A RENDEZVOUS IN GEORGIA

Inspired by real events

Written & Directed by

Mónica Bermúdez

bermonicatz@gmail.com
805-248-9449
1 INT. ZOOM CALL - GALLERY VIEW - DAY 1

The Black Lightning assistants are on a Zoom call. Monica,

Laquanda, Lauren, Patrick, Stephanie, Dusty, Kienan, Conor,
Braden, and someone from Stunts.

STEPHANIE
Hi everyone, good morning!

LAUREN / EVERYONE
Hey Stephanie / Hi / Good morning.

STEPHANIE
How are you Lauren?

LAUREN
Tired.

EVERYONE
Copy that / Copy you / Fersure.

MONICA
So, hey guys, did you look at the
schedule for this yet? Does anyone
have any other ideas or are we good
to roll with this?

DUSTY
(with attitude)
Wait, sorry, Kienan’s coming on
now.

PATRICK
Can we hurry up? I have to leave to
pick up lunches. Monica did you get
James’ order?

MONICA
Yeah, just sent it to you.

PATRICK
Copy.

KIENAN
(Video on, starts mouthing
something, but is muted.)

EVERYONE
(Chiming in) Kienan, you’re muted.
Kienan!
 2.

KIENAN
Hey, listen to this, I used to like
Greek food, but now I “falafel.”
(Holds up his falafel pita
sandwich.)

Crickets.

MONICA
Ok moving on, we’re shooting this
tomorrow afternoon by the Docks in
the Backlot. Dusty your scene is up
first, remember to shave for
tomorrow.

DUSTY
Copy, yeah but just my neck,
because my mask hides the rest of
my scruff pretty well.

MONICA
Ok... Emmy nominated David Fletcher
with SPFX will have the lay flats
ready and a fan standing by... and
I talked to props about the sticks.
Kienan will you please remember to
pick those up from Don? Conor will
you remind Kienan to pick those up
from Don Props?

CONOR
Copy copy.

KIENAN
Ugh. Such a waste of resources. Why
are we even doing this?

Everyone stares at Kienan. Is he serious?

LAUREN
We’re doing this because we love
Georgia. And we love television.

LAQUANDA
And we love working on television
shows in Georgia.

STUNTS
Yeah. Plus, Black Lightning is bad-
ass.

KIENAN
Yeah, I get that. But, why Georgia?
 3.

BRADEN
Kienan, have you not seen our last
two videos?

MONICA
I sent everyone the links weeks
ago.

KIENAN
Yeah, I’ve been busy.

2 INT. ART BULLPEN - DAY 2

Cut to Kienan watching TikTok videos of giant tortoises. We

turn & see Dusty glaring at him. Kienan shoves microwave
sausage biscuits into his mouth.

3 INT. PRODUCTION OFFICE - NEXT DAY 3

Kienan picks up packages from Patrick in the front office

with a dolly.

PATRICK
Hey, can you give this to James?
Monica is out shooting the
incentive video.

He takes the package. Written on it in thick letters is the

word “RENDEZVOUS.” Off Kienan reading it and rolling his
eyes.

4 INT. JAMES’ OFFICE - CONTINUOUS 4

James (wearing a hawaiian shirt) is talking with MJ.

KIENAN
Here you are James...

JAMES
Oh, thanks.

KIENAN
Quick question. Why Georgia?

JAMES
Well, I started my career working
in Los Angeles.

MJ
And I worked on plenty of shows in
New York.
 4.

JAMES
MJ and I actually met working in
Virginia.

MJ
But we really, really love working
in Georgia.

JAMES
And as this is Black Lightning’s
final season, we really gotta make
it count & give Georgia a proper
gracious farewell.

5 INT. PRODUCTION OFFICE HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS 5

KIENAN
(considers this)
Black Lightning is ending? I gotta
tell Jay!

Kienan runs down the length of the hallway with packages on

the dolly and goes into the art room. He pops back out with
an empty dolly and runs back down the hallway. At a regular
pace he re-assembles the dolly and puts it back where it
lives. Then he runs back down the hallway towards the Police
Station.

