Episode 1.6 "This Living Hand, Part 1" written by Michael Mraz

Mraz Inc.
"This Living Hand, Part 1"
Written by Michael Mraz

TEASER

FADE IN:

INT. MRAZ INC CONFERENCE ROOM- EVENING

MRAZ stands at the front of the room, addressing those in attendance. MARK is off to the side, surrounded by two ARMED MEN standing ready. Sitting and standing throughout are KEATING, KRYSTAL, TAYLOR, DUCKY, ANDY, and about half a dozen other EMPLOYEES. The room is tense.

MRAZ
We are on high alert. As senior staff and department heads, this information is being disclosed to you and only you and is not to be divulged to the rest of your staff. We do not want to create a panic; everything needs to remain running smoothly, despite the circumstances. Mark?

Mark steps forward. The two men flanking him stay in stride with him. He seems annoyed.

MARK
We’ve recently come across intelligence that has clarified the outline of an ambitious operation, code-named Operation: Living Hand, being staged by Andrea Davis to cripple Mraz Inc’s tactical readiness. Our sources informed us that Andrea has been amassing large amounts of men and artillery for a strike of some sort. Tactical has been monitoring their movements and we now believe action is imminent.

MRAZ
We think we’ve identified her main target and have decided to trigger their trap. For the purposes of the plan, Andrea’s people must continue to believe that we are ignorant of their activities. Everyone is to leave the premises tonight in their normal fashion. Keep to your routines; don’t do anything out of the ordinary. Dismissed.

The crowd begins to nervously disperse. Mark and Mraz exit the room. The two men follow them. Taylor also joins.

TAYLOR
Mike, you know these people have a right to know all of the facts. We’re a publicly traded company, not the government.

MRAZ
Taylor, the less you all know the better.

TAYLOR
These people are scared now. How can you guarantee that one of them isn’t the target?

MRAZ
We know who she’s after.

TAYLOR
Are you sure?!

MRAZ
Pretty sure.

TAYLOR
Pretty sure?!

MARK
Taylor, relax. Everyone is being closely monitored. You ask me, we have too much extra security.

He shoots Mraz a look. Taylor stops following.

TAYLOR
Fine. I hope you have another great lawyer lined up to deal with the inevitable lawsuits that are going to come out of this!

They reach Mraz’s office and enter.

CUT TO:

INT. MRAZ’S OFFICE- CONTINUOUS
Keating is already waiting for them in the office. The two men try to follow but Mark shuts the door in their faces.

MARK
Mraz, this ridiculous! I don’t need a security detail! The woman’s already tried to take me out twice in the past two months and failed. What makes you think this one is going to work?

MRAZ
(dryly)
Third time’s the charm.

KEATING
You think its Mark?

MRAZ
Santo hinted that whatever she’s doing is meant to hurt our operational status. She takes out Mark, she takes out tactical. She already tried with Trish, she technically succeeded with the bomb in her office. And we’re starting to think the car incident with Brendan while I was in Mexico, might have been another try-Mark just didn’t bite on that one because he had to divert to intercept the drug shipment.

Mraz’s intercom beeps. He presses a button.

MRAZ
Go ahead.

MOUMIN (O.S.)
The first few people have left the building. Brendan and his team are still in their van on the northwest corner. No movement at all.

KEATING
Brendan?

MARK
Moumin’s been trailing him. Earlier today, Brendan and five others set up in a van across the street from our main entrance.

KEATING
You’re staying, aren’t you?

MRAZ
Once everyone is safely away, Mark will exit the building- triggering their move. Then we take Brendan’s team out.

KEATING
I shouldn’t be going home. You need me here.

MRAZ
Lauren, you walking out the front door as if nothing is wrong is going to help us more than you know.

KRYSTAL (O.S)
Can I help with anything?

The three turn to see Krystal standing in the doorway.

MRAZ
Krystal…

There’s an awkward pause. Keating looks at Mraz.

KEATING
Come on, Krystal. These stubborn idiots are staying late tonight. Let’s get out of their way.

She leads Krystal out the door, leaving Mark and Mraz.

MRAZ
Don’t know what we would do without her…

MARK
Who? Keating or Krystal?

Mraz shoots Mark a glare.

CUT TO:

INT. MRAZ INC- SAME TIME

Krystal and Keating walk through the halls.

KRYSTAL
I don’t know why those two are always so mysterious. We just want to help.

KEATING
They aren’t mysterious. They’re just stupid and bullheaded. You’ll learn that, eventually. Let’s take the back way.

They head to the back elevator. Keating presses the down button. The door opens and they get in.

CUT TO:

INT. MRAZ’S OFFICE- CONTINUOUS
Mraz looks out his window. Mark sits on the opposite side of the desk, sipping a glass of Jameson.

MARK
Eddie is keeping tabs on their staging area. He said it looks like she’s hired a small army. They’re armed with AK-47s. Their weapons match the models that Santo gave us the transport papers for. The van serial number also matches the registration he gave us in the file. Maybe I was wrong about Santo. He came through for us this time. This definitely is Operation: Living Hand.
(pause)
Mraz?

Mraz is lost in thought, staring out the window.

