what Destiny was about to say. “Nothing to do with you, I promise.” She added, seeing their questioning faces.
“Do you mean bad Matt?” Emma asked in a tone of false sweetness.
“How do you know?” Cheyenne almost shouted in surprise, but lowered her tone to avoid angry gazes.
“What did you expect from a guy that can't say your name?” she said very matter of factly.
“He kept call you Sian, and you'd say Shy-en like a freakin' parrot” a voice added, An African American girl carrying a toddler in her arms.
“Sloane!” cried out Emma, taking the little girl from her arms.
“Did you hear that, Sloane? I didn't even get a Hi, Karta.” the girl said to Sloane, the little toddler whose own curly black hair and baby's eyes just looked up at Karta and smiled, unable to reply. “That kid is evil.”
“Okay, where were we?” Cheyenne asked
“Ah yes, the ever popular evil male race and the subject of oh…matt.” Destiny answered.
“So he phones me up say's meet me at Joey's, I get all dressed up, and he goes, ‘I’m breaking up with you.’ He’s like a disease. Why do I always get the bad ones? Look at my track record!” Cheyenne groaned.
“What about Jake?” Destiny asked.
“Cheated.” answered Cheyenne.
“Leo?” asked Karta.
“Still in therapy.” she responded rather unhappily
.
“Mike? He was nice.” Chimed in Destiny, once more.
“Moved back to Nebraska. He called me a stupid dwarf.” she said, being quietly enraged.
They all looked around at each other questioningly before a sudden realization swept Emma's face.
“I remember him; he said it was like dating cattle...ah...never mind. I'll be quiet now…” she ended. The conversation was obviously not helping. Cheyenne tried to hide her face as a thought crossed Destiny's mind and she spoke up.
“I know one guy who'd be kind of-” she began but Karta interrupted her.
“Don’t even go there! I can't even listen to all that drama-rama.” said Karta, holding up her hands.
“Destiny, get it in your pretty little head. Brad is bad!” Emma said very slowly, not wanting to offend her friend.
“Oh, and he has the girlfriend of all girlfriends; Miss look at my ass Carlton.” Cheyenne pointed out. The more Destiny thought about the more she realized. Brad was out of her reach.
“Hell, with her around it's like high school all over again. You know, except that it’s college.” Cheyenne said Meanwhile Emma was looking at something on the other side of the cafe.
“Dang!” She suddenly burst out. She realized that it had nothing to do with the conversation around her and shook her head as all eyes at the table feel on her
“Em…?” Began Destiny.
“Never mind.” Emma finished.
“All I'm saying is that Brad and Leah need to get over their high school cool thing.” continued Karta.
“I know but, somewhere he does have a softer side, Brad's just…” protested Destiny, but got lost in thought. Karta looked at her friend and shook her head.
“A pinhead?” she added playfully. Destiny's hands flew up; she couldn’t get Karta to understand.
“No! Just back off; I like the guy, alright?” Destiny finished, firmly. Even she was wondering why she stuck up for Brad sometimes.
“Him and Leah need to stop thinking that they're still in high school. I'm mean; Leah walks around like she's all that and-” Karta started but Destiny cut her off.
“She is all that, though.”
“No.” Karta said stubbornly. “She walks round like, ‘Hey I'm the centre of the world’. She's as pathetic an airhead as…well, as him.' she added.
Destiny thought about it. Karta was right. Since they'd left high school and gone to college, nothing had changed. UC Lowton was just all of their high school's kids, since hardly anyone come to their small town for the 'education facilities'. It was just high school all over, except now, Destiny was some crazy girl and took no crap from no-one. Not even Leah.
“Air head? Have you met my sister?” said Destiny after a long pause. Karta laughed and smiled. Emma nodded in agreement, she sipped her coffee and caught Cheyenne's eyes and laughed out loud. There was nothing they could do to stop Destiny in her chase for Brad.
“So, nineteen tomorrow, eh D?” laughed Emma.
“I feel old.” Destiny said in a funny tone.
“So do us all, but I got to drop this little devil spawn off. I'll see y'all later right?” Karta said.
Cheyenne stood up, ready to leave herself. “Yeah, I got Psyche now anyways. I'll see you all later.” Cheyenne said as well. Karta scooped Sloane up from Emma's arms and walked out with her in her arms, and Cheyenne following behind.
“I'm going to go too; hit the library. Maybe try not to fail all my classes this year.” Destiny joked, only partly serious.
“Alright, I have to go and finish my canvas anyways. I'll see you later.” Emma said with a smile.
ACT TWO:
Destiny smiled to herself and walked out the shop and down the street to the campus library. She sat near the shelves and dived into studying for her journalism class. She didn't realize she was being watched. A boy and girl her age hid behind a row of shelves, talking in hushed voices.
“Is it her?” The male asked.
“Yeah, I can almost feel the tabloids impressing on my brain. Why are we spying on her anyways?” the girl asked.
“Lori, shut it or she'll hear. We are here till she gets her powers; Jeff is arranging to come here from Sacramento tomorrow. I don't see why we can’t talk to her though,” he said.
