ShadowGeaR is an animated military action series following the globetrotting missions of the UN's highly-trained special forces unit, which has loyalty to no one country, and exists to safeguard the liberty of all the world's nations and peoples.
In this episode, S1E07, "The Phoenix Initiative: Part VII - A Shadow in the Wind," President Brock’s daughter Blindside, alongside fellow soldier Damage, have returned to base after narrowly escaping the Hive’s clutches. As she prepares to ship off on another assignment, she must contend not only with Damage and his fumbling attempts to confess his attraction to her, but her mother, the President, with whom she has a contentious relationship.
INT. MAIN HANGAR BAY - MORNING
BLINDSIDE and TABLE stand next to an F/A-18E Switchblade and review its weapons specs. They are both in ShadowGear. Hers has been recharged since the last time we saw her in it.
TABLE ...and about 580 rounds in the M61. I’ve bumped up the aft thrust by 10%, so it’s gonna kick hard coming off the deck.
BLINDSIDE What do I got in the way of missiles?
TABLE Four AIM-120 AMRAAM’s and two Sparrows.
DAMAGE enters the hangar and asks a DECK OFFICER something inaudible. The officer points in Blindside’s direction.
BLINDSIDE
Smart weapons?
TABLE
I’ve fitted you with a JDAM guidance kit for direct deployment of two AGM-65’s.
BLINDSIDE
Countermeasures?
TABLE
You’ve got the standard ECM package.
BLINDSIDE
SUU-42A/A infrared decoy dispenser?
TABLE
And chaff pod.
Damage steps up to Blindside as she signs off on her package.
TABLE (CONT’D)
Something I can do for you, Captain?
DAMAGE
Can I borrow her for a minute?
BLINDSIDE
Why do you ask him and not me?
DAMAGE
It looked like he was in charge.
TABLE
It’s my goatee. It commands respect.
BLINDSIDE
Yeah, that must be what it is. Am I done?
TABLE
Yes, ma’am.
BLINDSIDE
Thanks, Table.
TABLE
Major. Captain.
Table exits, leaving Damage to stare awkwardly at Blindside for a few silent seconds before...
BLINDSIDE
Do you need something?
DAMAGE
Yeah. Listen.
Damage kinda just goes blank and Blindside raises an eyebrow. Another bizarrely awkward moment of silence passes...
BLINDSIDE
You know you haven’t said anything yet.
DAMAGE
Yeah. I’m not the easiest person in the world to deal with, I know that...
BLINDSIDE
This is going someplace hysterical.
DAMAGE
...so the last seventeen hours couldn’t have been too much fun for you.
BLINDSIDE
I’ve had worse.
DAMAGE
Yeah?
BLINDSIDE
There was the time I had Scarlet Fever.
DAMAGE
You and me, we’ve been through a lot, stuck in that cargo container together.
BLINDSIDE
Trying real hard to forget that part.
DAMAGE
Chased by werewolves through some old godforsaken mine. Nearly shot up by Hive soldiers and shot down by helicopters.
While Damage rambles, PRESIDENT BROCK enters the hangar. Every DECK OFFICER and CREWMAN stops, stands at attention.
Blindside spots her before he does and her face goes white.
BLINDSIDE
Oh, Lord.
DAMAGE
Even with everything that’s been going on, with all that’s happened around and to us, I couldn’t let you leave without telling you... that time with you has been maybe the best I’ve had in my life.
Blindside isn’t listening to him at all. Brock and CALLOWAY walk over and stand silently behind Damage until he finishes.
DAMAGE (CONT’D)
I been stumbling over how to do this for a while now, but what I wanted to say is--
Blindside gives up and clamps her hand over Damage’s mouth.
BLINDSIDE
Mom? What do you think you’re doing here?
Damage turns slightly until he can see President Brock...
BROCK
Oh, so you do remember who I am! I thought maybe you’d forgotten who I was since you’ve somehow managed to go six years without actually speaking to me.
