Episode 1.3 "Double Blind" written by Michael Mraz

Mraz Inc.
"Double Blind"
Written by Michael Mraz

TEASER

FADE IN:

INT. ATLANTIC CITY CASINO- NIGHT
The casino is bustling. The tables are full of people playing black jack, roulette, poker, etc. The camera shot tracks through the crowds to the bar. There is a MAN standing at the bar, dressed in a black tuxedo. The shot reveals only the man's midsection, not the head, concealing his identity. The BARTENDER hands him a glass of straight whiskey.

BARTENDER
Your drink, sir. Jameson, straight up.

The man drops a fifty-dollar bill on the bar and begins to turn away.

BARTENDER
Thank you, sir!

The man has now fully turned away from the bar and begun walking, holding the drink in his right hand. In his left hand he holds a small wooden box filled with poker chips.

He weaves his way through the crowd and stops at a Texas Hold-Em table with an empty seat. He sits silently. Across the table, directly to the left of the dealer, sits ANDREA. She is looking away from the man, preoccupied with the man standing behind her, BRENDAN. She speaks into his ear.

The unidentified man is dealt in, checks his cards, and moves a stack of chips into the pot.

MAN (O.S.)
Raise. Twenty-five thousand.

Conversation at the table abruptly stops. Andrea looks up, at first surprised, then with a smug recognition. Brendan also looks up and coldly stares at the unknown man. The players in between them quickly fold, leaving the action to Andrea. Andrea stares straight at the man and smiles.

ANDREA
Mraz. Michael Mraz.


ANGLE ON: MRAZ. He wears a confident smile.

MRAZ
Miss Davis. Long time, no see.

ANDREA
Not nearly long enough.

She motions to Brendan to leave her. She hands him a stack of chips, while continuing to stare ahead meeting eyes with Mraz.

ANDREA (CONT.)
Go lose yourself somewhere. And while you're at it, try not to lose all of these.

Brendan takes the chips and slowly, reluctantly leaves, making sure to walk directly past Mraz and hold the menacing stare. Andrea smiles pushes a stack of chips in to call Mraz's raise. The DEALER deals out a flop of K(spades)-Q (diamonds)-10(hearts).

ANDREA (CONT.)
And what brings such an important man to Atlantic City for the evening. Pure coincidence?

Mraz stares silently for a moment. Then pushes another stack of chips.

MRAZ
Fifty thousand.
(pause)
Just a love of playing these games. I'm lucky you were here. They always seem so much more interesting when you're at the table.

Without a word, Andrea matches the bet. The fourth card is dealt: A (hearts). Mraz taps the table to check.

ANDREA
You always show just a little too much weakness, Mraz. Too predictable. That's why I'm always one step ahead of you. One-hundred thousand.

Mraz considers the bet and matches it. The final card comes out: Q (hearts). Mraz again taps the table to check.

ANDREA (CONT.)
Through playing games? Want to make this a bit more real?
(pushing in a few more stacks of chips)
Five-hundred thousand.

Mraz pauses then calls, triumphantly flipping over pocket kings.

DEALER
Three of a kind, kings.

Andrea looks down and nonchalantly flips her cards revealing pocket queens.

DEALER (CONT.)
Four of a kind, queens wins.

Andrea looks up and smiles.

ANDREA
Always so close, but again you manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. You have quite a way with ladies, Mraz.

Mraz, unfazed leans to the dealer and whispers to him. The dealer produces a new slew of chips for Mraz.

MRAZ
One of these days, I'll learn from my mistakes. Not today.

Cards are dealt around. A few of the players at the table post blinds, including Mraz, until Andrea's bet.

ANDREA
Five-hundred thousand. Care to play one more time?

The other players quickly vacate what seems like a vendetta match. Mraz reluctantly pushes the chips in to call. The dealer deals the flop: A (spades), 6 (hearts), 10 (spades).

MRAZ
Two-hundred fifty thousand. And what brings you here, Miss Davis?

Andrea calls. The next card is dealt: 6 (diamonds).

ANDREA
Business meeting for the weekend. I don't have time to play games.

Mraz checks.

MRAZ
On the contrary, it seems like you've been playing a lot of them recently. Better watch that the stakes don't get too high.

Andrea smiles, knowingly, and pushes all of her chips in. The other players at the table gasp.

ANDREA
Next lesson. Business is a cut-throat world. Never precede a threat with a moment of weakness or you may lose more than just your money.

Mraz flashes a quick smile and almost immediately:

MRAZ
Call. Full house.

He flips his cards revealing a 6 10. Andrea's smile quickly fades, flipping an AQ. The last card dealt is a 2(hearts). Andrea stares, shocked and enraged.

DEALER
Full house beats Aces and sixes.

Mraz collects his chips and tosses a $1,000 chip to the dealer. He starts to leave, then turns back to Andrea, still seething. He smiles.

MRAZ
Thanks for the advice, Miss Davis. I'll keep that in mind.

As he turns to go, Andrea stands and storms off. Mraz begins walking. He drops the smile and transitions into business mode. He taps his ear.

MRAZ (CONT.)
Target is heading straight to you. Intercept and commence op.

He taps his ear again.

MRAZ (CONT.)
Mraz. Authorization 934- Texas. Get Souza.

CUT TO:

INT. MRAZ INC- SAME TIME
MARK sits at his desk and picks up his phone.

MARK
Mraz's answering service. What do ya want?

MRAZ (v.o.)
Nice. You answer the phone that way for everyone?

MARK
Nah. Only the people it'll piss off the most. Namely you.

MRAZ (v.o.)
Idiot. I have Andrea here and she's not happy. Seems like she'll be here at least overnight. Is everything ready to go on that end?

