Mraz Inc.
"Shadow In A Noon Day Sun"
Written by Alex Kontoleon
TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. MRAZ INC. – SITUATION ROOM - DAYTIME
MARK
Somebody, anybody, tell me what happened.
TAYLOR
(head shaking)
What a goddamn mess...
MARK and TAYLOR sit on at the head of the table. The rest of the Tac-Ops team sits in the meeting room all looking nervous, glancing around and down at papers, trying hard not to become the center of Mark’s ire which is looking for a target.
MARK
Somebody please explain to me how trucks... which I need not remind everyone contained an illegal dangerous chemical substance that Ducky hadn’t identified yet...disappeared into thin air, from our undisclosed warehouse location?
TAYLOR
You guys do realize we were only allowed to hold those trucks because the Feds thought we were gonna give them BACK, right? You realize the heat this is gonna bring down on us legally? On Mraz personally? Grade-A, First- Class, Screw up.
MARK
Eric.
ERIC gulps.
ERIC
Yeah?
MARK
You were there. Did you see anything at all?
ERIC
I wasn’t there the whole time. The warehouse had 24 hour surveillance cameras. When I was there, nothing happened.
MARK
Eddie.
EDDIE
The surveillance tapes look legit. There no evidence of tampering with the feeds. I’d need more time with them to figure out what happened.
MARK
Moumin.
MOUMIN
I can’t get through to the warehouse security. Been calling all morning. No one’s answering.
TAYLOR
Probably too busy talking to their lawyers scared we’re gonna sue the crap out of them. Which we’ll do of course, but doesn’t solve the problem.
The speaker phone beeps. Mark is annoyed. Everyone else looks relieved the heat is off them for a moment.
Mark picks it up.
MARK
What?!
KEATING
(V.O.)
You should really turn on the news...Channel 7...
Mark picks up the remote, puts the news on the big screen TV behind them.
CUT TO:
EXT. BAYONNE – IRONSHIELD WAREHOUSE - DAYTIME
Chaos! Smoke & Fire! A FEMALE NEWS REPORTER stands in front of a burning building, firemen running behind her fighting the blaze.
FIELD REPORTER
...a fire which has swept through this entire area behind me, Tom. Local police and fire fighters are saying that every building in a quarter mile area has been structurally damaged and will likely be razed to the ground.
The image cuts to a helicopter circling above several burning buildings. An entire building complex is ablaze. Firetrucks are everywhere spraying water to try to quench the burning disaster.
CUT TO:
INT. CHANNEL 7 NEWSROOM
NEWSCASTER
Does anyone have an idea what might have caused it?
CUT TO:
EXT. BAYONNE – IRONSHIELD WAREHOUSE - DAYTIME
FIELD REPORTER
Local police aren’t sure, but they suspect arson given the destruction and speed with which the fire spread. I’m hearing that Homeland Security and the FBI have already launched a probe, since the area was frequently used by ‘shady’ types.
CUT TO:
INT. CHANNEL 7 NEWSROOM
NEWSCASTER
So you’re saying Tony Soprano’s warehouse might have burned down too, eh?
CUT TO:
EXT. BAYONNE – IRONSHIELD WAREHOUSE - DAYTIME
FIELD REPORTER
(lame chuckle)
That’s what I’m hearing, Tom.
CUT TO:
INT. CHANNEL 7 NEWSROOM
NEWSCASTER
OK. Thank you, Tina, for that update, we’ll keep everyone posted as this develops. For those of you just joining, a large fire is sweeping through a large industrial park in Downtown Bayonne. The warehouse complex is owned by the Ironshield company, who has not issued a statement yet about the fire. We want to remind everyone to remain calm, and point out this has not been labeled a terrorist attack by local or federal authorities. In other news, Homeland Security confirms that the Islamic terror faction Blood Rajadeem has failed to import nuclear weapons into the United States. Homeland Security sources say a successful raid resulted in the capture of all nuclear material and the neutralization of all the members of the terror cell...
CUT TO:
INT. MRAZ INC. – SITUATION ROOM - DAYTIME
Mark hits mute on the TV. The talking heads keeps going behind him. Everyone is still looking at the screen stunned.
MARK
First the trucks are gone. Now the warehouse is gone. Perfect. Just perfect...
TAYLOR
Actually...it may not be so bad.
ERIC
I don’t get it.
TAYLOR
You really are as dumb as Eddie and Moumin say, aren’t you?
ERIC
Hey!
TAYLOR
If the warehouse was destroyed, then the contents were too. And it wasn’t like ours was the only building. The whole place burnt to the ground. Feds might have to drop this one. The trucks, the shipment, everything burned to the ground. There’s nothing for them to want to take back. Legally speaking, that fire saved our asses. Convenient.
MARK
Yeah. Convenient. Way too convenient.
Mark hits the speakerphone button.
MARK (CONT'D)
Keating. Get me Mraz. Now.
SMASH CUT TO:
MAIN TITLES
FADE TO BLACK
END OF TEASER
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACT ONE
INT. POSH SUBURBAN HOME – DAYTIME
ANDREA, immaculately dressed in a navy blue St. John suit, wearing matching pearls, sits in a large chair grooming one of her small dogs which is sporting a small pink bow. Her phone is to her ear as she brushes the dog.
ANDREA
I want you to tell me how this is all going to be alright? I just heard that Stinger is dead. Where are the trucks?
