FADE IN:
- Spoiler:
- 1. INT GAS STATION MEN’S ROOM IN SOUTH CALIFORNIA
SOUND: Scissors cutting
Hair is being cut. Extreme close up: Blondish brown hair falls into the sink. After cutting stops, a hand picks up the extra hair and throws it into the trash can on the right. Waist close up: JASON, 15, old worn our t-shirt, torn jeans, and old sneakers, fixes the hair he has left. Glares into the mirror above the sink.
JASON
Perfect.
JASON exits the bathroom into the actual store. The employees are watching TV. The TV is showing the incident outside of Los Angeles.
REPORTER
This just in, the young men for the mysterious bombings of L.A. have been shot dead. The only ones caught were 27 year-old, Kacey Monahan and 15 year-old, Jason McCann. These two have been caught trying to escape Los Angeles, but the force caught them before they could reach the border to New Mexico…
JASON sighs and shakes his head.
JASON
I can’t believe he fell for it. Nick, I thought you were smarter.
JASON walks up to the counter.
JASON
Excuse me?
One of the employees turn to him.
EMPLOYEE
How can I help you?
JASON
I was wondering if there is a phone I can use?
EMPLOYEE
There’s one in the back, you can’t miss it.
JASON
Thank you, sir.
JASON runs into the back of the store. Takes out NICK’s cell phone number from his pocket. Gets an extreme close up on the number then the dialing of the phone.
SCENE CHANGE: EXT. OUTSIDE LOS ANGELES
NICK’s cell phone rings. NICK searches his pocket for the phone. He takes the phone out and press “talk”.
NICK
Hello?
JASON
Nice display I put, huh?
NICK
Jason?
JASON
I’m still alive, Nick. I just didn’t show up to the crime. Gives you something to think about doesn’t it? Did you really kill somebody? Or was it an illusion?
NICK
Jason, I don’t understand. Where are you?
JASON
That I can’t tell you.
NICK
Why? Can you at least answer that?
JASON
Because, Nick, I’m starting a new life. Next time you see me, I’ll change. Don’t find me because if you do, it’ll be bad for the both of us. I do wish to see you, Nick, but just not now.
EMPLOYEE
Kid, you have to hang up. The fuzz is right outside.
JASON gasps and drops the phone down into the wall. He runs out.
NICK
Jason? Jason McCann!
JASON exits the gas station out the back.
SCENE CHANGE: INT JORDIN’S TRUCK PHOENIX, ARIZONA
JORDIN is trying to get JASON’s attention. JASON is staring out the window.
JORDIN
Jason!
JASON gasps and faces towards JORDIN.
JORDIN
You okay, little man? You’ve been starin’ out the window for two hours straight since we left.
JASON
I’m sorry. I was in a daydream.
JORDIN
Okay, I just wanted to make sure of it.
JASON
Yes, sir.
- Spoiler:
- 2. EXT. OUTSIDE SKATING IN THE SUN SKATE SHOP
JORDIN drives his truck into the parking lot. The truck his parked in the space side to the shop. JORDIN and JASON exit.
JORDIN
Jason.
JASON closes his door.
JASON
Yeah?
JORDIN
Mind if you take in the boxes to the storage house? I think ol’ Lassie needs to be taken to the repairs again.
JASON
Why don’t you get a new Lassie?
JASON makes his fingers into quotations around “Lassie”. JORDIN shakes his head in disbelief.
JORDIN
Take the boxes.
JASON
Okay okay.
JASON pulls down the trunk door. Slides two boxes off the end and into his arms. Pushes the door back upright. Pets the truck.
JASON
(Snickering)
Make sure you live, Lassie.
JORDIN
If you wanna come, you can.
JASON
Thank you, but no.
JORDIN reenters his truck. He drives away from the shop until he’s out of sight. JASON enters the store.
SCENE CHANGE: INT. SKATING ON THE SUN STORE
ENGELINE is calculating sales of the week. Pushes back her bangs from her eyes. JASON places the boxes on the counter on the left of her.
JASON
(Flirtatiously)
Hello, princess.
ENGELINE
That act gets so old, Jason.
JASON
Come on, PYT. You’re happy to see me.