MARK
Yeah. We're good. Eddie and Moumin have the team assembled. Keating will be teaching Krystal how to monitor the op from the office. We've just been waiting for your word to move. What took you so long?

MRAZ (v.o.)
Just having a little fun.

MARK
Right. You get to go gamble in AC while I'm stuck here in this office. Remind me why again?

CUT TO:

INT. ATLANTIC CITY CASINO- SAME TIME
Mraz, still walking along, smiles.

MRAZ
Because you're a mediocre poker player.

CUT TO:

INT. ATLANTIC CITY CASINO, ELSEWHERE- SAME TIME
Brendan walks to a roulette table. As he arrives, Andrea storms past slamming into him spinning him around. He takes a step after her, then thinks better of it. He spins back around bumping into some one else.

ANGLE ON: The woman Brendan has bumped into. A stunningly attractive blonde WOMAN, wearing a silver dress. She looks annoyed at her empty drink glass, obviously spilled by Brendan.

BRENDAN
Why, hello. Sorry, can I get you another drink, Miss…?

WOMAN
Weaver, Ann Weaver, and, yes, you can get me another drink. Captain and diet.

BRENDAN
Ann, nice to meet you. My name is Brendan. I was going to play a little roulette. Would you like to be my luck until your drink comes?

ANN smiles mischievously.

ANN
Sure. I'll be your luck as long as you're buying.

She takes his arm.

CUT TO:


INT. HALLWAY ATLANTIC CITY HOTEL- LATER
Brendan and Ann stumble down the hallway towards Brendan's room, laughing, obviously a little drunk. They reach his door. Ann is cornered against the door smiling. There is a small silent moment. Brendan moves into kiss her and Ann playfully slips away from him under his arm

ANN
(Playfully chastising)
Not yet. Not until we're in your room. Remember? I'm shy.

Brendan laughs clumsily and slides the card key into the door. His door opens. They slide into the dark room.

CUT TO:

INT. BRENDAN'S ROOM- CONTINUOUS
The room is dark. Brendan fumbles for the light switch. He flicks it on.

ANGLE ON: Mraz sitting, still in his tuxedo, in a chair facing Brendan, holding a silenced pistol; his legs crossed and his gun arm resting relaxed on his other arm.

MRAZ
Hi there, Brendan. I thought we might have a little chat. Take a seat. Janice?

Brendan turns to “Ann” and is taken aback to see she's holding a gun to his chest. She is now completely alert, seemingly no longer drunk.

JANICE
Oops. Guess I forgot to tell you my first name. Janice; nice to meet you. Now. Be a good boy and sit. Mikey has a few questions.

Brendan slowly, reluctantly sits facing Mraz.

MRAZ
Now, let's talk about this “business meeting” that you're here for.

Smash cut to:

MAIN TITLES.

Fade to BLACK.

END OF TEASER

______________________________________________________________________

ACT ONE

INT MRAZ INC WAR ROOM - NIGHT
Mark stands at the front of the room, next to large flatscreen TV with an office schematic on it. He addresses the room, which is dark-slightly illuminated by the screen. Interspersed throughout the chairs are EDDIE, MOUMIN, ERIC, KEATING, KRYSTAL, and DUCKY. At the back of the room, TAYLOR stands with his arms crossed.

MARK
The attempt on me last week was a little overt, even for Andrea, causing Mraz to think that maybe there was something more going on. Since we were unable to question Trish after the incident…

EDDIE
Yeah, nice work, Ace.

Mark stops briefly and scowls at Eddie.

MARK
Shut up, Eddie.

Moumin laughs silently. Krystal giggles. Eddie shoots Moumin a look.

MARK
We have no idea why Andrea would make such an aggressive move. We have legal on it, just in case there's enough physical evidence to take her in right now. Taylor?

TAYLOR
We haven't been able to find anything. She made a risky move but, look, Andrea's had a lot of practice covering her tracks. Andy is trying to hack her bank accounts and see if we can get her on the transaction she made to pay Ms. Lyndon, but we we're still working on a way to sell that as legit.

MARK
Mraz suspected this would be the case. So he decided to counter with an operation that was a little more overt as well. Andrea is in Atlantic City, at a Cancer Benefit. Mraz is there with Janice, under cover of the same benfit.

KRYSTAL
Janice? I haven't seen her name on any of the personnel lists.

KEATING
She's not an official employee of Mraz Inc. She works with Mike, when he has need of certain skills.

KRYSTAL
Like a mercenary? An assassin.

KEATING
Like, you don't ask. If you're around for long enough, Mike may introduce her, until then--

MARK
Ladies, please.

Keating and Krystal stop. Mark resumes the briefing.

MARK
Mraz's real purpose in Atlantic City is to find if she's there for any other reason than kissing babies, and to distract her long enough for us to complete our mission.

ERIC
Thank you. Are we finally going after her?

MARK
You're not going anywhere, Eric. You'll be staying in the van running onsite tactical recon with Ducky.

Eric glares at him.

MARK (CONT.)
Don't worry you get to go with Eddie and Moumin as the advanced team. To take the infrared readings of Andrea's office.

EDDIE
Damn! Awww, c'mon, Mark. Moumin and I can do this with our eyes closed. We don't need--

MARK
After recon, Eddie, Moumin, and I will be infiltrating Andrea's offices to find any evidence hinting at what Andrea may be up to. Keating and Krystal will provide support from the command center. We'll do sit-rep in a few hours, when I get word from Mraz. Eddie, Moumin, Eric. Get ready to move out for recon.

MOUMIN
Ready to have some fun, rookie?

ERIC
I'm not a--

Moumin gives him a playful smack on the head and laughs, exiting with Eddie. Keating gives Krystal an ambiguous glance then exits the room.