MASKED VOICE
Everything is fine.
The voice on the other end of the phone is clearly being muddled and concealed digitally. It’s unclear whether it’s a man or a woman.
ANDREA
I fail to see how everything can be fine.
MASKED VOICE
Turn on the news.
Andrea turns toward her large Plasma TV in her living room. MARTHA STEWART is talking about making giant artichokes into a table center pieces for summer parties. Andrea flips channels till she’s watching the same news broadcast that Mark and the others were watching before.
ANDREA
I fail to see the connection between burning buildings in New Jersey and three tanker trucks filled with a metric ton of my product.
MASKED VOICE
The shipment will arrive on time. In thirty six hours.
ANDREA
If you want your $50 million dollars, it better be delivered precisely on schedule at 3am, and without any surprises as we discussed.
MASKED VOICE
There will be no problems.
ANDREA
If there are any problems, I will guarantee you that-
MASKED VOICE
There is no need for idle threats.
ANDREA
My threats are not idle. Goodbye.
Andrea hangs up the phone and flips back to watching Martha Stewart as she continues to groom and pet her puppy.
ANDREA
I tell you this, Miss Muffins. If the dumb man messes up Mommy’s sale, Mommy is going to be very very angry! Yes she is! Mommy is going to have many many people killed! Yes! Oh aren’t you a precious little girl! Yes Miss Muffins! So pretty...
CUT TO:
INT. PRIVATE JET – CABIN - DAYTIME
MRAZ sits reading a copy of SkyMall, contemplating whether buying one of those blimps is a good idea. A glass of ice water sits in his cup holder. Outside the plane window is a partly cloudy day, wisps of clouds rush by as the plane makes its way toward Santo’s airport in El Doro.
CUT TO:
EXT. MOUNTAINS – DAYTIME
A cave. A man in camo sits waiting with a large rocket launcher on his shoulder, scouting the skies. His walkie talkie squelches four times in sequence. The man scans the skies hard, and then we can see what he sees, a small private jet moving across the sky.
ANGLE ON: The plane in the viewfinder of the launcher. The man’s finger pulls the trigger. The rocket races away toward the sky.
CUT TO:
INT. PRIVATE JET – CABIN - DAYTIME
Mraz flips a page. Who the hell buys a wall sized world map? He flips another page, still bored. But not for long. Mraz’s phone rings. He goes to fish it out of his pocket. Never gets it open.
CUT TO:
EXT. PRIVATE JET – DAYTIME
The rocket slams into the right wing of the jet, there’s an explosion, half the wing is torn away!
CUT TO:
INT. PRIVATE JET – CABIN – DAYTIME
Mraz is thrown from his seat against the opposite wall. His phone is flung at the ceiling and shatters. The entire cabin is shuddering and shaking. Mraz is bleeding from his forehead, tries to get his bearings and crawls toward the cockpit.
CUT TO:
INT. PRIVATE JET – COCKPIT – DAYTIME
Mraz pushes the door open. The pilots desperately try to get control of the craft. The gauges are spinning out of control, red lights are flashing on all the panels, alarms are beeping loudly.
CUT TO:
EXT. PRIVATE JET – DAYTIME
The plane is going into a flat spin, heading for a large mountain, smoke and flames billow behind hit.
CUT TO:
INT. PRIVATE JET – COCKPIT – DAYTIME
The pilots are panicking. Trying desperately to get control of the plane, the struggle with the controls. The warning alarms are growing steadily louder and more urgent.
MRAZ
I’m definitely flying commercial next time...
CUT TO:
INT. SANTO MANSION – OFFICE – DAYTIME
The quiet stillness of Santo’s house. SANTO sits at his desk, DIEGO stands before him.
SANTO
What do you mean, shot down?
DIEGO
It appears someone has shot down your jet.
SANTO
With Mraz on board?
DIEGO
Si. We lost contact 15 minutes before touchdown.
SANTO
Get Tito and the chopper ready. I am going to find him.
DIEGO
I don’t think that’s a good idea.
SANTO
I do not pay you to have good ideas, I pay you to do what I tell you. My friend is in trouble and could be hurt. Get Tito and the chopper ready, now.
Diego grimaces as Santo gets up and heads out of the office.
CUT TO:
INT. MRAZ INC. – SITUATION ROOM - DAYTIME
KEATING (V.O.)
No answer from Mraz.
MARK
Alright, let’s work the problem. Eddie, Eric. You two find out what’s going on down at the warehouse. Ducky, take a look at the video feed, see if you can figure out what happened. Moumin ask around on the street, see if anybody has noticed a few shady trucks showing up at somebody’s door steps. Keating, keep on Mraz. Krystal, you stay here, I want to talk to you about Santo. Move it people.
The office quickly empties. It’s just Mark and KRYSTAL.
MARK (CONT'D)
You think Santo is behind this?
KRYSTAL
The trucks?
MARK
No. Mraz not picking up.
KRYSTAL
It’s possible. Santo’s a strange bird. He and Mraz have a unique relationship.
MARK
What do you mean?
KRYSTAL
Ya know, I was only with them for a short while but...nah...
MARK
What?
KRYSTAL
They acted like guys on the same team, not opposing teams like they were working together.
MARK
Mraz? And Santo? Not likely.
KRYSTAL
Let’s just say he acted with Santo the way I’d expect him to act with you – how bout that?