ENGELINE
I’m just not in a good mood, Jason. I’ve been counting this week’s quota four times in an hour, but I always get a decreased number. We got less sales than last week.
JASON
By how much did we lose?
ENGELINE
About two thousand.
JASON
Damn.
ENGELINE
If our quotas keep decreasing, we’ll go bankrupt.
JASON
We kept closing down the place. Buyers still don’t know if this place is open or not. They think we’ve gone bankrupt already.
ENGELINE
I don’t know what to do.
JASON
Tell ya what. I’ll take over your spot while you put the boxes in the storage room. How about that?
ENGELINE
Well, I need it. Thanks, Jason.
ENGELINE stands from the chair. She grips her back.
ENGELINE
Oh ow!
JASON
You okay?
ENGELINE
Yeah, just me sitting in this chair gave me a bad back.
JASON
(Flirtatiously)
I shall bare it for you, my poor sweetheart.
ENGELINE
(Laughing)
Shut up.
ENGELINE takes the boxes and exits the back door. JASON grins. Sits in the chair.
JASON
Okay, lets see here.
JASON calculates the weekly quota. The calculator reads, 1,390.
JASON
Hmm, that’s weird.
JASON takes out his iPhone. Checks the past weekly quotas.
JASON
We had a good week last week. What happened?
SCENE CHANGE: INT. SKATING ON THE SUN STORAGE HOUSE
ENGELINE enters. The camera has a close up on the box next to the door. A red light is blinking. Camera returns to ENGELINE who is sliding the boxes on the top shelf. She sees the box. She gasps.
ENGELINE
Jason!
SCENE CHANGE: INT. SKATING ON THE SUN STORE
JASON hears ENGELINE. Gets up. Runs out of the store and into the storage house.
JASON
Engeline? What happened?
ENGELINE points.
ENGELINE
That.
JASON turns to the box. The red light is blinking faster. JASON grabs a pair of pliers off the shelf behind him. He uses them to rip the box off the wall.
JASON
Another one alright. This time he had a new trick up his sleeve.
ENGELINE
This is the sixth time in two months. That’s it.
ENGELINE exits the storage house and into the yard.
JASON
Engeline!
JASON runs after her outside.
JASON
You’re not calling the police, are you?
ENGELINE
I have no choice.
JASON
There are other options here.
ENGELINE
You mean to tell me that you want us killed?
JASON
No.
ENGELINE
Jason, I know you have this thing with cops, believe me, I do, but this is a serious case we’ve got into. This isn’t California. It’s Phoenix. Phoenix! Get that into your head, Jason McCann!
ENGELINE enters the store leaving JASON speechless.
- Spoiler:
- 3. INT. POLICE DEPARTMENT OF PHOENIX DAY
NICK enters the Police Department of Phoenix. The assistant at the front desk looks up to see him. She stands up.)
MACY
Oh, you must be Nick Stokes
NICK
Yes, I am.
MACY sticks her hand out.
MACY
Hi, I’m Macy Turner. My boss has been expecting you the whole day today.
NICK shakes her hand.
NICK
I’m excited to meet her. I was honored to get your call.
MACY and NICK start to walk down the hall.
SCENE CHANGE: INT. OUTSIDE GIA’S OFFICE
MACY
Yes. Mrs. Chenly is very picky on her police partners. To be honest, she almost didn’t pick you.
NICK
It’s alright, Miss Turner, I get that a whole lot.
MACY knocks on GIA’s door. She peeks in.
SCENE CHANGE: INT. GIA’S OFFICE
MACY
Mrs. Chenly, Mr. Stokes is here.
GIA gets up from her desk. Sticks out her hand.
GIA
Hello, Mr. Stokes, it’s a pleasure to finally meet the famous officer from Las Vegas.
NICK shakes her hand. MACY exits.
NICK
The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Chenly.
GIA
Please, call me Gia.
NICK
Gia. Nice ring, Gia.
GIA
Oh, thank you. For a Las Vegas man, you quite have some charm.
NICK
Well, your husband chose a fine businesswoman. I admit I’m jealous.
GIA
Oh, I’m widowed actually. My husband died in Iran during the war.
NICK
Oh, I’m sorry.