CUT TO:

BRENDAN'S ROOM- LATER
Brendan is now tied to the chair across from Mraz. Janice stands behind him. Mraz is in the same position in which he was last seen. Brendan's breath is labored.

BRENDAN
I don't…know anything…

MRAZ
How original. Look, if you can't remember something soon this conversation is going to become a lot more…heated…

BRENDAN
(he smiles)
Bull, Mraz. You're a boy scout. You wouldn't hurt a fly without Souza's help.

MRAZ
Well, the world has changed pretty rapidly in the past week and I've had to adapt a bit.

Janice holds up a Zippo lighter, strikes it and holds it to the back of Brendan's head. Brendan growls, contorting his body to try to escape the flame. She closes the lighter.

JANICE
The other thing I forgot to tell you, buddy. I like playing with fire. I can amuse myself for hours like this.

Janice reignites the lighter and holds it under Brendan's ear. No longer able to hold it, he lets out a scream.

MRAZ
Funny you should mention Souza. Why send someone to try to kill him outright? It's not Andrea's style.

Brendan says nothing, defiant. Lightning fast, Mraz backhands him across the face with his fist.

BRENDAN
(lets out a small laugh)
You have changed, Mraz. And maybe something told Andrea it was time to change her ways, too. Can't you feel it coming? You and your band of merry men aren't as safe anymore…holed up in your impregnable fortress.

JANICE
(Jamming the lighter into the back of his head)
What's that supposed to mean?

BRENDAN
It means Andrea is sick of playing games. So am I.

Janice grabs him by the hair and yanks his head back.

JANICE
Well, that's just too bad. Because we've just started and we can play all day long.

MRAZ
Janice.
(Janice halts)
Brendan, if Andrea is up to something big, you're going to tell me now. Otherwise, I'm going to leave you alone with Jan, here. And it's not going to be as pleasant as what you were expecting when you brought her up here.

Janice smiles and pats Brendan on the head.

JANICE
But I'm still gonna have a lot of fun.

BRENDAN
Why don't you go ask Andrea about it?

MRAZ
She doesn't seem to be in a giving mood this weekend.

BRENDAN
You're wasting your time with me. She doesn't tell me anything that might hurt her. Better hurry …you've only got till tomorrow at noon. Go pump her for information.

MRAZ
I'd rather not. Come on, Jan. He doesn't know anything. I guess I was wrong.

Mraz walks toward the door.

BRENDAN
Not the first time, Mraz. May be your last, though.

Janice winds up and whips her fist into the back of Brendan's head. His eyes flutter a bit. She grabs him by the chin and looks into his eyes just before he blacks out.

JANICE
You sure know how to show a girl a good time. Thanks for the drinks.


She walks out the door leaving Brendan tied up.

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY ATLANTIC CITY HOTEL- CONTINUOUS
As Janice walks out Mraz is talking, touching his earpiece.

MRAZ
Brendan confirmed departure for noon. I want you out before she leaves here…I'll keep you posted.

Mraz taps his ear. Then looks up at Janice, who is beaming. They start walking.

MRAZ (CONT.)
Nice work, Jan. Have fun?

JANICE
Always, Mikey.

MRAZ
Was easier than I thought it would be.

They arrive at the elevator Mraz hits the down button.

JANICE
I'm just that good. Besides, he was dumber than I thought he would be.

MRAZ
Wanna get a drink?

The elevator doors open. They step in. Mraz hits a button.

JANICE
Sure. Could use a Jameson after that.

Mraz looks at her in disbelief.

MRAZ
You mean you weren't hopped-up on Jameson back there?

JANICE
(with a devilish smile)
Nah. You know me better. I probably would have burnt him more.

The doors close.

CUT TO:

INT. MRAZ INC.- SAME TIME
Mark stands with Eddie, Moumin, and Eric. The latter three are in tac gear, ready to go.

MARK
We only have 14 hours to make this work, which means I need full infrared schematics in 2 hours, and we move in 7. We need enough time to gain entry and do a thorough sweep of the office.

MOUMIN
What if get caught, dude. This is a little more high profile target than usual. You sure we should be doing this?

EDDIE
Yeah, we were lucky we weren't made after Mr. Trigger-Happy here mowed down some terrorists in front of a bunch of hostages and the governor. What if we're not that lucky this time?

Krystal has walked up to the group but remains silent.

ERIC
Hey! At least we're finally doing something.

MOUMIN
Were we talking to you, Rook?

ERIC
For the last time, I'm not a--

MARK
All three of you shut up! This is what Mraz wants and I agree with him. If Andy can find something to nail her with before we move out, we'll call it off. Otherwise, we go. Now get over there and get me those images.

The three check their weapons and head toward the door.

KRYSTAL
Hell of a tactical team.

MARK
They have their moments. Well, Eddie and Moumin do.

KRYSTAL
Well, you handle them well. I don't know if anybody else here could keep them together.
(pause)
Do you agree that this is the right move?

MARK
That bitch tried to kill me. I'm gonna tear her office apart.

Mark walks off. Krystal smiles, watching him exit.

FADE TO BLACK.

END ACT ONE


________________________________________________________________________

ACT TWO

INT MRAZ INC FINANCIAL SECTOR - LATER
ANDY is staring at a computer screen typing. He looks disheveled; he hasn't shaved in days. His eyes are glassy, but he continues to hack at the key board. He stops for a second and looks perplexed. He moves closer to the screen. He squints his nose just an inch away.

KRYSTAL (O.S.)
Andy?

ANDY
Whu-?

Andy, startled, crashes face first into the computer monitor, flattening his glasses. Ungracefully, he recovers and adjusts his glasses looking behind him.