MRAZ
Sorry… I was just—Just thinking about the poem. “This Living Hand”. Ridiculous. Why that poem?


CUT TO:

INT. MRAZ INC BACK EXIT- SAME TIME
Keating and Krystal exit the elevator, in conversation, and walk out the door.

CUT TO:

INT. MRAZ’S OFFICE- SAME TIME
MOUMIN walks into the office. Mraz still stares out the window. Mark has his feet up on Mraz’s desk.

MOUMIN
Krystal and Keating just exited out back. That’s the last of the staff. Brendan’s team is still stationary.

MARK
Thanks.

MRAZ
“…would, if it were cold and in the icy silence of the tomb, so haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights…” I don’t get it…

Mark seems almost bored, uninterested.

MARK
I don’t know, man. I don’t know Keats all that well.

MRAZ
Keats…Santo asked “what would someone do to hurt us?”

MOUMIN
(to himself)
Hmm… funny.

Mraz and Mark turn and look at Moumin. Moumin says nothing.

MRAZ
What?

MOUMIN
What?

MARK
What’s funny?

MOUMIN
I don’t know. I was just thinking its funny. Keats is almost like Keating. Weird.

Realization dawns on Mraz and Mark, they lock eyes and dash out of the office, leaving Moumin.

MOUMIN (CONT.)
What? What did I say?

CUT TO:

EXT. MRAZ INC BACK EXIT- SAME TIME
Keating and Krystal step outside. Keating turns to Krystal.

KEATING
Well, I’m heading to the 6. Good--

KRYSTAL
(eyes going wide)
Get down!!

Krystal grabs Keating tossing her back toward the door and pulls a pistol out, firing.

ANGLE ON: Six ARMED MEN in masks converging. They are surprised by the gunfire. One man takes a few bullets and drops. The other 5 run in.

CUT TO:

INT. MRAZ INC. - SAME TIME
Mraz hits the back elevator button frantically. Mark stands by.

MRAZ
Come on! Come on!

The door opens; they get in.

CUT TO:

EXT. MRAZ INC BACK EXIT- SAME TIME
Krystal drops one more man before the other 4 converge and knock her gun to the ground. She tries to wrestle away furiously. One man heads toward Keating but she manages to grab Krystal’s gun and shoot him in the shoulder.


CUT TO:

INT. ELEVATOR - SAME TIME
Mraz and Mark impatiently wait as the elevator slowly climbs down. Mark’s back is to the door.

MRAZ
Keats! KEATS!! What the hell?! How could we not have seen this?!

CUT TO:

EXT. MRAZ INC BACK EXIT- SAME TIME
The man who was shot by Keating in the shoulder tries to get himself to his feet. He pulls his mask off. It is BRENDAN! He indicates Krystal.

BRENDAN
Leave her! She’s not who we came for!


CUT TO:

INT. ELEVATOR - SAME TIME

MARK
I don’t know. We could be wrong…maybe we’re overthinking.

The door opens. Mraz sees Krystal struggling with the men just outside the door. Mark has his back to the door still.

MRAZ
DAMN IT! KRYSTAL!

Mraz pulls his gun out. Mark ducks down just in time as Mraz fires. Mark pulls his gun, as they both run out.

CUT TO:

EXT. MRAZ INC BACK EXIT- SAME TIME
Brendan gets up and starts running as bullets whiz by. A van pulls up behind them.

BRENDAN
Damn! Forget it, take her and go!

MAN #1
But--

BRENDAN
I said go!

They throw Krystal in the back of the van and jump in, closing the doors. The van peels out, as Mraz and Mark run outside. Mraz drops to a knee and fires off a few shots at the van. Mark runs to Keating to check on her. Mraz stands up, watching the tail-lights of the van disappear.

MRAZ
DAMN it!

SMASH CUT TO:

MAIN TITLES.

FADE TO BLACK.


END OF TEASER

___________________________________________________________________________________



ACT ONE

INT MRAZ INC CONFERENCE ROOM – NIGHT
Keating is sitting at an empty table, holding an ice-pack to the side of her head. Mark is sitting on the edge of the table.

MARK
-did they say anything else?

KEATING
No. They were obviously after me, but Krystal got in the way. When they saw you and Mraz coming, they panicked and just took her.

MARK
I’m sorry, Lauren. We should have figured this out earlier. All of the attempts on me must have just been feints trying to draw attention away from the obvious.

KEATING
It’s fine. I’m fine. I’m not the one they ended up getting. It’s Krystal we need to be worrying about. We should be working on that; not just sitting here.
She tries to stand but is a bit woozy. Mark jumps up and steadies her.

MARK
Hey, take it easy, champ. We need to make sure you’re alright first.

KEATING
We don’t have time. Where’s Mi—Mraz?

MARK
He’s not here. He’ll be back soon.

KEATING
What do you mean he’s not here? Where is he?

CUT TO:

INT APARTMENT BUILDING- SAME TIME
JANICE is walking up her stairwell. She turns the corner leading to her hallway. She jumps, slightly. Her hand goes inside her coat; then she relaxes.
ANGLE ON: Mraz, leaning up against the wall near her apartment door.

JANICE
Jesus, Mikey… what the hell?

MRAZ
I need your help. I couldn’t just call. Andrea might be monitoring our lines.