It’s obvious that’s a sting to Mark. He shakes it off.
MARK
You think you’d be able to find your way back to Santo’s hideout?
KRYSTAL
Nah, Santo had his guys blindfold me for the trip there from the airport.
I have no idea where it is. I mean, I know it’s somewhere near El Doro, I heard one of them say the name. But could be anywhere.
MARK
Alright, thanks. Go see if you can help Andy or Ducky.
KRYSTAL
OK. Hey, if ‘you’ need me for anything...just...let me know.
Krystal gives a slightly bashful, impish smile and leaves. Mark watches her leave. He opens his folio, writes a reminder.
MARK
(outloud while writing)
Note to self. Do not hire any more hot chicks.
CUT TO:
EXT – MOUNTAINS - PLANE CRASH – DAYTIME
Mraz wakes up in the middle of a crushed cabin. Light is pouring in through the various holes and tears in the body of the plane. His left leg has a large gash in it, sliced by sharp metal fragments. Slowly, he pulls himself out of the wreckage, and crawls a distance away before he collapses exhausted from the exertion. After a minute, he sits up, looking around at the environment. The same boring generic mountainous terrain surrounds him on all four sides. Nothing notable or recognizable.
MRAZ
Not good.
Mraz takes out his pistol, checks it, and then lies back down. He closes his eyes.
CUT TO:
EXT – MOUNTAINS - PLANE CRASH – NIGHTTIME
Mraz’s eyes snap open. He’s groggy and disoriented but not for long. There’s a large gun barrel being poked in his face. He’s surrounded by four men in camo fatigues holding assault rifles looking down at him. One of them has a large rocket launcher over his shoulder.
MRAZ
I suppose I have you to thank for my graceful landing.
SOLDIER
Vaminos!
Mraz doesn’t move, just groans. One of the men go to pull Mraz to his feet. Mraz winces in pain. The man stops for a moment, then three of them go to lift him again but more gingerly. They don’t realize they’re playing into Mraz’s hands. Mraz snaps to life, jamming the first of them in his gut hard with the assault rifle, sending a quick elbow to face of the second, and a hard closed fist to the third’s face. The three men crumple, the fourth pulls his rifle, Mraz’s pistol is out in a flash to meet it.
SOLDIER
Drop your weapon!
The sound of a machine gun rings out, and the solider is cut down. Mraz spins to where the shots came from.
SANTO
This is how you greet your rescuer!?
MRAZ
This your idea of a welcome wagon?
SANTO
Probably used to work for Stinger. Pissed at me and you for doing such a good job on their boss, mmmm? Come, Tito will get you patched up.
Santo walks over to Mraz and puts his arm around him. Tito takes the other arm. They help Mraz walk down the mountain.
CUT TO:
INT. MRAZ INC. – SITUATION ROOM - DAYTIME
MARK
Somebody, anybody, tell me what happened.
TAYLOR
(head shaking)
Mother of all Messes Part II: Worse then The Balkans.
Mark and Taylor sit on at the head of the table. The rest of the Tac-Ops team, along with DUCKY and KEATING, sits in the meeting room all looking nervous, glancing around and down at papers, trying hard not to become the center of Mark’s ire which is looking for a target.
MARK
Mraz doesn’t stay out of communication for over 24hrs without telling us ahead of time. He’s the head of our organization. Anybody know what’s going on?
KEATING
I’ve tried calling repeatedly, using all the frequencies and channels, but I’m not getting anything.
DUCKY
I made that new phone myself. The GPS locator should be working even if the communicator software is down, unless the entire unit was destroyed.
TAYLOR
We need to start thinking about a succession plan, to maintain corporate viability. In the event Mraz has met a grisly end, there are legal issues that need to be looked at.
MARK
We’ll deal with that later. So - no trucks – and now no Mraz. This is just great. Is there anything we ‘can’ find?
EDDIE
Some good news on the trucks.
MARK
Go.
EDDIE
Ducky and I poured over the surveillance tapes. Looks like the feed was tampered with. Must have been an inside job though, they found an oversight, a time when we weren’t paying attention, and the guards at the warehouse were on shift change.
MOUMIN
And I took your advice and jacked into a nearby security camera feed that didn’t belong to the warehouse.
TAYLOR
You can’t go around borrowing security feeds...have you people ever read the Constitution?
MARK
You can teach Ethics later. Go on.
Moumin hits the remote. The video feed is grainy but clear enough. Men surround the warehouse, they case the building. In a matter of minutes, they’re breaking in. A few minutes later, the three silver tanker trucks drive off in a hurry.
ERIC
I don’t get it. Why no word from the warehouse?
MARK
They probably killed the few guards they found. Used the fire to cover up their disappearance.
DUCKY
(to Mark)
If you and I had gone to get another sample just an hour later, we would have wound up like them.
MARK
Ducky, can you hack a satellite relay or the news traffic cameras and track where those trucks went?
DUCKY
Yeah. You want me to finish analyzing the compound first?
MARK
No. Finding the trucks is most important. Doesn’t matter what it is if we can’t get it back. Now, Mraz. Krystal doesn’t think – where is she anyway?
MOUMIN
Helping Andy with the accounting thing you asked him to work on.
MARK
Krystal doesn’t think Santo is after Mraz. So maybe something happened on his way there.
EDDIE
Andrea?