ANGLE ON: Krystal standing looking at him expectantly.

KRYSTAL
Sorry to startle you-

ANDY
Oh, uh- hey, no problem. Um, what can I do for you?

KRYSTAL
Mark, um, Souza, wanted me to come and check how the work on Andrea's bank accounts was going.

ANDY
(almost mumbling)
It's like a riddle wrapped in an enigma.

KRYSTAL
Excuse me?

ANDY
Nothing. Nevermind. It's like a big maze leading nowhere. But I think I might have just found the nowhere it leads to.

KRYSTAL
(even more confused)
Ok…

ANDY
Y'see. I just found a large transaction in Andrea's account. There was a sum of $25,000 deposited into the account, then withdrawn 2 hours later. However, somebody doctored the transaction log to make it look like the money wasn't there.

KRYSTAL
When did it happen?

ANDY
Exactly 2 hours before Mark's date.

KRYSTAL
And where did the money come from?

ANDY
That's the thing, see, it came directly from another account. It's definitely the money used to pay for the assassin, but it came from somewhere else. Now I just have to find out where.

KRYSTAL
How can you do that?

ANDY
Well, uh, it's kinda tricky, because, with these transfers, even a beginner hacker can add account numbers at will to throw of the scent. It's the way any transaction log works. But if I-

Krystal laughs a bit and smiles. She puts her hand on Andy's shoulder. Andy stops and looks at it.

KRYSTAL
I think you're going to lose me. I'm not great with computers.

ANDY
Well, uh, if you… have a minute I can walk you through. It's really pretty easy.

KRYSTAL
Well, I might as well stick around until there's at least something to report to Mark.

CUT TO:

EXT ROOFTOP ANDREA'S OFFICE BUILDING - SAME TIMEEddie, Moumin, and Eric are atop the building. Moumin stands by Eric who is holding a metal device with a TV screen. Eddie stands near the edge of the roof, smoking.

ERIC
You know when you smoke near the sensor, it throws off the reading.

EDDIE
Deal with it.

MOUMIN
The readings are coming through, Ed.

Eddie tosses the cigarette to the ground and puts it out with his foot, then turns and walks back toward Eric and Moumin.

EDDIE
What've we got here?

MOUMIN
Looks like 2 guards outside the main entrance by the elevator. A receptionist by the main door. And 4 more guards in the hallway just outside the main offices. Pretty light. We've pulled jobs tougher than this.

EDDIE
There aren't any guards in the main office area or near any of the windows?

MOUMIN
No, nobody. Must be because Andrea is out of town.

EDDIE
Weird, eh?

MOUMIN
We may not even need to take anyone out if we go in quietly.

EDDIE
Well, then, it's a really good thing we're not bringing Eric in.

ERIC

Screw you. I'm right here, ass.

MOUMIN
Sorry, Bro. Easy to forget about you.

EDDIE
Looks like this is gonna be easier than we thought.

MOUMIN
Eric, send those readings to Mark. We headin' back?

EDDIE
Yeah, let's go. Quicker this is done, the better.

INT ATLANTIC CITY CASINO- SAME TIME
A furious Andrea stands next to a poker table with Brendan.

ANDREA
You, idiot. You bump into some random girl and decide to bring her up to your room without checking her out? With Mraz here?

BRENDAN
I've never seen her on Mraz's personnel lists.

ANDREA
What the hell does that matter? We're here on business and he miraculously shows up. You need to be careful and start thinking with your other head, otherwise he might sniff his way into the real reason we're here. This is too much of a coincidence.

BRENDAN
It doesn't matter. I didn't tell him anything. As far as he knows, you're still here for the cancer thing. Nothing about the meeting with-

Andrea glares and slaps him in the face. She grabs him by the shirt and pulls him close.

ANDREA
If you don't shut up right now, I'm going to cut your balls off. Maybe, then you'll stop thinking with them. Don't say his name in this casino--

CUT TO:

INT ATLANTIC CITY CASINO BAR- SAME TIME
Janice is listening through her earpiece receiver. She is listening to the conversation between Brendan and Andrea. Mraz stands next to her sipping a shooter of Jameson.

ANDREA (O.S.)
--there are people listening everywhere. With Mraz here we can't afford anymore screw-ups. I want you to go to his room and keep an eye on him. That's your job. You watch him now, up to, and after the meeting. That way, he stays safe and I know you're staying out of trouble. Don't fail me again, Brendan.

BRENDAN (O.S.)
Fine.

MRAZ
So, what are our friends up to?

JANICE
Sounds like Andrea isn't just here out of the goodness of her heart.

MRAZ
What's going on?

JANICE
She's meeting someone. She didn't say who. Bradley almost blurted it out but she stopped him. But I do know it's a he and it's definitely connected to whatever she's up to.

MRAZ
Hmm. Do we have a location?

JANICE
They didn't say. But she's definitely freaked out about you being here. She's sending him to guard this mysterious contact.

MRAZ
Really, can you…

JANICE
…follow him? Sure, Mikey. If he's in the room when Andrea has her meeting we'll get the whole conversation.

MRAZ
Perfect. Anything else?

JANICE
Yeah. They have no clue who I am.

MRAZ
Huh, would have thought Andrea would have been more thorough. It's a mistake she won't make again.

JANICE
Well, I'm gonna go try to find out who this magical mystery man is. What're you going to do?

MRAZ
I'm going to call home. Check on the kids.

JANICE
Don't wait up.

MRAZ
Call if you're going to be really late.

Janice exits, briskly. Mraz pulls out his phone and dials.

CUT TO:

SPLIT INT ATLANIC CITY CASINO/INT MRAZ INC- CONTINUOUS
On one side of the screen we stay with Mraz, on the other half is Mark hunch over a computer.