JANICE
You don’t look good. What’s going on?


CUT TO:

EXT WAREHOUSE, MANHATTAN- SAME TIME
EDDIE sits just outside a window, staring in intently with binoculars. ERIC stands leaning up against the wall.

ERIC
They’re sending Moumin out to relieve me; they want me to report back.

EDDIE
Too bad. Just when we were starting to have fun.

ERIC
(under his breath)
Ass.
(louder)
Mark said they got one of Brendan’s guys. Maybe we’ll get something out of him.

EDDIE
(quietly)
And maybe I’m the queen of France.

ERIC
What do you think they’re planning?

EDDIE
(sarcastically)
Probably something to do with this arsenal and small army gathered here in this building. Just a guess. Maybe an assault?

ERIC
You know, I wasn’t made a senior member of the tactical squad for lack of options, Eddie. I actually am qualified.

EDDIE
Funny, because I haven’t seen any evidence of that.

ERIC
If it weren’t for me the Governor would be dead!

Eddie finally breaks away from the binoculars.

EDDIE
And we wouldn’t have been dodging the press for the past 4 months, John Wayne!

ERIC
You, of all people, are lecturing me about being impulsive?!

EDDIE
No, truth is, I just think you’re an idiot!

VOICE (O.S.)
What the hell are you doing up here?

ANGLE ON: An ARMED MAN, holding an AK-47 trained on Eddie and Eric.

Eddie and Eric both stop dead. Turn and raise their hands.


CUT TO:

INT. JANICE’S APARTMENT- SAME TIME

Janice sits on the arm of her couch; Mraz stands.

JANICE
It took you guys a month to figure out Keats connected to Keating?

MRAZ
Not funny, Jan.

She stifles laughter.

JANICE
Sorry, Mikey.

MRAZ
They took Krystal instead…

JANICE
New girl?

MRAZ
Yes. We don’t know where she is or what they’re doing to her. I want her out of this.

JANICE
What do you want me to do?

MRAZ
Find Brendan.

JANICE
This’ll be fun. I’m game. Couldn’t you guys find him just as easily though?

MRAZ
We’re bracing for an assault. Andrea has a team of mercenaries that are just sitting around waiting. I can’t spare the manpower, unless I have something solid.
(he pauses, and smirks) Besides, no one else is as good as you.

JANICE
Flattery will get you nowhere, Michael. Besides, hunting down Brendan is more fun than what I had planned tonight.

MRAZ
When you find him, call me immediately. Do not make contact. Don’t attack.

JANICE
Less fun.

MRAZ
Sorry.
(pause)
And please find him fast, Jan.

JANICE
You’re really worried about the girl, aren’t you?
(no answer)
I’ll call you, Mikey.

CUT TO:

EXT WAREHOUSE, MANHATTAN- SAME TIME
The man stands with his gun trained on Eddie and Eric. They still have their hands in the air.

ERIC
Take it easy, guy, we were just passing by.

MAN
On a rooftop?

EDDIE
Yeah, nice one, genius.

ERIC
Eddie, shut up!

EDDIE
Great, you gave him my name. You want to give him your business card while you’re at it?

MAN
Who do you work for?

EDDIE
Osama Bin-Laden. He likes how your boss runs things; wanted to invite you to dinner in his cave.

ERIC
This isn’t helping.

EDDIE
Do you have any bright ideas, Captain Obvious? You got us into this, you get us out.

ERIC
I got us into this?!

EDDIE
If you hadn’t opened your big mouth, he wouldn’t be here. What do you think brought him up here? The moonlight?

The man inches closer. He looks back and forth between the two arguing, getting annoyed.

MAN
Both of you shut up!

ERIC
(ignoring him)
You started the argument. If you’d just give me a little respect—

EDDIE
Jesus! Respect?! What are you? A woman?

MAN
I said shut it!

ERIC
Damn it, Eddie! Just let me do my job!

The man has crept a little too close. Eric snaps into action. He grabs the AK-47 by the barrel and yanks it forward, pulling the man off balance. He slams the butt of the gun back into the man’s stomach and then uppercuts with the barrel. He throws the gun to the ground.

ERIC (CONT.)
There! I fixed it.

The man isn’t quite as unconscious as Eric thought. He starts crawling to the gun, unseen by Eric and Eddie.

EDDIE
Least you could do.

ERIC
What do I have to do to prove myself, Eddie?!

EDDIE
Will you shut up? Do want to bring the rest of those guys up here?!

The man now has his hand on the gun. Suddenly, Moumin steps into frame, kicks the man in the head, and knocks the gun away. Eddie and Eric stop bickering.

EDDIE (CONT.)
Oh, hey, Mo.

MOUMIN
Idiots.

CUT TO:

INT BRENDAN’S STRONGHOLD- SAME TIME
ANDREA and Brendan stand in a room, looking through a glass window. On the other side of glass, Krystal is alone and hand-cuffed to a chair in the center of the room.

ANDREA
This is unacceptable, Brendan.

BRENDAN
What did you want me to do?

ANDREA
Have some balls for once. Fire a few shots back at Mraz and Souza and kidnap the right person.

BRENDAN
If I’d stayed any longer, I might have gotten killed.