MARK
Could be. Get to work on tracking Santo’s plane. Maybe it crashed. Maybe it got diverted...hijacked...who knows? We need to find out. We need to find Mraz. He could be anywhere.
ERIC
It’s gonna be like trying to find a shadow in a noon day sun.
Everyone at the table looks at him. There’s an awkward pause before EDDIE steps up to the plate.
EDDIE
Hey Eric, if you don’t have “less on” you have...
ERIC
(beat)
More on?
EDDIE
Exactly.
ERIC
I don’t get it.
FADE TO BLACK
END OF ACT ONE
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ACT TWO
INT. SANTO MANSION – OFFICE – DAYTIME
Mraz stirs awake. He’s laying in the guest room he was staying in last time he was here. Outside it’s a sunny day, outside the window he can see Santo walking around chatting away on a SAT-phone. He throws off the blankets, his leg is wrapped and bandaged. He looks next to him, on a silver tray are various pain killers, from mild aspirin to Vicodin. He grimaces at the large ‘S’ on the satin pajamas he’s dressed in. He spots his clothes folded neatly on a nearby chair and gets up to get changed.
CUT TO:
EXT. SANTO MANSION – DAYTIME
Mraz limps out to meet Santo who is talking on the phone.
SANTO
Again I assure you everything will go to plan. I will speak with you again soon, I have to go. (hangs up) Mraz, my friend. I trust you are feeling better?
MRAZ
Who were you talking to? Anyone I should know about?
SANTO
Probably not. How is your leg?
MRAZ
It hurts. I’ll live.
SANTO
Breakfast? Maria has made-
MRAZ
How about you tell me what you promised about Operation Living Hand, and let me get outta here and back to New York so I can get back to my job.
SANTO
I do admire your work ethic Mraz. Come inside.
CUT TO:
INT. SANTO MANSION – OFFICE – DAYTIME
SANTO
What do you know about Operation Living Hand?
MRAZ
Nothing but the name. That’s why I’m here.
SANTO
Operation Living Hand. Tell me Mraz, if someone were going to try to hurt your organization, how would they do it?
MRAZ
Kill us all.
SANTO
Yes, that is one way, but a tad drastic, no? Even criminals prefer to keep things as clandestine as possible. Killing an entire organization is sure to raise flags with authorities.
MRAZ
Kill me.
SANTO
You are determined, Mraz. And people know it. Killing you would make you a martyr, and someone would take your place and your team would find new focus and vigor.
MRAZ
Look. How bout you just tell me instead of this Twenty Questions crap?
SANTO
I do not know all the details...
Santo reaches into his drawer, pulls out a thin folder, hands it for Mraz to take. Mraz reaches for it.
SANTO
But everything I have is in here.
MRAZ
You couldn’t have just faxed or emailed this?
SANTO
No. Faxes and mail can be intercepted. I prefer the traditional methods, hmm? To ensure safety, yours and mine.
MRAZ
Thanks. I should be going.
Santo doesn’t let go of the folder just yet.
SANTO
Things are not always as they seem, Mraz. Shadows can cloud what you perceive.
MRAZ
I’m not scared of shadows. They simply mean there’s a light shining somewhere nearby.
Santo smiles and let’s go of the folder. Mraz leafs through the few notes Santo has written down.
SANTO
Come, I feel terrible for what happened on your flight down. Let me personally accompany you back to New York. Maria will pack us lunch.
MRAZ
Since when do you travel to New York?
SANTO
There are many things I do that you do not know about, Mraz.
MRAZ
You’re gonna make me arrest you someday, aren’t you?
Santo grins wide and shrugs. Mraz shakes his head.
CUT TO:
INT. MRAZ INC. – MARK'S OFFICE - DAYTIME
KNOCK KNOCK. Mark looks up from his paperwork, Ducky is at the door.
DUCKY
You want the bad news or the weird news?
Mark’s look says it all.
DUCKY (CONT'D)
OK. Bad news is Mraz’s plane crashed.
Ducky drops a folder worth of satellite photos on Mark’s desk obscuring his work. Mark tries to keep his cool.
DUCKY (CONT'D)
Here’s the plane. Found it by hacking the FAA mainframe, that was an ugly bitch. OK. So. Over USA Airspace. Over Mexican airspace. OK. Everything was normal in its flight pattern till...here. Then at 15:21, you can see this explosion in the wing. Here. You can see it spiraling toward this enormous mountain...15:23 hits the mountain, here, but luckily just the top of it, reducing the height of Mt. El Presidente by five meters – I notified the US Geological Team, sliding down and crashing to standstill here...Now, we lose that satellite due to its orbit. And we move to the DOD satellite I borrowed, and we flip to the thermal pics. Few hours later. Wreck’s here. Plane’s cold. Bad sign. No heat means no life.
MARK
I remember mention of ‘weird news’?
DUCKY
I had Keating running some search algorithms for me on a hunch. Looks like Santo and Mraz are booked on a flight out of Mexico City heading for New York. Should arrive by tonight. 9pm. Here’s one of them from a spy sat, at the airport bar. I think they’re drinking mojitos. See the mint in the glass?
Mark looks up at him slowly.
DUCKY
Oh also, found the trucks.
MARK
You what?
DUCKY
Yup. Was actually pretty easy, see a Peterbuilt versus a Mack actually are easier for a lot of photo-recognition software to spot. Don’t ask why. I’m prone to believe it has to do with the-
MARK
Where are they?