GIA
Don’t worry, Mr. Stokes. It was ten years ago. It was said and done. My daughter is graduating high school this year though, so she’s pretty upset.
NICK
I understand that completely.
GIA
But back to business. You’ve had a stunning record back in L.V., have you, Mr. Stokes?
NICK
Well, I left second in command. Is that good enough?
GIA
Fascinating…um, mind I call you, Nick?
NICK
By all means.
GIA
Thank you. I guess being my right hand man is a reward for you, isn’t it?
NICK
I call it the call of duty. My main goal is to keep the country safe and in line.
GIA
You have a word for justice, Nick. Say, I am proud to announce you are officially part of the family.
NICK
Oh thank you, Mrs. Chenly. This means everything to me.
GIA
I’m glad to call up the boys. They are urging to get me to their case for hours.
NICK
I’ll take it.
GIA
Excellent. It’s a bombing attempt at a skate shop. This happened six times now.
NICK
I’ll get to it right away then.
GIA
I am impressed. Bobbi and Ronan Runners should be out in front looking for you.
NICK
Well, then this should be like flipping pancakes.
NICK stands up from the chair and sticks his hand out.
NICK
Again, it’s an honor working here.
GIA shakes his hand.
GIA
Like we say on the force, catch those idiot bastards.
NICK
Hey, just like in L.V.
NICK and GIA laugh. NICK exits. MACY returns with a cup of coffee for GIA.
MACY
He is humbly full of himself, isn’t he?
GIA
He’s what this town needs. Some order.
- Spoiler:
- 4. EXT. POLICE DEPARTMENT OF PHOENIX
NICK exits the building. He sees a big police car with two guys drinking coffee by it. He walked up to them.
NICK
Top of the morning, boys.
RONAN
Ah, you must be the famous Nick Stokes our boss was talking about on the phone.
NICK
Indeed I am.
RONAN
Pleasure to be of service. I’m Ronan Runners, and this is my cousin, Bobbi.
BOBBI
Gia must’ve sent you, right?
NICK
Yeah, she had something to take care of.
RONAN
Rule #1 of the Phoenix force: Gia always has something to take care of.
NICK
Oh?
BOBBI
Hop right in, cadet. We have a bombing attempt to solve.
The men hop into the car.
SCENE CHANGE: INT. RONAN’S CAR
RONAN sits in driver. BOBBI is at shotgun. NICK sits in the back. RONAN drives onto the main road.
NICK
Guys, do you know anything give from the others?
BOBBI
‘Bout the attempt?
NICK
Yeah.
RONAN
Couple things. It happened five other times, but they were attempts also. All took place at the skate shop, Skating on the Sun. Most known in Phoenix even though it’s outside. The owner, Jordin O’Leary was out gettin’ his truck fixed, and he left his niece, Engeline O’Leary and his other employee, Jason McCann in charge of it.
NICK
Wait, did I hear you say, Jason McCann?
BOBBI
Yeah, he said it. What about it?
NICK
It’s nothin’. The name reminded me of someone I knew.
RONAN
Oh, sure thing. Engeline was the one who called us. Jason was the one who stopped the attempts. Jason doesn’t talk much. Looks like he’d been in a terrible life. I feel sorry for him…
SCENE CHANGE: EXT. NEVADA BORDER AFTERNOON
NICK
(On the phone)
Jason? Jason McCann!
Hangs up. Stares at the scene.
NICK
What the hell is he talking about?
NICK jumps over the yellow tape. One officer notices.
OFFICER
Nick? Whatcha doin’?
NICK ignores him and walks up to “JASON’s dead body”. Kneels down. Unbuttons the shirt. The skin is faux and stuffing is falling out.
NICK
This is a fake. I can’t believe it.
SCENE CHANGE: INT. RONAN’S CAR DAY
NICK
Jason’s alive.
BOBBI
Dude, you okay?
NICK
Huh? Oh yeah. I’m fine.
RONAN
You sure…you looked a little sick.
NICK
Nah. It’s probably the weather. I’m not used to one hundred degrees yet.
BOBBI
I know what you mean, brotha.
RONAN passes a bottle of water to the back.
RONAN
You drink a lot of this. You’ll need it if you’re gonna live here.
NICK opens the water and drinks. Licks his lips.
NICK
Thanks.