ANDREA
And the outcome would have been the same: failure. The difference is that you’re alive to feed me your pathetic excuses.

BRENDAN
I didn’t fail. We still managed to grab a key member of Mraz’s staff.
Andrea wheels and smacks Brendan in the face. Taken completely by surprise, he’s knocked to the ground. He favors his face, running his hand over the scar on his cheek.

ANDREA
Key?! She’s barely worked there three months! What is she going to tell you?!
Brendan jumps to his feet. He grabs Andrea by the wrist and pushes her to the wall.

BRENDAN
I can still get the information I need.

ANDREA
(easily wrenching away)
Get off me! Fine. The operation goes as planned.

ANGLE ON: Krystal, through the glass, Andrea and Brendan’s reflections can be seen. Andrea steps forward, scrutinizing Krystal.

ANDREA (CONT.)
Get what you can from her. Then get rid of her. Either way, Mraz is not escaping from this one unscathed. And Brendan, be a dear and do me a favor. If you screw this up: Don’t bother coming back.

FADE TO BLACK.

END ACT ONE

__________________________________________________________________________________

ACT TWO

INT MRAZ INC HOLDING ROOM B – NIGHT
CLOSE ON: The back of a MAN’s head. He has a ski-mask on. The mask is pulled off. The camera pulls back to reveal Mark and Mraz on either side of the man. Mark holds the ski-mask. Mraz has his arms crossed.

MRAZ
Corey Michener. Selling your skills to Brendan Bradley now, huh?

ANGLE ON: MICHENER, he stares straight forward, with a cocky smile on his face.

MICHENER
Come on, Mraz. You know I’d only do this if Andrea asked. Bradley isn’t even on my radar.

MARK
And what did she ask you to do?

MICHENER
Smooth, Souza. Did you think you’d lull me into that one? You’re interrogation technique is about as good as your pick-up lines.

MARK
You’re lucky Krystal’s bullet only grazed you or I’d be checking your threshold of pain right now.

MICHENER
(looking at Mraz)
Does he do anything well or do you just keep him around cuz he’s your pal?

Mark punches Michener in the face. He laughs it off, spitting out a bit of blood.

MRAZ
Enough, Mark!

MICHENER
Here comes the good cop-

MRAZ
Corey, don’t tempt me. This isn’t your style. You usually stick to the tech side of things. How’d you get stuck in the middle of a kidnapping?

MICHENER
I was sticking to the tech side of things, Mraz. How do you think we got to the other side of this building without you knowing? I was having fun playing pinball with your sensors.

MRAZ
So, you hacked our security systems? How’d you get in?

MICHENER
When you run a business as recklessly haphazard as you do, Mraz, it starts springing leaks. You don’t pay much. Anyone is buyable.

MARK
What’s that supposed to mean?!

MICHENER
Don’t be so dense, Souza! Now, are we here to talk about how easily I caught the Mraz Inc security system with it’s pants down or do you want to know what Andrea is planning?

MRAZ
You want to talk?

MICHENER
Depends. How much are you offering?

Michener smiles.

CUT TO:

INT BRENDAN’S STRONGHOLD- SAME TIME
Brendan slaps Krystal, still cuffed to the chair. She is a bit bruised and bleeding; sweat runs down her forehead. It’s obvious this has been going on for some time.

BRENDAN
You’re going to start talking, now!

KRYSTAL
I told you! I don’t have that kind of information. I’m only an analyst.

BRENDAN
We know that’s not true. You’ve risen quickly. You’ve been at Mraz’s side over a dozen times publicly since you started working at Mraz Inc.

KRYSTAL
I’ve just been trying to help, as much as I can.
Brendan kneels down and grabs her by the chin.

BRENDAN
Now you can try to help me. I need the personnel security override keycodes.

KRYSTAL
I don’t have anything like that! You idiot, do you think they’d trust me with something like that in three months?!

Brendan takes in the outburst. He stands.

BRENDAN
I need that information. I need a way onto the Mraz Inc servers.

KRYSTAL
I’ll never tell you. I won’t betray them. Mike and Mark put their trust in me and I’m not going to let them down.

BRENDAN
Do you really want to die for them?

KRYSTAL
You wouldn’t…

BRENDAN
Andrea’s orders. You don’t give me what I need. I dispose of you. Mraz isn’t getting away from this one.
(he turns away)
But then, do you think it’ll really matter to them? You’re putting in so much effort to protect them, sacrificing yourself. You think they really care what happens to you?

KRYSTAL
I…

BRENDAN
You think they’re mounting a rescue? You don’t know anything, they’ll just replace you, forget this ever happened. Is that what you’re fighting for?

KRYSTAL
(in a low voice)
And what about you?

BRENDAN
What?

KRYSTAL
What about you? What happens if you don’t get this information? Only Keating has the information you need. You grabbed the wrong person, didn’t you? And now you’re stuck and your plans will fall apart. What will Andrea do to you?
Brendan is at a loss, unsure of how to respond.

BRENDAN
That’s enough for now. Think about what I said. Maybe you’ll start thinking clearly after a little break.
Brendan exits. Krystal looks up, eying him as he leaves.