DUCKY
Uh...here.
Ducky flips through the sat photos of the Mraz wreckage and gets to a pic of a car park. Mark is looking at it closely as Ducky spots an apple on Mark’s desk. He picks it up and takes a bite. Mark sighs as Ducky explains.
DUCKY
It’s a staging ground in northern Jersey – about 20min north. A loading area – it’s where major automakers offload their cars from the docks before they get shipped to the dealers. You’ll notice a few 18 wheelers over here. Typically they’re generic transports with car beds, but those shiny 3 ones on the end are our three. The license plates match. Got the pic before they could change ‘em. And I used the blue laser on the satellite to burn a mark into the top of the tankers so we can track them going forward.
MARK
We’re gonna move on this ASAP. I’ll get the Tac-Ops guys ready. You and Keating go get Mraz from the airport. Don’t let him vanish with Santo.
DUCKY
I’ve already got a new phone built for him. Man, this is a good apple.
Mark returns his attention to the trucks.
MARK
Why so close?
DUCKY
Hmmm?
MARK
Why only move the trucks a few miles north of where they were before?
DUCKY
Maybe they thought we’d assume they were long gone?
MARK
Maybe. Or maybe something else.
DUCKY
Whatcha thinking?
MARK
Not sure yet. Get Moumin and Eddie in here, will ya?
DUCKY
You got it.
Ducky leaves. Mark pulls out Santo’s case file, and flips to a specific page. He studies the sat-photos of the trucks intently, and keeps looking from Santo’s file to the photos and back. The wheels in his mind spinning away.
CUT TO:
INT. PLANE CABIN - EVENING
Santo is snoring and drooling, his head leaning on Tito’s arm. Tito is snoring and drooling, his head leaning on the window. Mraz sits in the aisle, awake, flipping through SkyMall again. A real sized boat for your home pool?
MRAZ
Who buys this crap!?
STEWARDESS
Sir, please! Your language!
MRAZ
Sorry? What time does the flight land?
STEWARDESS
We should touch down in two hours, sir.
MRAZ
Thanks.
Back to the magazine. Mraz has to stifle his next comment about magnets that help you lose weight.
CUT TO:
EXT. STAGING PARKING LOT – EVENING
The sun setting in the West looking larger and larger against the horizon, red and orange light reflects off the sea of chrome and glass and steel from the cars that sit motionless on the concrete in the middle of the swamp. As the camera moves down, we see though all is not motionless. Crawling slowly between the cars are MARK, MOUMIN, Eddie, Eric, Krystal, and Taylor with shotguns, moving steadily toward the grouping of 18 wheelers.
TAYLOR
I can not believe you talked me into this. I could get killed!
MOUMIN
Relax.
TAYLOR
I don’t even own a gun permit! And we’re trespassing! Forget the fact we carried weapons over state lines! Do you realize how many laws we’re breaking!?
MOUMIN
Dude, relax.
EDDIE
It’s basic psychology. You scare them and get them peeing down their leg, they submit. If you project weakness, that promotes violence, that’s how people get hurt. We roll up with half a dozen shotguns, they’re not gonna lift a finger. It’s Peace through superior firepower.
TAYLOR
Please tell me you people didn’t learn how to be ‘Tac-Ops’ by watching “Point Break”?
MARK
Shhh. We’re getting close. Taylor, you stay near me, anything happens, fire in the air, get to cover, stay hidden. Eddie, keep an eye on Krystal.
KRYSTAL
Hey, I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.
EDDIE
(to Mark)
You got it.
KRYSTAL
Don’t ignore me!
MARK
Let’s move.
Krystal bristles. The team keeps crawling toward the trucks. The fear on Taylor’s face is obvious, but maybe there’s a hint of excitement there too. The Tac-Ops team gets closer, very close. There’s maybe a dozen guys standing around the trucks. Only two of them look armed. They’re smoking, talking, three are busy playing cards.
Mark looks around, Taylor’s gotten ahead of everyone, he scrambles to catch up.
MARK
(hushed)
Wait for my signal. Dammit. Taylor!
Before he can get to him Taylor pops up.
TAYLOR
(loud)
OK, you crime loving scumbags! Hands to the sky or I blow a hole in each of you big enough to jump a motorcycle through!!
The men around the trucks are surprised, but no one moves.
TAYLOR
Did I mention I’m a lawyer. I will sue the living bejesus out of each of you. You will be poor until Jesus returns. Get your hands UP!!
The team scrambles and jumps up shotguns at the ready.
Faced with the firepower and the lawyer the bad guys don’t take long to respond. Guns drop. Hands go up.
TAYLOR
Book’em Danno.
The rest of the Tac-Ops team takes the men into custody, restraining their hands behind their backs with plastic zips. Mark pulls out his phone.
MARK
Ducky. You got a location for me?
DUCKY (V.O.)
Teterboro airport. There’s a parking lot for 18 wheelers right next to the airport. Take the trucks there, they’ll blend right in and we can keep an eye on them.
MARK
Roger. Let’s roll.
Taylor doesn’t move. He’s watching the Tac-Ops team do their thing, presiding over them like a proud papa. He slings the shotgun over his shoulder assumes a macho stance, beaming with pride at his work. Krystal walks by smirking, she can’t resist.
KRYSTAL
The safety’s still on...