MARK
Hello?

MRAZ
Hey, son, still up?

MARK
Sure, Dad, I'm working on the project for school.

MRAZ
Driving the babysitter nuts?

MARK
Nah, Keating's fine. Eddie and Moumin snuck out though.

MRAZ
Remind me to ground them. Is everything a go?

MARK
Yeah, looks like this one is going to be a cakewalk. How're the poker tables treating you?

MRAZ
Not bad. Looks like the action might be a little more high stakes than I originally thought. Maybe a few more big players here that I didn't know about.

MARK
Well, wipe the floor with 'em. And bring me back a souvenir. I'm gonna go out and find Eddie and Moumin.

MRAZ
Have fun.

Mraz hangs up and disappears from the screen. Mark looks up from his computer and walks through the office to Keating's desk.

MARK
Hey, we have the recon from Eddie and Moumin. Round up the troops for the sit-rep in three hours.

KEATING
Sure. Talk to Mike?

MARK
Yeah, just got off the phone with him.

KEATING
Is everything alright?

MARK
Yeah, seems Andrea is meeting with someone and there's more going on than we thought. Looks like Mraz is going to have to do a little more than distract Andrea.

KEATING
We weren't prepared for that. I hope Mike doesn't do anything stupid.

MARK
He probably will.

Keating is not amused.

MARK (CONT.)
Oh, it'll be fine. Janice is there. Mraz always needs women to bail him out. Speaking of which, have you seen Krystal?

KEATING
I think she went towards Andy's sector. What's that supposed to mean?

MARK
(quickly)
Nothing.

KEATING
Right.

MARK
You don't like her much do you?
(he smiles, playfully)
Don't worry, she's not cuter than you.

KEATING
Watch it, Souza.
(pause)
I just don't know why we're letting her in so deep so quickly.

MARK
She knows about Andrea and she proved pretty useful with that hostage situation. Mike seems to like her.

KEATING
I know.

MARK
Are you going to be OK working with her on this?

KEATING
It'll be fine.

MARK
Good! Briefing. Three hours!

Mark jumps up and walks away. Keating is left in silence.

FADE TO BLACK.

END ACT TWO

________________________________________________________________________

ACT THREE

INT ATLANTIC CITY HOTEL HALLWAY - LATER
Janice peers around a corner.

ANGLE ON: Brendan standing outside the door from Janice's POV.

She speaks to Mraz through her earpiece.

JANICE
(whispering)
Couldn't be more obvious. He's just standing outside the door.

MRAZ (O.S.)
Has he gone inside at all? Have you picked up any other voice?

JANICE
Nothing. He hasn't even knocked or entered. Wait! Andrea just got off the elevator. I think it's going down.

ANGLE ON: The same shot. Andrea walks into view. She stops at the door, slides a card key, then walks in the door. Brendan follows. The door shuts.

JANICE (CONT.)
He just went in. Let me see if I have anything.

She taps the earpiece three times. Loud feedback suddenly blares. She winces then taps her ear again.

JANICE (CONT.)
There's some kind of jamming. It's interfering with the bug I put on Bradley. Want me to get closer and try to pick something up through the door?


MRAZ (O.S.)
Negative--

CUT TO:

INT ATLANTIC CITY HOTEL HALLWAY ELSEWHERE- SAME TIME
Mraz walks down the hallway still speaking to Janice. He stops and changes direction mid-speech.

MRAZ (CONT.)
--just stay and wait for her to leave.

JANICE (O.S.)
You're not going to do something stupid, are you?

MRAZ
Nah. Just want to take a look at Andrea's room. Gotta be something there. Beats waiting around and coming away with nothing.

JANICE (O.S.)
What if she cuts this short and heads back to her room?

MRAZ
You're smart. You'll think of something.

JANICE (O.S.)
Do you even have a PLAN?!

MRAZ
Plan? Nah, I'm just making this up as I go.

CUT TO:

INT MRAZ INC WAR ROOM - LATER
Mark once again stands near the flatscreen TV. The same schematic from earlier is shown. This time with red splotches signifying guards. Krystal, Keating, Eric, Eddie, Moumin, and Ducky listen.

MARK
--guard positions here and here. We'll be in stealth mode for the entirety of the mission. The goal is to avoid any contact with the guards. We'll be entering through this window. Ducky and Eric will be just outside in the van. Eric, you're backup. You listen to everything Ducky says.

ERIC
(mumbling)
Great. Under control of the technogeek.

DUCKY
Watch it. Technogeek could reprogram your toaster to kill you in your sleep.

MARK
Also, Mraz contacted me. He'll be simultaneously infiltrating Andrea's hotel suite in AC. Keating, Krystal, you'll have double duty. He'll be in direct contact with anything he finds. Alright, let's move out.

The two squads file out of the room, leaving Keating and Krystal.

KRYSTAL
Look, it seems like we're not on the best of terms.

KEATING
No, sorry, it just takes me awhile to come around to new staff. We're in the middle of a mission, which means we have to trust each other, or somebody could get hurt.

KRYSTAL
Thank you. I hope I can earn your trust.

KEATING
Well, Mike and Mark seem to trust you, and I put a lot of stock in that.

KRYSTAL
They do? They said that?

KEATING
Don't let it go to your head. See you in the control center.

Keating exits. Krystal stands alone for a minute. Mark enters.

MARK
Where's Keating?

KRYSTAL
Control room.

MARK
Well, let her know we're moving out.

KRYSTAL
I will… Mark? Good luck.

She puts her hand on his shoulder. A short silence.

MARK
Thanks.

He exits, leaving Krystal.