CUT TO:

INT BRENDAN’S STRONGHOLD – CONTINUOUS
Brendan exits the room and stops, taking a deep breath. There is a MAN in the room, recording the interrogation.

MAN
Where are you going?

BRENDAN
Out. I need to mix up some sodium pentathol. There’s something more to her. Something she’s not telling me. I can’t put my finger on it.

MAN
Seems like she had it all figured out to me.

BRENDAN
Shut up.

He exits.

CUT TO:

INT BAR- SAME TIME
Janice sits next to a MAN at the bar. She sips on a bottle of beer. He has a pint.

JANICE
Brendan Bradley.

MAN
He’s been all but invisible for the past week. Which I didn’t think was possible
for Bradley.

JANICE
So, you can’t help me?

MAN
I never said that. Brendan can’t do anything big without running his mouth a bit.

JANICE
What’s he up to?

MAN
I don’t know that. But he thinks that it’s going to solidify his reputation for a long time. I know he’s been seen in some bars in Williamsburg for the past two weeks and he’s been heading off toward the warehouses whenever he leaves. Best I can do.

JANICE
It’ll be good enough.

MAN
Word is you gave him that scar.

JANICE
You know me. I like leaving my mark.

MAN
Give him another for me.

JANICE
Will do. Thanks, Matty.

CUT TO:

INT MRAZ INC HOLDING ROOM B – NIGHT
Andy stands in the room with a computer, next to Mraz. Michener is still in the chair. Mark stands to the side.

ANDY
Alright, Corey… um…Mr. Michener. I’m now transferring $250,000 to your offshore account.

MICHENER
Think of it as back-payment, Mraz. You’ve owed me for a long time.

MRAZ
You have what you want. Now, tell us what Andrea is doing.

MICHENER
Alright, here we go. Souza, you might want to get your notepad out for this: She’s planning on kidnapping Lauren Keating.

He laughs.

MRAZ
Enough with the games, Corey! We know that. Tell us something we can use. We gave you what you wanted!

MICHENER
Right, Mraz. I know your accounting systems almost as well as Andy does. And we all know he just put a dummy transaction through.

ANDY
That’s not true, Corey, I can show you the confirmation.

MICHENER
It’s a mock-up! I watched the keystrokes. They’re ingrained in my head.

ANDY
Corey, what reason would we have to—

MARK
Forget it, Andy. It’s no use-

ANDY
Mark-

MARK
Leave the room.

ANDY
Why, what—

MARK
I said LEAVE!!

Mark pulls his gun out, yanks Michener out of his chair and slams him into the two way mirror.

ANDY
JESUS!

MARK
I have had it with you playing with us. A girl’s life is at stake!

MICHENER
(defiantly)
What are you going to do?!

Mark aims his gun at Michener’s forehead.

MICHENER (CONT.)
You wouldn’t!

Mark fires a shot into the glass right next to Michener’s head. The glass shatters a bit cutting Michener’s face.

MARK
Try me!

Mraz yanks Mark away.

MRAZ
That’s far enough, Mark!

MARK
Fine, Mraz! Finish it your way! I’m done with this.

He storms out slamming the door. Mraz looks at Michener, who’s sitting on the floor laughing.

MICHENER
Brendan’s going to kill that girl, Mraz. And, by the time you find him, I’ll be long gone.

CUT TO:

EXT WILLIAMSBURG STREETS- NIGHT
Janice walks down the street; alert to everyone who passes. It is fairly crowded. She scans the crowd searching until something catches her eye.
ANGLE ON: Brendan, entering a drugstore.

JANICE
Yahtzee!

She walks toward the store and takes out her phone.

CUT TO:

INT. MRAZ’S OFFICE- SAME TIME
Mraz walks in. Mark is sitting in front of the desk. Keating stands to the side.

MARK
Was that too over-the-top?

KEATING
A little. You’re not supposed to shoot the double-sided glass.

MARK
I personally thought it was a damned good performance. I don’t know what you’re talking about.

KEATING
A little too good.

MARK
You’re just jealous. What do you think, Mraz?

MRAZ
Over-the-top.

MARK
Now I know it was good. I meant what do you think he’ll do?

MRAZ
I don’t know. I left Eric on watch. I guess we’ll let him stew a bit. I don’t think he’s going to tell us anything. We just don’t have time.

KEATING
Do we have any other leads? Anything from Janice?

MRAZ
Nothing ye—

The alarms sound.

MARK
What now…?

Mraz’s comm buzzes.

MRAZ
What happened?

ERIC (O.S.)
--t’s Eric. Bastard got the drop on me. Don’t know what happened. The cameras showed him just sitting there and then--

MRAZ
Come on!

Mraz grabs his gun and runs out. Keating follows. Mark runs after.

MARK
Just not a good day…

ANGLE ON: Mraz’s cell-phone, left on his desk. It buzzes. The caller ID reads: JANICE.

FADE TO BLACK.

END ACT TWO
________________________________________________________________________________



ACT THREE

EXT WILLIAMSBURG STREETS- NIGHT
Janice leans inconspicuously against the outside wall of the pharmacy. She has the phone to her ear. Brendan exits and starts down the street. Janice closes her phone and walks after him.