FADE TO BLACK
END OF ACT TWO
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ACT THREE
INT. NEWARK AIRPORT – TERMINAL C
Santo and Mraz exit the plane, Tito walks behind them. Mraz is walking a bit stiffer then usual, but otherwise doesn’t seem too badly hurt from the crash. They pass the duty free shop.
CUT TO:
INT. NEWARK AIRPORT – TERMINAL C
Santo and Mraz and Tito keep walking, but now Tito holds an enormous crate of chocolates and sporting a grin for the first time.
CUT TO:
EXT. NEWARK AIRPORT – TAXI STAND
A line of yellow taxi cabs. A few travelers stand in line in front of the threesome.
SANTO
Before we part ways, Mraz. I heard about your trouble up here. I got you a small present, to thank you for resolving the Stinger issue.
MRAZ
What trouble?
Mraz opens up the piece of paper Santo has given him. It’s a receipt of some sort, for something worth $850,000.
MRAZ
I don’t get it.
SANTO
(amused)
Don’t you watch the news, Mraz? Buy a paper when you get back to New York. There was a large fire and many buildings were destroyed. One of your buildings was destroyed in the blaze. I have taken the liberty of purchasing you a new one to say thank you.
MRAZ
You bought me a building?
SANTO
To replace the old one. Take care, my friend.
Mraz is most confused as Santo and Tito get into a cab and it pulls away.
KEATING
Mraz!
Mraz is about to get into a cab when he sees Keating running across the street to stop him from getting in. She’s not watching where she’s going, and neither is the cab about to hit her!
Mraz springs into action dashing at Keating. Her face begins to look worried since Mraz is running at her. She spots the car and freezes. Mraz grabs her just in time and moves her out of the way of the car before she’s hit. They fall to the ground on the curb.
MRAZ
You alright?
Keating looks up at him. Her eyes show there’s a lot of answers swirling around, but what gets said is-
KEATING
I’m fine.
Mraz helps her to her feet. Ducky rushes over.
DUCKY
You guys OK?
KEATING
We’re fine. He’s fine.
MRAZ
What are you guys doing here? What happened to the warehouse?
Keating punches him.
KEATING
Forget that. Where is your phone!?
MRAZ
Ow!
KEATING
Your plane crashed and you don’t call us!?
MRAZ
I was a little busy. As you astutely pointed out, my plane crashed!
DUCKY
We were worried about you. But we managed to track down you were OK.
MRAZ
Thanks. Now that we’re all sure I’m fine, what happened to the warehouse? What happened to the trucks?
DUCKY
We’ll tell you on the way. Come on, we gotta get back.
CUT TO:
INT. MRAZ INC. – MRAZ OFFICE
Mraz sits at his chair, looking through a pile of envelopes and interoffice memos and such. Mark appears at the door with a folder under his arm. Mraz is engrossed at cleaning and organizing the papers infront of him. Mark's focused on Mraz.
MARK
Welcome back.
MRAZ
Miss me?
MARK
What’s your buddy Santo doing in town?
MRAZ
He didn’t say. Where are the trucks?
MARK
Safe. The guys we picked up guarding them wouldn’t talk. We turned them over to NYPD an hour ago. You’re not curious why Santo’s here?
MRAZ
Why should I be?
MARK
Maybe he’s dealing with terrorists?
MRAZ
Santo doesn’t work with terrorists. Scumbags, criminals, yeah maybe. Not terrorists.
MARK
Funny. Ducky hacked a banking network, and Andy says Santo got a $75 million payment from someone and then apparently your buddy gave $25 million of it to Carlos Stinger. Interestingly, $75 million is the amount Blood Rajadeem was going to give White Light for the nukes.
Mraz stops with the papers, Mark has his attention.
MARK (CONT'D)
Thing is, I checked with your guy at the FBI. Blood Rajadeem was broken up the day you took out Stinger. Some people might confuse the two events. They might get easily blurred.
MRAZ
C’mon Yoda, spell it out.
MARK
I think you’re right Mraz. I don’t think Santo is dealing with terrorists. I just don’t know who he ‘is’ dealing with or what he’s dealing. I don’t know what was in those trucks. I don’t know who wants them. I don’t know what to do with them. You have any ideas?
MRAZ
Go get some sleep. Let me think on this one.
Mark turns and leaves. Mraz sits back in his chair, hands behind his head and rocks back.
INT. POSH SUBURBAN HOME – DAYTIME
Ring ring! The large plasma TV shows THE MCLAUGHLIN GROUP arguing away in the background. Andrea’s manicured hand reaches from the Maurice Vallenci couch and picks up the phone.
ANDREA
Hello?
MASKED VOICE
The shipment drop point has changed. The trucks have been moved to a more secure location. I will transmit it to you.
Across the room a fax machine begins to spit out a piece of paper with a map and coordinates on it.
ANDREA
That wasn’t the deal.
MASKED VOICE
The trucks are safe. The shipment is safe. It is delivered on time without problems or incident. That was the deal.
ANDREA
I will wire the rest of the money when I take receipt of the product.
Andrea hangs up the phone and goes back to watching TV.
CUT TO:
INT. MRAZ INC. – MRAZ OFFICE – NIGHTTIME
Mraz is looking at the receipt Santo gave him, he has Mark’s Tac-Ops folders on Santo and Stinger infront of him. Mraz is looking through the details when – KNOCK KNOCK.
Krystal stands at the doorway.