BLINDSIDE
Well, we’re very busy people, Mom, what with you presiding over the laughably inept conservative wing of a nation gone to hell at the speed of sound and me, you know, having an honest job.
DAMAGE
Should I leave?
BROCK
Sure sounds that way.
DAMAGE
For the record, Madam President, I am a huge fan of your military service to this country and the way you... carpet bomb the countries who disagree with you. And I think you’ve done a marvelous job with the laughably inept conservative wing.
BROCK
Well, you know. Thanks, Captain...
BLINDSIDE
Jackass.
BROCK
Captain Jackass?
DAMAGE
Barnes. Captain Barnes. They call me--
BLINDSIDE
Go away, Damage.
DAMAGE
But I was just--
BLINDSIDE
Damage, I will shoot you.
Damage exits swiftly. President Brock watches him as he goes.
BROCK
That one has his eye on you.
BLINDSIDE
How’d you get on the base, Mom?
BROCK
I’m the President of the United States.
BLINDSIDE
The Anvil is in international territory. You’ve got about as much jurisdiction here as the Mayor of Toledo!
(beat)
What do you mean he has his eye on me?
BROCK
Captain Jackass?
BLINDSIDE
That’s really not his name.
BROCK
Well, I’m not an expert on this sort of thing, but I’m pretty sure he was trying to ask you out just now.
BLINDSIDE
You have to believe me when I tell you that isn’t true. We’re friends.
BROCK
Can I tell you a little bit about men?
BLINDSIDE
Oh. Could you?
BROCK
They don’t want to be your friend, honey.
BLINDSIDE
Please resist the temptation to tell me in graphic detail what they do want.
BROCK
He’s a very handsome young man.
BLINDSIDE
(looking around her)
Calloway, if I brandish my weapon right this second, do you promise to shoot me?
CALLOWAY
Oh, most definitely.
BROCK
Seriously, honey, I was going out of my mind while you were lost out there. I didn’t know where you were, if you had been hurt. But it looks like that admirer of yours took good care of you.
BLINDSIDE
Took care of me? Ugh! You always do this! You never give me credit for anything I do. If anything, Mom, I took care of him!
BROCK
Needing help is nothing to be ashamed of.
BLINDSIDE
I don’t need help! I don’t need anything! A lifetime of fending for myself while you were running around getting shot at taught me that!
Blindside’s crossed a line you don’t cross with your mother, let alone the President. And what’s worse, she knows it.
BROCK
Austin, I will apologize for your father. I couldn’t keep our marriage together and I know that. That’s on me. But I will never apologize for my job. It may have been impossibly dangerous, stupid even at times, but it was always necessary, and if even one of the hundred men I killed in my years with that unit bought you so much as one more day in this world, it was all worth it. I’m not sorry for that.
BLINDSIDE
(beat; sighs)
I know, Mom. I’m not mad at you. I honestly don’t think I ever really was. And it took the Corps to show me that. What we do is vital. And bigger than us.
BROCK
Being on the other side of this for the first time? I won’t lie. It’s been hard. It must have been incredibly difficult for you, feeling that way for so long.
BLINDSIDE
You’re through the looking glass, Mom.
BROCK
So what happens to us now? Where do we go from here, Major Hatcher?
BLINDSIDE
Well, I have a Hive base to destroy.
BROCK
When will you be back?
BLINDSIDE
I don’t know, but...
Blindside reaches a hand down the front of her Gear and lifts the silver locket off her neck. She takes her mother’s hand, placing it in her palm. Brock has tears in her eyes.
BLINDSIDE (CONT’D)
...I would be honored if you held onto this until I do.
Blindside embraces her mother...
BLINDSIDE (CONT’D)
I love you, Mom.
BROCK
I’m so proud of you, honey. Now you go kick the Hive’s ass across the Plains.
BLINDSIDE
Yes, ma’am.
Blindside takes a helmet from a passing crewman and scales the ladder to the cockpit of her F-18.
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