Braden (COVID PA) sticks his head out the door and looks at
the camera like WTH is going on? He does some silent miming
thing, tap dances, or something.

6 INT. TORI TOWERS - “NIGHT” / CONTINUOUS 6

Kienan finds Jay (Art) & Steve (Construction) looking out the
large windows over “Freeland,” moping, and drinking “scotch”
from Props/Tobias’ decanter & glasses.

KIENAN
Jay, did you hear this is Black
Lightning’s final season? Now you
can go home and spend more time
with your Tortoise SPOT.

Kienan pours himself a glass of “scotch.”

JAY
Yeah, I do love Spot, I’ve had him
for 15 years, but I’m really gonna
miss Georgia. Black Lightning has
been shooting in Georgia for over 4
years and I’ll never forget...
(MORE)
 5.

JAY (CONT'D)
(talks about fascinating
moments while working in
Georgia)

STEVE
Yeah... The Construction Crews in
Atlanta literally make the shows
from the ground up...
(talks about the high
quality craftsmanship of
Georia workers)
I’m so proud of the work we’ve done
here. I never thought I’d say this,
but I’m really gonna miss you Jay.

KIENAN
Yeah, who knows, maybe they’ll make
a spin-off!

Jay and Steve react to this. Serious tone.

KIENAN (CONT'D)
(Takes a sip of “scotch”)
This is apple juice.

JAY
Yeah, Don always gets the best
stuff.

KIENAN
Shit! Don Props! The sticks!

7 EXT. SET DEC LOADING DOCK - CONTINUOUS 7

Kienan runs out of the Set Dec loading dock. Runs into Conor
(Locations PA) cleaning out his car.

CONOR
Hey Kienan! Amanda Steeley from
SuperSuits told me to tell you that
Avi from Playback got the sticks
from Don Props and gave them to
Kellie my boss the Locations
Manager to give to you but you
weren’t at your desk.

KIENAN
Oh no! Where are they now!?

CONOR
I gave them to Dusty.

Dusty is Kienan’s archnemesis.

 6.

KIENAN
(Yells out into the
universe. A primal
scream.)
Noooooooooooooooooooo!

Cut back to Conor standing at his car, watching Kienan like

WTF is going on.

CONOR
Yeah... Dusty said he’d deal with
it anyways since he’s the Key Art
PA.

KIENAN
(Now seething. Grunts
between his teeth)
I’m the Key Art PA.

CONOR
He went into there. You shouldn’t
go alone, but I’m cleaning out my
car right now, so, sorry.

Conor points to the woods by the Production Office Parking

Lot.

8 EXT. WOODS ENTRANCE BY COVID TESTING SITE - CONTINUOUS 8

The COVID nurses watch as Kienan approaches the woods. He’s

hesistant and looks back at the nurses like a lost puppy.
They give him a final look of encouragement. He wants to
prove himself. He goes forward and finds Patrick standing
guard. Patrick mimes smoking a cigarette.

PATRICK
Kienan.

KIENAN
Patrick. You know why I’m here.

PATRICK
Yes, but do you know why you’re
here?

Kienan falls silent.

PATRICK (CONT'D)
You’re late. And you forgot the
sticks.
 7.

KIENAN
Better late than never. What’s the
point? Black Lightning is over
anyways.

PATRICK
Kienan. What’s going on with you
man? You came to Georgia, all the
way from Montana, where you
literally laid concrete road, and
before that you were in Alaska,
fishing salmon, and this is how you
act doing the best job in the
world? In the best place ever!?

KIENAN
I promise, I’ll do whatever it
takes. I just want to do my part to
keep Georgia’s Film Tax Incentive
strong. The best in the entire
country!

PATRICK
I see. You’re ready. What’s the
password?

KIENAN
(Stunned, wasn’t expecting
this.)
Fuck! Uhhh...

Kienan racks his brain... dizzy in his thoughts. The world

spins around him as he almost passes out. He digs around his
memories.

9 EXT. PRODUCTION OFFICE ENTRANCE - DAY 9

We see: MJ smoking a cigarette outside the PO under the

awning. She stares at the camera and mouths the word
“RENDEZVOUS.”