“Yeah, Seth, why can't we just go grab her, and you know... say... hey you’re a super being now save us all. And by the way, you and I share a life even though we've never met; and this guy is your guardian angel.” Lori said sarcastically.
Seth gave her a playful shove but she fell into the bookcase and it come tumbling down towards Destiny, she jumped back from the table and looked around the pile of books to see Seth and Lori standing there.
She didn't know either of them but as soon as she looked at Lori, she did a double take. She didn't know why. She watched as the guy and girl scattered. She watched as Cheyenne walked over.
“Someone getting a bit over excited?” she said, eyeing the fallen bookcase.
“I thought you had Psyche?” Destiny said dully, changing the subject.
“I Hate Psyche, plus you might have something more interesting to do.” she said. She pulled at the book Destiny was holding. “I guess not,” she added, seeing that it was educational.
“Nah, the bookcase was a guy and a girl behind it. And not in that kind of way.” She said rolling her eyes. Cheyenne laughed and shouted over so people that Destiny vaguely knew before one of them asked her a touchy question.
“What is your mom and dad letting you do for your birthday?”
Destiny looked up at the faces around her. “I don’t have any, I'm adopted.” She stuttered.
Cheyenne looked on anxiously ''Are Lisa and Hope gonna do anything?” Cheyenne asked.
“Hope'll have a guy, and Lisa might not even remember.” Destiny shrugged. She felt uneasy and got up to leave. But all the way she had the terrifying feeling she was being watched, she ran in and out of streets until she walked into the guy and girl from the library, she didn't take much notice of the guy, but she again had the uneasy vibe about the girl.
“Sorry Des... I mean Dude...ette.” Lori managed to fumble. Destiny picked herself up and walked away, and heard the guy tell the girl something.
“Smooth move, Sherlock.” Seth said with a smile.
Lori looked up and sighed. “I Cant wait for tomorrow!” she cried out.
“It's 2 in the afternoon!” Seth responded, amusement dripping from his tone.
“So?” She shouted in protest.
Destiny walked down her street, the sun on her face, an eerie silence made her feel alone.
ACT 3:
Destiny sat in for the rest of the day, and skipped most of her classes. She sat with Lisa watching the very bad TV shows on of a Monday afternoon, it wasn't till six that Lisa got the courage to ask a question that had been bothering her all day. “What wrong hunny?”
“I keep thinking of them, Lisa. They gave me up and I wanna know why. You raised me since I was 6 weeks old and I love you for that but I need to know them. I know where they live, who they are and everything but I just can't go to Sacramento as say Hey Jeff and Karin Daniels. I'm Destiny, you gave me a freaky name then give me up for adoption and I wanna know why.” Destiny explained, it was hard for her but she felt now more than ever she needed to be held by her blood family and told that they loved her.
“Love, I'll be here for you whenever, but one of these days you will want to find them.” Lisa explained in the subtle ways mom's do before exiting the room.
Destiny lied on the sofa and fell asleep slowly, obvious to everything. She just wanted to sleep. She dreamed something strange though, there was a fire and a man and his son, it must have happened centuries ago and she watched the man save his son for himself, she woke up in a cold sweat with Lisa near her. It was morning.
“Happy birthday sweetie.” she cheered gently. She revealed a small box with wrapping. Destiny looked up and smiled, presents. She sat up and unwrapped it silently, it was a watch, but inside the wrapping was map from and one road was highlighted, the on which lead to Sacramento. She smiled and wrapped her arms around Lisa.
“I just wish there was some sign they wanted me.” Destiny sighed, and as soon as the last word left her mouth, the phone rang. Lisa smiled and picked it up when Hope coming running down the stairs.
“I need caffeine. Right now I’m asking myself why I’m up so early on a Saturday.” She laughed. Their attention turned to Lisa who seemed serious on the phone.
“Yes I understand, Joey’s? Okay then, have a nice trip.” And with that she put the phone down.
“Hope, I need to talk to Destiny for a minute.” She said in a serious voice.
Hope frowned. “Feeling the love in this room,” she said in a moping tone, before she left to the kitchen.
Lisa turned to Destiny. “Your wish came true,” was all she said. Destiny didn’t understand.
“What?”
“That was your father, your biological father. He is coming from Sacramento to see you on your birthday.” Lisa said in a half serious half surprised voice.
Destiny nearly fainted. “Joey’s,?” she asked.
“11 O’clock, but its 10:15 now so I’d hurry.” Lisa instructed.
“Lisa, I’ve waited for this my whole life and he gives me 45 minutes to get ready? God I need a shower.” She said and ran from the room.
ACT 4:
Later on, as she drove to Joey’s while on the phone to Emma she began to get very nervous.
“Destiny, you’ll be fine. Me and Chey are at Joey’s right now, were here for you. Just be on time.”