KRYSTYAL
Welcome back.
MRAZ
Hi.
KRYSTAL
How’s Santo?
MRAZ
Still Santo. What do you need, I’m kinda busy.
KRYSTAL
I was wondering if you had time to talk.
MRAZ
Sure, what’s up?
KRYSTAL
Well about the future.
MRAZ
Of?
KRYSTAL
Just the future.
MRAZ
Capital ‘F’, that Future.
KRYSTAL
Yeah.
MRAZ
In the future, there will still be good guys and bad guys but hopefully less of them if we do our job. That what you’re looking for?
KRYSTAL
Not exactly.
MRAZ
Well then what?
KRYSTAL
I just don’t understand you. Any of you people!
MRAZ
I’m not following.
KRYSTAL
You. You all. This whole company. Just running head first into dangerous situations, with guns blazing, associating with all kinds of criminals and crazy people. What about how you feel? What about how others feel?
MRAZ
(completely lost)
Uh, what?
KRYSTAL
I mean take you for example. Or Mark. Either works. Talk about a bait and switch.
MRAZ
Wait. What? I wasn’t trying to – wait – what’d you just say?
KRYSTAL
Bait and switch.
The words hit home for Mraz. Realization.
MRAZ
Son a bitch.
KRYSTAL
What? Me.
MRAZ
Son of a bitch.
Mraz is shaking his head slowly. Why didn’t he put it together before?
KRYSTAL
What did you call me?
MRAZ
Son...of...a...bitch...
Mraz walks out. Krystal’s mouth is agape.
KRYSTAL
Hey! We’re not done talking! Dammit Mraz!
FADE TO BLACK
END POF ACT THREE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACT FOUR
INT. MRAZ INC. – PARKING GARAGE - NIGHTTIME
Mraz emerges from the elevator, hops in his car. The tires peel out as he races away down the street. Horns are blaring from cars as he’s fighting his way onto the highway.
CUT TO:
EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHTTIME
Mraz dials the phone without ever taking his eyes off the road.
MRAZ
C’mon! C’mon!
JANICE (V.O.)
You’ve reached Janice. Only leave a message if it's important.
BEEP!
MRAZ
Janice. It’s Mraz. Meet me at the Teterboro airport, and bring some decent backup. Fast as you can.
Mraz snaps the phone shut and punches the accelerator. The car takes off through traffic, as Mraz revs the engine, weaving in and out traffic as he races down the highway.
CUT TO:
EXT. AIRPORT RUNWAY - NIGHTIME
Santo smiles large as he inspects the last trailer. He nods approvingly and Diego makes a mark on a check sheet. Tito stands by wielding his large assault rifle. Santo climbs down from the top of a trailer, and looks over the Diego’s checksheet. Diego takes out a cell phone and attaches a large object over the mouthpiece, a voice distorter.
FEMALE VOICE (V.O.)
Hello?
MASKED VOICE
Shipment verified. Pick up at your convenience.
Diego hangs up. Santo and his crew walk off toward his private jet which sits at the ready in the distance behind them.
MRAZ
Where you going...buddy?
Santo stops in his tracks. Tito and Diego stop as well. All three turn to face Mraz who steps out of the shadows into the light.
MRAZ
I gotta admit...I shoulda seen this coming.
SANTO
Do not be so hard on yourself, my friend. I set it up good.
MRAZ
You did. I’ll give you that. Stinger wasn’t your enemy, was he? You subcontracted out to him.
SANTO
I provide transport, Mraz. That is what I get paid to do. Get merchandise into the United States.
MRAZ
But you didn’t think he could get the job done.
SANTO
Stinger was getting sloppy. Too greedy. Unprofessional, bad for business. Could have reflected badly on me, mmmm?
MRAZ
So you set me on Stinger, let me take him down for you, confiscate the cargo. You knew we’d transport them to New York for you, and then you stole it from me, to deliver to your buyers.
SANTO
I took back what was not yours, Mraz. Hardly stealing.
MRAZ
Bought me that other building, cause you blew up the first one, and hoped I’d never figure out what happened, right?
SANTO
It was not your fault the building burned. It seemed ungracious to expect you pay for it.
Mraz is pissed, he doesn’t find all this as amusing as Santo does.
MRAZ
You used me!
Mraz pulls out his gun at Santo. Diego and Tito whip out two pistols a piece at Mraz. Santo seems unfazed, amused even by the situation.
SANTO
Ah ah ah! Now now, Mraz, you are not being reasonable. Think about all the good you did. You took down a crime syndicate with ties to terrorists. And did I not make sure the return of my property was done with the utmost discretion so there was no public disgrace to you or your firm? Your government suspects nothing, your company is in the clear, no? Now, please, put down the gun.
Mraz doesn’t budge.
SANTO (CONT'D)
(angry)
Put down the gun...now!
Mraz lowers his piece, Diego and Tito stay with weapons trained on Mraz. Santo’s pleasant demeanor returns.
SANTO (CONT'D)
We have been friends a long time Mraz, I will forget this gun in my face nonsense.
JANICE
And since Mikey likes you guys, I won’t kill you unless he asks me too.
Out the shadows Janice emerges in a flash, puts her gun to the back of Santo’s head. Santo notices a moving laser dot on his chest. We move up and see Moumin on a nearby roof with sniper rifle. Diego looks unsure of what to do. Tito hasn’t flinched.