10 INT. PRODUCTION OFFICE HALLWAY - DAY 10

We see: Braden doing cartwheels down the hallway. He jesters

at the camera, and with a creepy smile takes off his face
mask momentarily and mouths the word “RENDEZVOUS.”
 8.

11 INT. ART BULLPEN - DAY 11

Finally, we see: Dusty glaring at the camera from his behind

his plexiglass protected desk... he mouths the word
“RENDEZVOUS.”

We remember and cut to the earlier package in Kienan’s hand.

A microwave “DING” goes off in his head.

KIENAN
RENDEZVOUS! RENDEZVOUS!

A beat.

PATRICK
Wrong. You’re wrong again Kienan.

KIENAN
(Desperate and then
normal)
What!? I really thought I had that
one.

PATRICK
I’ll give you a clue... I used to
love mediterranean food...

KIENAN
Now I FEEL AWFUL!!! FALAFEL!!!

PATRICK
Yes man! You got this!

Patrick does his signature “smoking” hand gesture.

Kienan enters the woods.

12 EXT. WOODS - CONTINUOUS 12

Kienan slowly walks thru the high grasses and swaying trees
of this shaded and forgotten property. A 6-foot stick lands
in front of him. Where did that come from? He picks it up.

KIENAN
Huh?

We hear a whacking stick approaching. It’s Dusty on the

attack!

DUSTY
Finally!!! Kie-nan or should I say
Key PA of Nada!!!
(MORE)
 9.

DUSTY (CONT'D)
You’ve finally arrived, in time to
face your destiny!!!

KIENAN
What the hell Dusty!!!

Dusty and Kienan spar with their six foot sticks. Master
stick-men. It’s the final showdown. In slow motion Dusty
starts overpowering Kienan.

Suddenly a loud thundering crashing boom is heard from above.

Like Glenda the Good Witch from The Wizard of Oz, backed by
the sounds of an airplane taking off remixed by heaven...
Monica descends from the treetops inside a neon orange
bubble. She carries her own bright orange stick that matches
her Nike Air Force 1 sneakers.

MONICA
SIX FEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!

Dusty and Kienan are frozen. They literally cannot move

because they have impenetrable 6-foot orbs around them like
VFX bubble boys. Monica gracefully lands on the ground, she’s
glowing.

MONICA (CONT'D)
You must obey the law of the land.
Six feet or else. Follow me.

They rendezvous in the forest, walking, and eventually sit in

a circle. Their legs outstretched... we see... six feet! Aha!
Everyone is finally at peace and meditative. Their sticks
outline a safe distance.

MONICA (CONT'D)
Since 2005(?) when the tax
incentive started, Georgia’s
influence in the south has been
undeniable... Atlanta is one of the
fastest growing cities in the
United States, and clearly, it’s
influence hasn’t gone unnoticed.

FLASH CUT: BIDEN/HARRIS 2020 signs and REVERAND WARNOCK FOR

SENATE and OSOFF FOR SENATE campaign signs.

MONICA (CONT'D)
We have the power to create a
sustainable future for ourselves by
filming within these gorgeous
landscapes. Making Georgia not just
a wonderland, but a home to many.
(MORE)
 10.

MONICA (CONT'D)
Listen, the shows will come and go,
as we all know stories that begin
must end, but along the way we must
understand and share this
responsibility... to leave this
place better than how we found it.

FLASH CUTS OF BLACK LIGHTNING’S WONDERFUL GEORGIA LOCATIONS.

END with Monica, Kienan, and Dusty exiting the woods by the
Security Guard Shack, towards the Production Office.

MONICA (CONT'D)
Did you know that Emmy nominated
SPFX master David Fletcher worked
on the OG National Treasure?

ARTHUR the security guard waves at them, winks at Monica. We

close in on the “Welcome to Freeland” sign.

FADE TO BLACK

END CARD: THANK YOU GEORGIA, WE COULDN’T HAVE TOLD THESE

STORIES ANYWHERE ELSE!

END CARD: CW’S BLACK LIGHTNING 2017-2021 /// ATLANTA,

GEORGIA, USA

THE END

ROLL CREDITS