Dr. Zlo watches Sweet Dream leave before turning back to Wonderman.
Dr. Zlo
And now that youre at my mercy, I shall explain to you my grand design!
Wonderman
No! Anything but a monologue!
Dr. Zlo
Oh, so overdramatic. A bit of a lecture will do you some good!
Dr. Zlo starts to pace around his foe.
Dr. Zlo
You see, Wonderman, stealing money from the bank is only step one in my grand evil plan to take over the city!
The Jacques look to each other, confused. As far as they knew, Dr. Zlo only had one step to his grand plan. That step being steal from the bank.
Dr. Zlo
The villain continues with a flourish. Everyone knows to keep some cash on hand when running a business! Thats just good sense! But what happens when all of their liquidity is quite literally flushed away? Utter chaos! Thats what! Businesses will no longer be able to keep their accounts straight, leaving several hundred poor accountants to work overtime to balance the accounts! Itll take weeks for them to fix everything! And in that time, whats a bit of lost inventory? Or perhaps there are a few new employees working for a paycheck. Who knows? The entire board of directors could get replaced!
Wonderman
Struggling harder under Evilles power. You slimy, scheming, serpent! Dont you dare cut those honest shareholders out of their rightly earned net worth!
Everyone pauses for a beat until Wonderman realizes what just came out of his mouth.
Wonderman
I mean, dont you dare replace honest workers with your phony hacks!
Dr. Zlo
Ha! And whos going to stop me? Certainly not the hero caught in my trap! Now, I have places to be, people to subdue, you know the drill. Come, Eville!
Dr. Zlo walks off stage. Eville follows but stops next to Wonderman and whispers.
Eville
Dont his speeches get you all riled up? That charisma is something else aint it?
Wonderman
Miss. Dont fall for that neer-do-wells scintillating words! The path of villainy only leads to doom and destruction!
Eville
Aw, youre sweet. Too bad youre stuck in that ice block, or I might be tempted. Toodles!
Eville walks off, the liquid cash in tow. Before she leaves, the woman turns back to Wonderman.
Eville
Oh, and you might want to be careful about breaking that ice. Some of the chemicals in there can get a bit... explosive.
Eville cackles as she walks off stage. The sounds of the Zlomobile driving off echo in the theater a few moments later, leaving Wonderman alone with the citizens as the lights dim. But before they drop completely, we see another figure appear and slice through the ice, freeing Wonderman.
SCENE CHANGE
The next scene opens on a group of Jacques slumped over various set pieces resembling Dr. Zlos mansion, breathing heavily. Dr. Zlo and Eville walk in a moment later, Cass closing an imaginary door behind him.
Dr. Zlo
I think that went well, dont you?Rread latest chapters at novel35.com
Eville
Oh, yes!
Dr. Zlo
Now, for the next stage of my plan. Cass!
Cass
Yeah, boss?
Dr. Zlo
Find us a company scrambling to fix its accounts after my magnificent heist.
Cass
Uh, boss. Wasnt stealing money the only part of the plan?
Dr. Zlo
Cass, did you think I would reveal all of my plan? Were working with other villains, not heroes! Whos to say Sweet Dream wouldnt steal my idea? No, we keep our schemes close to the chest.
The Jacques continue to work frantically in the background, paper flying off their notebooks as they scribble. Eventually, a new character steps in stage left. A large, beefy man with rippling muscles and a stomach rounder than a bowling ball. A three-piece suit, a bit too tight around the edges, strains to keep the mans dignity intact.
Obvious Mafia Boss
Alright, you louts! Did you figure out who stole our hard-earned cash yet?
The Jacques shake their heads frantically. The obvious mafia boss pulls out a cigar (a stage cigar, of course) and chomps down on it like gum.
Obvious Mafia Boss
Well, hurry up! The boss turns to Dr. Zlo. And who are you three?
Dr. Zlo
Bowing. Dr. Zlo, criminal mastermind at your service!
Obvious Mafia Boss
Ive heard a you. Aint you the fella that Valiant beats all the time?
Dr. Zlo
You must have me confused with some other villain. Valiant doesnt beat me.
Obvious Mafia Boss
No, no. I think Id know some other yahoo in a top hat and suit.
Eville
How dare you call Dr. Zlo a yahoo! Hes a grade a buffoon at the very least!
Dr. Zlo
Eville.
Eville
Yes?
Dr. Zlo
While I appreciate the willingness to defend my reputation, perhaps leave it to me next time?
Eville
Ah, I should have known you would want to put this man in his place.
Obvious Mafia Boss
Oh, so youre the one trying to muscle in on my territory, eh? Trying to get up in my business?
Dr. Zlo
Brandishing his cane. Hit the nail on the head! Thats right, Im here to commandeer your business, CorpSyn, and use it to further my own nefarious plots! Now, accept me as your new master and I might let you continue running the place.
Obvious Mafia Boss
The man postures, squaring his shoulders and huffing the cigar. You think you can just come in here and make demands?
Dr. Zlo
I dont know any other way! Dr. Zlo cackles.
The mafia boss starts rolling up his sleeves to fight, but before he can get going, the sound of a window shattering stage left causes him to turn. Wonderman swoops in, punching the mafia boss and sending him flying past Dr. Zlo and off the stage. (I imagine it would be funnier to make the man backpedal until he left the stage, but the creative choices are, of course, the director's decision.)
Wonderman
Never fear, Wonderman is here!
Another window shatters. This time, a short woman swoops on stage. She wears the same colors as Wonderman, white with rainbow hues. However, where Wondermans rainbows are on his gloves, boots, and mask, the womans are on her unitard. A large GW sits prominently on her chest.
Girl Wonder
And dont forget Girl Wonder! Savior of the innocent, protector of peace and love!
Dr. Zlo
Wonderman! Impossible! How did you escape my trap?
Girl Wonder
He had his best sidekick, of course! I swooped in once everyone left and broke him free!
Wonderman
With pride in his eyes. Ah, they grow up so fast. Just yesterday, it feels like I was teaching her how to properly protect the populace from the pernicious pustule of crime.