CUT TO:

INT ATLANTIC CITY HOTEL HALLWAY- SAME TIME
Mraz leans against the door of Andrea's room, listening. He holds a silenced pistol. Satisfied:

MRAZ
What's the status?

JANICE (O.S.)
Clear.

MRAZ
Alright. I'm moving in and going dark from this frequency. In ten minutes, I'll check in.

Mraz taps his ear. Then pulls out a device which he slides into the keycard slot. The light on the door goes green. He opens the door and slowly inches in.

CUT TO:

INT ATLANTIC CITY HOTEL HALLWAY ELSEWHERE- SAME TIME
Janice watches the door from the other side of the hall, near the elevator. Suddenly, the door of the room where the meeting is taking place opens and Andrea emerges and walks toward the elevator.

CUT TO:

INT MRAZ INC CONTROL ROOM- SAME TIME
Keating and Krystal sit before a tactical display on the screens in front of them, tracking Mark's team's movements. The radio chatter is coming over the speakers.

MARK (O.S.)
We're in position. In ten minutes, we're go. How do things look, Duck One.

DUCKY (O.S.)
Guards remain stationary. Looks like the town is quiet.

CUT TO:

INT ATLANTIC CITY HOTEL HALLWAY - SAME TIME
Andrea stands in front of the elevator. She hits the button. The doors open immediately. She steps in and turns around.


ANGLE ON: Andrea's POV as she turns. Janice stands in the doorway pointing a gun at her, smiling.

JANICE
Hey, Darling. You're coming back to my room.

Janice steps in, still training the gun on Andrea. Andrea remains calm.

JANICE (CONT.)
Seventeenth floor, please.

Andrea hits the button. The doors close on the shot.

CUT TO:

INT VAN- SAME TIME
Eric and Ducky also watch tactical displays. The radio chatter is also monitored.

MARK (O.s)
Eight minutes.

ERIC
I can't stand this. Why the hell am I stuck out here?

DUCKY
I think it's because they don't like you, my friend.

Eric stares at disbelief in Ducky's frankness.

DUCKY (CONT.)
But you are a lucky duck today, because I'm the coolest babysitter there is.

ERIC
DAMMIT! I'm out of here!

Eric grabs his rifle and heads for the back door. He pulls the handle, but can't get out. After much trying, he stops, frustrated.

DUCKY
Locked. And only I know the magic word. Now let's watch some TV.

Ducky leans forward toward the tacitical screen.

CUT TO:

INT ANDREA'S HOTEL ROOM- SAME TIME
Through a sliver of light a silenced pistol and an arm slide in through the door into the dark room, followed by the rest of Mraz. He slips in cautiously and closes the door behind him. The room is dead silent. He takes a few steps in.

Suddenly a lamp directly to his right clicks on. Mraz looks. In the chair next to the lamp, a MAN sits, seemingly unstartled by Mraz's presence.

MAN
Hi. I'm Buddy and I want to be your--

Mraz slams the butt of his pistol in between the man's eyes, knocking him unconscious. He checks the main room. Once satisfied that no one else is there, he spots a laptop. He flips it open and boots it up. He taps his ear.

MRAZ
Status?

CUT TO:

INT JANICE's ROOM- SAME TIME
Janice sits with her gun trained on Andrea, who is tied to the chair and gagged.

JANICE
No worries, Mikey. Andrea's here in my room. We're having a nice chat. I'd let her say hi but she's a bit tied up right now.

MRAZ (O.S.)
(sighs)
Nice pun, Jan.

JANICE
Thanks. Call me if you need anything.

CUT TO:

INT ANDREA'S HOTEL ROOM- SAME TIME
Mraz stares at the screen. On it flashes: OPERATION: LIVING HAND (ACCESS DENIED)

CUT TO:

INT MRAZ INC CONTROL ROOM- SAME TIME
Keating and Krystal sit in the same position.

MARK (O.S.)
Three minutes to mark.

MRAZ (O.S.)
I think I've got something.

KEATING
What is it, Mike?

MRAZ (O.S.)
A locked file named Operation: Living Hand.

KEATING
(to Krystal)
Search that.
(to Mraz)
We're running it through the database now.

KRYSTAL
All I've got is a bunch of matches with “living hand to mouth” and some Keats poem, “This Living Hand”.

KEATING
Keats?

ERIC (O.S.)
Isn't it Yeets?

DUCKY (O.S.)
Yeats, you idiot. But this one is Keats:

“This living hand, now warm and capable
Of earnest grasping, would, if it were cold
And in the icy silence of the tomb,
So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights
That thou wouldst wish thine own heart dry of blood
So in my veins red life might stream again,
And thou be conscience-calmed - see here it is-
I hold it towards you.”

KRYSTAL
Kind of morose…

MARK (O.S.)
One minute…

CUT TO:

INT ANDREA'S HOTEL ROOM- SAME TIME
Mraz is still at the screen.

MRAZ
Why am I not surprised Ducky knew that?

POV SHOT: Mraz's back, about 10 feet behind him. He is being seen from the eyes of someone else in the room.

CUT TO:

EXT ANDREA'S OFFICE BUILDING- SAME TIME
Mark, Eddie and Moumin stand ready at the edge of the roof.

MARK
Go!

The three rappel over the side of the roof. The halt at a window. Moumin pulls out a glass cutter and slices through. They open the window and quietly climb in.

CUT TO:

INT ANDREA'S OFFICE BUILDING- CONTINUOUS

MARK
Entry successful through window 4. Entering the main office through office B.

The three slowly walk through the door. Eddie, the last through the door, takes his steps into the main room.