CUT TO:

INT. MRAZ INC- SAME TIME
Mraz and Mark run down the stairs. The alarms continue flashing.

MARK
How could he possibly have wired the cameras while he was locked in a holding room?

MRAZ
He probably had some kind of window built into the system.

MARK
Looks like we have to tighten security.

They reach the bottom of the stairwell. The door is labeled GARAGE and is ajar. Mraz and Mark barrel through the door.

CUT TO:

INT. MRAZ INC GARAGE- CONTINUOUS
As Mraz runs through the door, Michener can be seen getting into the passenger side of a black Mraz Inc Sedan. Another MAN stands outside the driver door and fires off a few quick shots as Mraz rounds the corner.
Mraz stops and ducks back just in time. Mark draws his gun and fires around the corner at the car. Mraz crouches low and squeezes off a few shots as the car squeals away.

MARK
He had someone waiting for him?!

MRAZ
Do we have any other cars?

MARK
Only Moumin’s.

MRAZ
Hope he won’t mind us borrowing it.

CUT TO:

EXT WAREHOUSE, MANHATTAN- SAME TIME
Eddie sits on the rooftop looking in through the skylight. Moumin leans against the wall.

MOUMIN
I think maybe it’s time to start playing nice with Eric.

EDDIE
Why? It’s not my fault he’s a moron. Why should I have to pay for it?
Moumin pauses and decides not to pursue the conversation.

MOUMIN
They’re gonna start wondering where their guy disappeared to.

EDDIE
Good. Maybe we’ll get some action then. I’m tired of all this sitting around.

MOUMIN
Why would Andrea hire all of these men? It doesn’t make any sense.
Eddie jumps up to his feet and starts walking.

EDDIE
Let’s find out.

MOUMIN
What?

EDDIE
We’re not doing anything. Mraz and Mark don’t have any answers. So, we’ll get ‘em ourselves.

MOUMIN
Eddie, no; bad idea, Ed. What are you gonna do?

EDDIE
You’ll see.

MOUMIN
No, no. Not cool. I’m not going along with this.

Eddie doesn’t stop. Moumin reluctantly goes after him.

CUT TO:

EXT WILLIAMSBURG STREETS- NIGHT
Janice walks, keeping pace with Brendan. She grabs her phone again, looks down, and dials. She looks back up: Brendan is gone. She scans the crowd but can’t spot him.

JANICE
Dammit!

She slams her phone shut and quickens her pace. She makes her way around a newsstand. As she turns the corner, she stops in her tracks.

ANGLE ON: Brendan, holding a magazine, paying the newsstand clerk.
She tries to duck back but he looks up. They lock eyes in mutual surprise. Brendan’s hand goes to his scar. He goes to run. Janice grabs him by his collar. Brendan spins back and grabs her by the throat. Her free hand locks on his choke arm. She kicks him in the leg, buckling his knee. They both release. He starts running; Janice takes off after him.

CUT TO:

EXT WAREHOUSE, MANHATTAN- SAME TIME
Eddie stands over the lifeless body of the man who caught them earlier. He holds the man’s handheld radio to his mouth and the man’s ID in his other hand.

EDDIE
Hey, this is…Fred…found something weird up here on the roof. Request 2 backup units to check this out.

MAN ON RADIO
Roger. Dispatching 2 men to the roof.

Eddie smiles at Moumin. Moumin scowls.

CUT TO:

EXT MANHATTAN STREETS – SAME TIME
Radiohead’s “The Trickster” plays under the scene. A 1975 Black Dodge Charger flies around the street corner and cuts recklessly through the streets.

CUT TO:

INT CAR – CONTINUOUS
Mark is behind the wheel; Mraz is in the passenger seat.

MRAZ
Keep driving like this and Moumin is gonna kill you.

MARK
Do you want to catch Michener or not?!

ANGLE ON: The view through the windshield. The taillights of Michener’s Sedan can be seen just ahead. They turn off to the left.

MRAZ
He’s going for the FDR.

MARK
Great a lot more space to work with.

MRAZ
Less things to hit.

MARK
Do you want to drive?!

CUT TO:

EXT MANHATTAN STREETS – CONTINUOUS
The tires squeal, as Mark corners the Charger onto the FDR onramp. Up ahead Michener’s Sedan weaves around the moderate traffic on the FDR. The Charger weaves back and forth as well.

The Sedan speeds and squeezes through a small gap between two cars, passing them. The cars beep and the lead car slows down effectively blocking the Charger’s path.

CUT TO:

INT CAR – CONTINUOUS

MRAZ
Dammit. They boxed us in.

MARK
No problem. Got an idea.

MRAZ
Wha-?

CUT TO:

EXT FDR – CONTINUOUS
Without warning, Mark swerves the Charger onto the shoulder of the freeway and speeds up trying to pass the line of cars.

CUT TO:

INT CAR – CONTINUOUS
ANGLE ON: The view from the winshield. The shoulder is quickly turning into an exit ramp, cutting them off from the freeway.

CUT TO:

EXT FDR – CONTINUOUS
The Charger speeds up more just as they hit the ramp and pull just ahead of the line of cars. At the last possible second, it swerves back toward the lane.