“Okay I’m on it. See you there.” She said, and put down the phone. She pulled up outside Joey’s and did a quick check. Her dark hair was curled into ringlets and she wore some sensible jeans with heels. She took a deep breath and walked in. Her eye’s scanned for a middle-aged man sitting on his own. She didn’t see one. She went to check with the waitress but she gave her a sympathetic shrug.
“He’ll be here.” Said the waitress.
“I wish he was.” She said, but at that moment a man waling in caught her eye and walked straight up to her. He had thinning grey hair with bits of dark hair, much like her own. He was tall but not over imposing.
“Is it you?” he asked in a deep voice. She looked at him, trying to hold back the tears.
“Daddy?” she whispered.
Jeff Daniels nodded and signaled her to sit down. “We have lots to talk about Destiny.’ He said in a serious tone.
“Why did you phone me?”
“Because you wished it,” he replied simply. Destiny looked at him in amazement, and confusion. “Destiny, do you know why we gave you up?” He asked.
“No.” she said honestly, a hint of hurt was held in her voice.
“We wanted you more than anything, but at the time, we didn’t think girl’s could, but we found out and I came.” He attempted to explain.
“You’re making no sense.”
“I never do.”
“Please.”
“Destiny, today, have you wished for things that came true? This morning did you wish for me to get in touch? Did you wish for me to get here?” he asked.
Destiny looked up and her eyes went wide. “How did you…. what’s happening?” she asked, a little scared.
“Destiny please wish for that salt shaker to float over here,” he ordered.
“But-“ she began but her gave her a sharp look.
“Destiny.”
“I wish for that salt shaker to float over here,” she said, and the saltshaker rose from the opposite table and across to place its self right in front of her.
“You’re a wisher, Destiny. We gave you that name because we knew, as a Daniels, what a Destiny you had. There things that exist, things that aren’t normal. You have the ailem kalp. Let me begin with Jacob Daniels and his wife Illisa and their son Lewis. In a fire in their home on the eastern seaboard of the new world, America on 13th October 1605 on the 19th birthday entrapped Jacob and Lewis. Jacob told Lewis these very words. ‘I want you to have a good life, and may your hearts pure wishes come true.’ He sacrificed his life to save his son. His words were meant literally. Though Lewis found a way to speak with his father, by channeling his essence, he found that he now had the power to wish, and the purest of heart demands come true. This power was passed from father to son (As no girls were born during the time, it was thought that this was because girls could not handle the power) till now. 2005. 400 years later. You’re the first girl to have it. We gave you up because we thought we’d have more children. We were wrong. The power passed to you.” He explained. Destiny couldn’t believe it. It was surreal.
“You’re insane. Whoever you are…stay away from me. I wish you’d go away.” She said.
He raised himself from his chair and he zoomed through the air, out of the back wall, leaving a big hole. Destiny let out a little scream and ran from the café. Then it hit her. The story was what she had dreamt of that night. She stood there, she didn’t move. The more she though about it, the more it made sense.
“I wish he was standing next to me.” She said, but nothing happened. She tired a different way. “I wish I was at his side.” She said and she stumbled a bit before she realized she was at his side.
Destiny panicked; he was bleeding. She took her cell phone from her pocket and rung Cheyenne.
“Hello?” came a voice from the other side.
“Cheyenne, put your foot on the gas.”
“Where? What wrong D?”
“Just come to the back of Joey's. Get here fast. My dad is bleeding. Hurry please!” and with that, she ended the conversation. She waited anxiously as her father looked up at her.
“See how dangerous this is, Destiny? You have to protect the power from the others and protect mankind from them. Destiny only some things you wish will come to be. Use you mind, use your heart,” he said, and his eyes fluttered closed.
In that moment she thought she had lost him, but she could see him breathing. He was still unconscious when Cheyenne arrived.
“Cheyenne, you know you’re the kind of person who doesn't ask questions.” Destined said.
“Yeah...”
“So, please don’t ask.” said Destiny.
Cheyenne smiled, there was a man bleeding in the back seat but she managed to drive him to the hospital. Destiny looked around and pulled him into the A&E, yelling for help. She watched him being pulled onto a stretcher. Cheyenne was desperate to get her story straight for Destiny and her father.
“So...”
“So, we found him lying in the back, he is my dad remember, and I'm going on a road trip and Chey...' began Destiny.
“What?” she asked.
“I'm taking your car,” she said quickly, and before she could do anything Destiny whipped up the keys and ran from the hospital.
“Destiny!” Cheyenne shouted.
“I'll be in Sacramento!” she shouted back before running out.
Meanwhile Emma had locked herself into her art room again. She painted how she felt, and today, she was unusually happy. She smiled to herself and began thinking of how Destiny was doing. That was until she heard the door round the corner slam.
“I thought I locked that.” she mumbled, slightly nervous. She looked around but she was grabbed from the behind by to men, only they weren't men. They had iris's coloured so black it was impossible to tell were the pupil began. Emma tried to scream but they gagged her and wrapped her in ropes. The tallest man, with Jet Black her and a sly grin looked at Emma struggling on the floor.
“Hello little Wisher bait.” he laughed, with an obviously cruel manner.
Roll Ending Credits