CUT TO:

INT ANDREA'S CENTRAL OFFICE- CONTINUOUS
Suddenly, the lights flash on. Steel fire doors drop in front off all of the exits. The room is completely empty except for a small metal box in the center of the room. A red light flash on it. And a timer begins to run down from 10 minutes. Eddie, Moumin, and Mark freeze.

MARK
Uh, we may have a problem…

CUT TO BLACK.

END ACT THREE


________________________________________________________________________

ACT FOUR

INT ANDREA'S HOTEL ROOM- SAME TIME
Mraz is still hunched over the computer. Behind him, a HUGE MAN, with a crazed look and a bald head, creeps up slowly.

The man grabs Mraz. Startled, Mraz drops the pistol. The man swings Mraz around and throws him across the room in the door. Mraz struggles to get up from the floor. The man starts toward him slowly.

CUT TO:

INT ANDREA'S CENTRAL OFFICE- SAME TIME

ANGLE ON: The timer. It now reads 9:30.

Mark, Eddie, and Moumin check the walls for possible exits.

KEATING (O.S.)
--any way out?

MARK
Trust me. I'm looking. Any help from out there?

DUCKY (O.S.)
Already hacked into her security system. Working on the doors.

MARK
Ducky, you're a life saver. I hope.

While checking for exits, Moumin knocks on the wall and is answered by a metallic clang.

EDDIE
This is bull! I knew this was too easy!

Eddie pulls out his pistol and aims at the wall near the main doorway.

MOUMIN
Ed! No!

Moumin dives at Eddie, knocking him to the floor. Eddie's gun goes off. The bullet ricochets, bouncing around the room narrowly missing Mark's head on it's last pass.

MARK
Jesus!

MOUMIN
The walls are plated with steel. The whole place is just a steel cage.

MARK
Ducky, how's that security system coming?

CUT TO:

INT ANDREA'S HOTEL ROOM- SAME TIME
The Man has closed on Mraz cornering him by the door. Mraz throws a quick punch at the Man's head but the man effortlessly catches his fist.

MAN
Name's Rudez. I'd ask yours, but in a few moments, it won't matter.

As he speaks, he slowly squeezes Mraz's fist, nearly breaking it. Mraz clenches his teeth. Rudez punches him in the stomach then throws him head first into the TV.

Mraz crashes into it shielding his head with his forearm. The screen shatters. Mraz recovers as Rudez slowly approaches. He turns slowly, angry and takes off his tux coat. His right shirt sleeve is torn and his arm is bleeding. He holds his coat in his left hand and picks up a shard of the screen in his right. Rudez charges.

Mraz tosses the coat in his face, sidesteps, and jams the shard in his right arm. Mraz brings his fists down on Rudez's back. Rudez shakes it off, recovers and backhands Mraz, sending him stumbling back. Rudez chuckles and pulls the shard of glass from his arm and advances on Mraz again.

CUT TO:

INT VAN - SAME TIME
Ducky works frantically at the computer. Eric seems helpless.

MOUMIN (O.S.)
The timer's at seven. We've checked every part of the room. There's no way out from the inside.

EDDIE (O.S.)
If we don't out of this, somebody thank Mraz for all that paid vacation I never took.

DUCKY
I'm into the final safe-gaurds. It'll only be thirty seconds.

EDDIE (O.S.)
It's ok. Take your time. We have over 6 minutes left.

DUCKY
Come on, come one, baby, hold together.

The computer starts beeping. Ducky continues typing.

DUCKY (CONT.)
Got it! I'm into the system! Just have to release the doors then get ready to run!

MARK (O.S.)
We'll be crashing out the windows. So be ready for pick-up.

MOUMIN (O.S.)
Are you crazy?! We're going out the window?

DUCKY
Hold on to your butts. Got it! Doors should be opening…NOW!!

MARK (O.S.)
Nothing, Ducky. What's wrong?

Suddenly, a laugh comes through the speakers and all of the screens except for those monitoring the infrareds are filled with a laughing skull. Then the screen begins running Matrix-like code.

KEATING (O.S.)
Ducky, what's happening. What's going on with the computer system?

Ducky slumps back in his chair.

DUCKY
It was a trap. Virus. The whole system is gone. There's nothing I can do.

MOUMIN (O.S.)
Six minutes!

ERIC
Let me go in and see if I can get them out!

Ducky looks at him, hits a button, and the back door opens. Eric grabs his rifle and runs out.

CUT TO:

INT ANDREA'S CENTRAL OFFICE- SAME TIME
Eddie rams the door frantically. Moumin stands near the bomb staring at the timer. Mark stands silently at the edge of the room.

EDDIE
Damn!

MOUMIN
We're not getting out of this.

KEATING (o.s)
Eric's coming in.

CUT TO:

INT ANDREA'S HOTEL ROOM- SAME TIME
Mraz goes flying over the kitchen counter. Rudez pursues faster now. As he rounds the kitchen counter, Mraz throws the refrigerator door open to slow him, then pulls a drawer out, dumping its contents.

Before Mraz can use it as a weapon, Rudez is on him. He throws a punch which Mraz blocks with the drawer. He punches his fist through the drawer. His arm gets stuck. Mraz and Rudez grapple and change position, giving Mraz an escape route. Mraz runs back and as he does, pulls the fridge over on the pursuing Rudez. Rudez throws the fridge back like nothing.

Mraz assumes a fighting stance. He drops to a crouch and kicks Rudez in the stomach. Rudez is slightly doubled over and Mraz follows with a jab to the face. Barely stunned Rudez counters with three hard jabs to Mraz's face toppling him.

Rudez picks Mraz up off the floor, strangling him. Dangling, Mraz struggles. He hits Rudez on the head with a double fist twice, with no effect. With his last ounce, of strength, he straightens his hand into a “knife” and jams it in Rudez's eye.