MRAZ
(To Janice)
Nice of you to show up.
JANICE
Sorry for the delay. Had to wait for my nails to dry. You okay?
MRAZ
Heartburn. Otherwise I’m fine.
SANTO
The paella Maria gave us for the flight was spicier then usual. Tito has been burping all day.
MRAZ
It was good though.
SANTO
It’s the fresh sapphron.
JANICE
Can we focus!?
MRAZ
Tell your goons to lower their guns.
Off a nod from Santo, the guns come down.
SANTO
(about Janice)
Are you going to return the favor? You know if she shoots me, Tito will be most upset.
MRAZ
I’m gonna destroy the shipment. I know it’ll get you in trouble, but I’m not letting you win this one. Now I know failure to deliver will cost you...so here’s my favor to you...I’ll give you the money I took from Stinger. Most of it’s yours anyway, right? Andy tells me it’s around $25 million. It’s my ‘gift’ to my friend.
JANICE
Mark is gonna kill you, Michael.
SANTO
You are too generous.
MRAZ
Get on your plane, and get outta here.
Mraz motions to Janice to lower her gun. Santo moves forward at Mraz. Janice tenses, but cools once she realizes he’s moving in to give Mraz a hug.
SANTO
You got me this time, my friend. Next time, you may not be so lucky.
MRAZ
Clean up your act, huh?
SANTO
(to Mraz)
And give up all this fun? I will talk to you soon, my friend.
(to the others)
Let us go. Mr. Mraz has won this round.
DIEGO
What about the shipment! We can’t just-
A stern look from Santo silences any further protest from Diego. Santo, Diego, and Tito walk away toward the private jet, and board it. Mraz and Janice watch the jet take off and slowly disappear into the night sky.
JANICE
And I thought ‘I’ had some weird friends.
MRAZ
Call the cops, tell them we found a few truckloads of drugs, and to bring some flammables, we’ll watch this stuff burn up right here.
JANICE
You’re gonna let the locals get the collar?
MRAZ
It’s not about the glory, Janice, it’s about-
JANICE
-doing the right thing. Yeah, yeah, Mikey. You’ll never change.
CUT TO:
INT. MRAZ INC. OFFICES – NIGHTTIME – MARK'S OFFICE
Mark sits at his desk, Tac-Ops folders are spread out around him. KNOCK KNOCK. Krystal pokes her head around the door.
KRYSTAL
Just got a call from Janice, Mraz is safe. He stopped the shipment. Santo’s on his way back home.
MARK
Good. On all counts.
KRYSTAL
What are you working on?
MARK
(sarcastic)
Scrap book project.
KRYSTAL
Sorry, dumb question. Typical new person idiocy, huh?
MARK
Sorry, it’s just late, I’m tired.
KRYSTAL
You look like crap too.
MARK
Thanks. Hey, who were the flowers from?
KRYSTAL
Flowers?
MARK
The roses?
KRYSTAL
Oh, those. Santo. Nice guy. You might like him if you gave him a chance.
MARK
Uh huh. I’ll take your word for it.
KRYSTAL
Well, I’m heading home.
MARK
G’night.
KRYSTAL
You, uh, wanna get a drink?
MARK
(big yawn)
Yeah...but I got alotta work here. Rain check.
Krystal walks up from the doorway and drops a small plastic orange pill container on his desk.
KRYSTAL
My cousin is a pharmacist. These things got me through some late cram sessions in college. No hangover.
MARK
I just drink enough Red Bull to drown a litter of kittens. Thanks though.
KRYSTAL
G’night.
Krystal leaves the pills on Mark's desk. Mark throws the pills in his drawer and goes back to work.
CUT TO:
INT. SANTO MANSION - EVENING
Santo quietly sits at his desk in his mansion. He is filling out some papers, his computer is on. The computer screen has some sort of screen-saver of a large attack helicopter on it, slowly rotating 360 degrees. Diego walks in to the room, followed by Tito who is carrying a silver coffee set. Tito sets down the coffee on the desk and exits. Diego sits down on a couch, but Santo doesn’t look up from what he’s working on.
DIEGO
Do you need anything else tonight?
SANTO
No thank you, Diego. Go home and get some rest.
DIEGO
What are you doing?
SANTO
It is Mraz’s birthday soon. I want to get him something special.
DIEGO
You’re getting him... a gift?
SANTO
He will be quite surprised, no doubt.
DIEGO
He ruined the shipment, cost you millions, and upset our New York contacts. You’re getting him a present?
SANTO
Ruined the shipment? Come now, Diego. Do you really think I want to be party to poisoning millions of people? To profit from it, perhaps. To be part of it, certainly not.
DIEGO
You used Mraz to get the trucks over the border to get paid, then you used Mraz to stop the shipment from ever getting out. And you knew he’d give you the money you paid Stinger back?
Santo looks up and gives a wink.
DIEGO
What if he figures that out?
SANTO
He is too busy playing the Good Guy to think that way. I wish I could see the look on his face when he sees what his present will be. Can’t let Mraz think I’ve gone soft, eh? Plus it should restore our credibility with our New York contacts.
Good night, Diego.
Diego gets up and leaves. Santo sits back in his comfy chair and sips his coffee looking at the rotating attack helicopter on his screen with a large grin.
SANTO
(To himself)
Yes, I wish I could see the look on his face...
FADE TO BLACK
THE END
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
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