The right side of the Charger doesn’t quite make it back in time and hits the front of the guard-rail, flipping the car up on only its left tires for a moment, with the right tires riding the guard-rail. The Charger swerves left more, running off the rail and landing back on the pavement hard. It fish tails for a moment and picks up speed again, starting to gain on the Sedan. Up ahead is a tunnel.

CUT TO:

INT CAR – CONTINUOUS

MRAZ
Now I know why Massachusetts has so many car crashes each year.

MARK
Hey! We’re good drivers! We’re just impatient.

CUT TO:

EXT WILLIAMSBURG STREETS- NIGHT
Brendan runs at a full sprint through a crowd of people, around a corner, and into an alley.
Janice weaves through the same group of confused people and rounds the corner. She sprints down the alley, holding distance with Brendan but not gaining. She exits the alley as they head down a street. The area is getting noticeably more industrial.

Brendan runs into the middle of traffic. Cars come screeching to a halt. He runs to the side of a run-down, 2-story building and starts climb the fire escape.
Janice runs through the middle of the now stopped cars. As she nears the other side of the street, she jumps onto the hood of a car and hops from hood to hood, launching herself off the final car and grabbing hold of the fire escape, just as Brendan gets over the edge of the roof. Janice begins climbing.

Brendan runs toward the edge of the roof to his right and drops off the edge to a lower building. He leans back up against the wall, trying to hide himself from view. He waits for a moment, looking, but does not see Janice. He quietly moves along the wall and drops off the front of the building. He checks for Janice once more on the roof. Confident he’s lost her he starts jogging off down the street.
After a moment, Janice emerges from her hiding place behind a parked car (having never actually finished climbing onto the roof) and begins to silently tail him.

CUT TO:

INT FDR TUNNEL– SAME TIME
The Charger has now gained within about 2 car-lengths of the Sedan. In the opposite lane, the traffic has thinned out a bit.

CUT TO:

INT CAR – CONTINUOUS

MRAZ
Get as close as you can.

MARK
No problem.

Mraz takes out his gun and rolls down the window. He puts himself halfway outside the open window.

CUT TO:

EXT FDR TUNNEL– CONTINUOUS
Mraz takes aim and fires off a few shots at the Sedan, shattering the back window. He fires again, this time hitting the side of the car. The Sedan’s passenger window opens and Michener emerges slightly, returning fire. The bullets embed in the front hood of the Charger. Mraz fires again and Michener counters; his shots spraying the windshield. The Charger swerves. Mraz nearly loses his grip and falls.

MRAZ
Mark! Steady! Please!

MARK (O.S)
You’re right! I’ll just take the bullets next time!

Corey fires again, spraying the windshield. The Charger holds steady.

CUT TO:

INT CAR – CONTINUOUS
Mark ducks down behind the wheel, as windshield glass flies.

MARK
Well, this is just getting ridiculous!

He floors the pedal.

CUT TO:

INT FDR TUNNEL– CONTINUOUS
The Charger pulls up alongside the Sedan. Corey and Mraz takes shots at each other the whole time. Mraz is now more than halfway out the window, firing over the top of the charger. The cars ahead swerve to try to avoid the chase.

The Sedan moves in and side-swipes the Charger, nearly jolting Mraz out again.

CUT TO:

INT CAR – CONTINUOUS
Mark pulls out his gun and fires out his window.

CUT TO:

INT FDR TUNNEL– CONTINUOUS
The Charger swerves away and slams into the right lane’s guard-rail. Mraz barely swings back inside, before getting crushed against the wall.

CUT TO:

INT CAR – CONTINUOUS

MRAZ
Two hands! Two hands! Leave the shooting to me!

MARK
Then start hitting something!

Michener fires again. The bullets can be heard hitting the driver side door.

MARK (CONT.)
Moumin is not gonna be happy.

The cars race for the mouth of the tunnel. There are more vehicles ahead and only one lane to get through.

MRAZ
Gotta make it first!

MARK
I know!

CUT TO:

INT FDR TUNNEL– CONTINUOUS
The cars race forward. The Sedan swerves into the open lane, just beating the charger. Michener fires out the window, blowing the tire of the adjacent car. The car spins out directly in front of the Charger. Mark tries to miss it but clips the front end of the car. The Charger spins and flips over onto its roof, sliding down the FDR into the left lane’s guard rail, slamming to a halt.

CUT TO:

EXT FDR- CONTINUOUS
Mraz climbs through the passenger window. He walks down the FDR a few steps as the Sedan disappears in the distance. Mark crawls out and jogs up to him. They both stare after the car for a moment.

Suddenly, the Charger explodes behind them, causing them both to jump. They turn around in unison and take in the burning car for a moment.

MARK
I’m putting in for a raise for Moumin when we get back to the office.

MRAZ
Approved.

CUT TO:

EXT WAREHOUSE, MANHATTAN- SAME TIME
Two men come up through a doorway onto the roof. Instantaneously, Eddie and Moumin pop out, knocking them to the ground. They train their guns on the men.

EDDIE
Surprise.

CUT TO:

EXT WHAREHOUSE, BROOKLYN- SAME TIME
Janice crouches behind a car outside the warehouse. After a few moments, Michener’s Sedan pulls up and parks. Michener and his accomplice get out. Janice pulls out her phone and dials.