Rudez howls and again tosses Mraz, who lands square on the glass coffee table in the middle of the room, shattering it. Mraz writhes on the ground, Rudez still struggles to recover.

CUT TO:

INT ANDREA'S OFFICE RECEPTION AREA- SAME TIME
The elevator doors open. Eric rushes in… to an empty room.

ERIC
What the hell…?

DUCKY (O.S.)
Eric, the guards just disappeared from the infrared. What happened?

Suddenly, another steel curtain drops in front of Eric cutting him off from the office entrance. A second curtain falls behind him cutting him off from the elevator.

ERIC
GAAAAAAAAAHHH!

Eric fires a desperate round of shots into the steel curtain. Then rams it.

CUT TO:

INT MRAZ INC CONTROL ROOM- SAME TIME
Keating and Krystal sit.

KEATING
Eric, report in. What happened?

ERIC (O.S.)
There were no guards. It was all a set-up. Now I'm trapped up here, too.

Krystal looks at Keating, wide-eyed.

KRYSTAL
What's that mean?

KEATING
(at a loss)
I don't know.

MOUMIN (O.S.)
Two minutes.

CUT TO:

INT ANDREA'S HOTEL ROOM- SAME TIME
Mraz rises obviously weak and weary. Rudez approaches, also seemingly more cautious. Mraz picks up the metal frame of the coffee table and slams it into Rudez's gut, only slightly slowing him. He plants the next blow, a little more frantic, in his chest. Rudez does not slow. Mraz pause then lands the third blow in Rudez's crotch. Rudez doubles over. Mraz crashes the metal frame down on his head. Rudez falls.

Mraz, now in a fit of rage, grabs 2 large shards of glass from the table and jumps on Rudez, jamming one into his right leg and leaving it and using the other shard to slash down into both of Rudez's arms until they fall, almost lifeless.

Rudez, bleeding profusely, lies on the ground breathing heavy. Mraz, beaten and mangled, stands up over him hold the shard to his throat.

MRAZ
My name…is Mraz. And I want you to remember it…for the rest of your life.

Mraz tosses the shard aside and stands, breathing heavily. There is a click: the sound of a gun cocking.

ANGLE ON: A close-up of Mraz face. Behind him, Brendan holds Mraz's own pistol to the back of his head, point blank.

BRENDAN
Too bad your life won't be lasting much longer.

CUT TO:

INT ANDREA'S CENTRAL OFFICE- SAME TIME
Eddie now leans against the wall, defeated. Moumin crouches near the bomb. Mark walks slowly toward Moumin.

MOUMIN
30 seconds.

During each of these cuts the timer runs down at the bottom of the screen.

CUT TO:

INT VAN - SAME TIME
Ducky sits with his head in his hands.

CUT TO:

INT ANDREA'S OFFICE RECEPTION AREA- SAME TIME
Eric sits against the steel curtain.

CUT TO:

INT MRAZ INC CONTROL ROOM- SAME TIME
Keating and Krystal stare at the screens in disbelief.

CUT TO:

INT ANDREA'S CENTRAL OFFICE- SAME TIME
ANGLE ON: Mark's POV of the bomb as the timer reaches 0:00. Nothing happens. There is silence for about 10 seconds. Then:

DUCKY (O.S.)
What happened?

After a pause of relief:

MARK
Dud?

The three gather around the bomb.

ANGLE ON: The timer. The screen blinks off then blinks back on, reading:

I HAD YOU. AND I LET YOU GO. REMEMBER THAT.

LOVE, ANDREA

Eddie
DAMMIT!!

Eddie hauls off and kicks the “bomb” across the room. At that moment, the entrances re-open. In streams the light from the sunrise outside.

MOUMIN
(still in shock)
Oh, thank god.

CLOSE ON: Mark's scowling face.

CUT TO:

INT ANDREA'S HOTEL ROOM- SAME TIME
Same place we left off. Brendan holds the gun to Mraz's head. Angle tight on the gun and Mraz's head, with Brendan O.S.

BRENDAN
Been waiting all day for this.

Brendan's finger tightens on the trigger. Suddenly, the gun drops away at the sound of a slash and a thud.

ANGLE ON: Janice standing over Brendan. He is unconscious and has a large, deep gash on the right side of his face. She holds a shard of glass, looking down at him.

JANICE
That's gonna scar.

She looks up at Mraz.

JANICE (CONT.)
Mikey, why do I always have to save your ass?

Mraz exhales deeply.

MRAZ
Because I'm an idiot. Thanks.
(pause)
Andrea?

Janice shrugs and smiles, innocently.

JANICE
Still a little tied up?

Mraz lets out a small chuckle.

CUT TO:

INT MRAZ'S OFFICE- LATER
Mraz looks out his picture window at the skyline. Mark leans against the door frame.

MARK
And Andrea?

MRAZ
We left her tied up and put her back in her room. I assume Brendan woke up at some point.

MARK
Bet she was pissed. And her hotel bill must have been through the roof.

MRAZ
I'm surprised that you're taking this so lightly.

MARK
Oh, I'm going to kill her, Mraz. This is the second time she tried to take me out.

Mraz turns back to Mark.

MRAZ
But this time she succeeded.

MARK
Thanks for reminding me.

MRAZ
The fact remains. She's getting more ambitious and less gentle. And whatever the reason, I think it has to do with this Operation: Live Hand… And we still know nothing, we couldn't even get her contact. The room was cleaned out by the time we got back to it. It was like she anticipated our every move.

MARK
She's still playing with us, Mraz. That's what I don't like.

Mraz turns back toward the window.

MRAZ
Maybe it's time we change the rules to the game.

FADE TO BLACK.

THE END