CUT TO BLACK.

END ACT THREE

_____________________________________________________________________________________


ACT FOUR

INT MRAZ INC- NIGHT
The elevator door opens to the main floor of the office. Keating stands in front of the door. Her expression immediately morphs into one of shock.

ANGLE ON: Mraz and Mark, as they walk out of the elevator. Their clothes are tattered from the crash but they walk in as if nothing has happened.

KEATING
What happened?

MARK
Long story.

MRAZ
Talk to Andy and have him cut a $100,000 bonus check for Moumin.

KEATING
Why?

MRAZ
Because Moumin scares me when he’s mad.

KEATING
You left your phone. Janice has been calling non-stop.

Mraz stops walking and turns to her.

CUT TO:

INT BRENDAN’S STRONGHOLD- SAME TIME

CLOSE ON: Andrea’s face.

ANDREA
Time’s up. I want her dead.

Brendan and Michener stand in the room with her.

ANDREA (CONT.)
Are you sure you weren’t followed?

BRENDAN
(nodding toward Michener)
Of course not. They have no clue where we are. How can we be sure he wasn’t followed?

MICHENER
Because I’m not relentlessly incompetent.

ANDREA
Stop bickering. Both of you. You had your chance to get the info out of her. We’re going ahead with Living Hand on the information Corey has.

BRENDAN
His information isn’t enough. We don’t have full access to their system overrides.

ANDREA
You have my orders. You’ll make it work. But I want her dead first. No traces. I can’t afford to get sloppy.

Andrea exits before Brendan can respond.

MICHENER
She just slips further and further out of your grasp. It’s sad.

BRENDAN
We’ll see who makes it through the day, Michener. You’ll be going in with us.

Brendan goes to leave.

MICHENER
Off to kill the girl?

BRENDAN
No, I still have some questions for her.

MICHENER
I didn’t know you had the ability to disobey Andrea.

BRENDAN
Living Hand is going to succeed, and it’s not going to be on your information.

He exits.

CUT TO:

INT INTERROGATION ROOM- CONTINUOUS
Brendan walks in with a needle in his hand. Krystal is nearly passed out. Her head hangs. He sticks the needle in her arm and injects her. Her eyes flutter.

BRENDAN
Andrea told me to kill you. But I don’t think you’re done talking.

CUT TO:

INT MRAZ INC WAR ROOM- LATER
Mraz stands at the head of the room. Keating, Taylor, Andy, Mark, Eric, Ducky and about 30 others crowd the room.

MRAZ
Eddie and Moumin have come across the ultimate goal of Operation: Living Hand. Their plan was apparently to acquire Keating and extract our security overrides from her, using them to shut down our defense systems and lead an assault on this office. They instead botched their target, nabbing Krystal. We have confirmed that Brendan Bradley is now holding her in a warehouse in Williamsburg. Mark?

MARK
Eric and I will be leading a team of fifteen men to extract Krystal. The remaining members of the tac-squad will rendezvous with Eddie and Moumin near Living Hand’s staging area to pre-empt any possible strike. We move in an hour. Your assignments are in the Tac Room.

Most of the employees file out of the room. Ducky and Keating walk up to Mraz and Mark.

DUCKY
Janice’s recon confirms that the tracking equipment at Brendan’s facility is thermally-based. I’ve fitted the tac-gear for your team with a special lining designed to block your body-heat signatures. You’ll be virtually undetectable, except to us!

MARK
Perfect.

DUCKY
I’ve also thrown in a new goody I’ve been working on. Sonic charges. They cause a reaction similar to an explosion through high pitched sound waves. The frequency is above human hearing. Setting off these charges will cause most solid surfaces to crumble without a sound.

MRAZ
That’ll come in handy.

KEATING
Wait, you’ll be monitoring the mission from here, right?

MRAZ
No. I’ll be with Mark’s team.

KEATING
You can’t! It’s too high risk.

MRAZ
Krystal is in there and we need to get her out. The risk to me is irrelevant. She’s the priority.

KEATING
Right. Of course.

MRAZ
Besides, I’m with Souza and Eric. What could happen?

MARK
You expect Eric’s presence to instill confidence in her?

KEATING
Make sure he comes back, ok?

MARK
Actually I was planning on “accidentally” shooting him. He insulted my driving one too many times earlier.

Keating sighs, rolls her eyes, and walks away.

KEATING
Why do I bother? No salary is worth this.

MARK
What would we do without her? So, is Janice just holding ground until we get there or is she going to be an unexpected guest on my tac operation?

MRAZ
No. She has special orders. She’ll hold at the warehouse but she won’t interfere with the logistics of the plan.

MARK
Do I get to know what her special orders are?

MRAZ
I expect Brendan to cut and run at first sign of trouble. That’s not going to happen this time.

Taylor approaches.

TAYLOR
You are aware that there is no way we can sell this as legal if you get caught?

MRAZ
Andrea has taken this beyond that point now. We have to do anything to protect our own.

TAYLOR
Mike, this goes beyond bending the law for the common good. You’re choosing to snap the law in half.

MRAZ
We’re not breaking the rules. We’re just changing them.


FADE TO BLACK.


TO BE CONTINUED…