FUTURISTIC VIOLENCE AND FANCY SUITS

EPISODE 1: (AUTO)PILOT
by
Ciara Frazer
Inspired by the novel "Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits"
By Jason Pargin

505/918-2896
ciarafrazer@gmail.com
FADE IN

EXT. TRAILER PARK - 3 PM

We fly out over Zoey'S TRAILER amongst others in her trailer

park in Fort Drayton, Colorado.

Everything's decked out in christmas decor.

ZOEY (V.O.)
You ever think about how from the
moment we're born, until the day we
end up rotting in the ground that
family is always changing our
lives? And no, I don't mean in a
good way. Family will always fuck
you in the ass... That came out
wrong. And the trailer park
probably isn't helping my case.
Jeez. What I mean is that no matter
what; family will always find a way
to fuck you over.

The CAMERA lands on a DARK SEDAN parked by Zoey's trailer,

hiding just behind a tree.

We see various weapons scattered on the backseat: GUNS,

KNIVES, a set of NUNCHUCKS and even some ninja THROWING
STARS.

THE JACKAL (30s, sweaty, a total incel)sits in the drivers

seat. He has STITCHES that run under his chin from ear to
ear.

SUPER: THE JACKAL: MERCENARY (DEFINETLY NOT A VIRGIN)

ZOEY (V.O.)
I mean look at this guy. This guy
probably has a mom! Poor lady, hope
she know's that her son's a fucking
creepy stalker. She probably
doesn't. And the girl he's
stalking?

The Jackal has GLASSES on; a small, blue light blinks by one
of the lenses.

His laptop is opened to a website called BLINK showing a

feed of what his glasses are seeing. Zoey's trailer.

ON THE FEED, we see Zoey (disheveled, heavy-set, punk vibe)

YAWN as she crosses the window of her trailer and plops down
on the couch.

SUPER: ZOEY ASHE: SELF-DECLARED FUTURE CAT LADY

ZOEY (V.O.)
Yeah that's me.
 2.

TIMELAPSE OF ZOEY'S DAY: SHE PETS HER CAT, WORKS IN THE

KITCHEN, FOLDS LAUNDRY, VACCUMS... ALL WHILE IN HER PAJAMAS.

CUT TO:

INT. ZOEY'S TRAILER - 10 PM

The sun has set now. Zoey watches a nature docomentary on

the couch. ON SCREEN Hyenas devour a gazelle.

DOCUMENTARY NARRATOR (V.O.)

The Hyena is a wild, unpredictable
predator with one of the most
powerful jaws in the animal
kingdom.

CUT TO:

INT. JACKALS CAR - CONTINUOUS

The Jackal writes down "The Hyena" in a spiral notebook on a

page titled "NAME IDEAS?"

SUPER: THE HYENA: MERCENARY (WHO TOLD YOU HE WAS A VIRGIN?)

ZOEY (V.O.)
Jesus Christ? You guys are seeing
this shit too right?

BACK TO:

INT. ZOEY'S TRAILER - CONTINUOUS

Zoey looks up as she hears SOFT FOOTSTEPS on the roof.

ZOEY
(whiny)
Not again.

She gets up off the couch to retrieve her cat.

EXT. ZOEY'S TRAILER - CONTINUOUS

Her CAT is climbing around on the roof of her trailer.

ZOEY
Stink! Stinky come down!

Zoey looks behind her at a dancing, Santa hologram in her

front yard. JINGLE BELLS plays.

ZOEY (V.O.)
Mom bought that stupid thing at
walmart. It always scared the shit
out of poor Stench.

She sighs and turns back to the roof.

 3.

ZOEY
Stinky! It's ok. It's not real!

BACK TO:

INT. HYENA'S CAR - CONTINUOUS

The BLINK FEED on The Hyena's laptop has a stream of

comments coming in continuously.

VIOLANCELOT: IS THAT REALLY THE GIRL?

LIVINGSTONSBALLS: JUST KILL THE BITCH ALREADY!!!

RAZZZA6969: CAN"T WAIT TO SEE YOU RIP HER OPEN :)))

THE HYENA
Paitence everyone. The hunt is a
part of the fun.

BACK TO:

EXT. ZOEY'S TRAILER - CONTINUOUS

By now Zoey has coaxed her cat down from the roof.

She takes him inside and after a long beat emerges again
with her car keys.

She pulls a dust pan from the backseat of the car and uses
it to scrape the ice off her windshield of her TOYOTA
COROLLA.

She climbs into the car and takes off.

The Hyena starts the engine of the sedan and slowly follows
her.
THE HYENA
Paying attention everyone? Things
are starting to heat up.

They drive along suburban middle class neighborhoods until

businesses and city surroundings emerge.

Zoey's toyota takes a LEFT, then after a beat another LEFT,

and then ANOTHER.

The comments light up on The Hyena laptop.

MONEYMACHINE420: IS SHE CIRCLING THE BLOCK?

CATSANDGUNS: SHE KNOWS SHE'S BEING FOLLOWED!!

THE HYENA
She can probably sense the elite
predator that's lurking in the
darkness.
 4.

ZOEY (V.O.)
Yeahhhh...not exactly.

CUT TO:

INT. ZOEY'S CAR - CONTINUOUS

ZOEY
Stupid fucking thing!! Work
goddamnit!

Zoey HITS the dashboard of her car until the screen blinks
on again.

CAR NAVIGATION
Re-routing to... Wendy's.

The steering wheel moves smoothly as the car drives itself;

taking one last LEFT and going straight.

It TURNS into the Wendy's parking lot.

CUT TO:

Zoey unwraps a burger in her car as she navigates it back

onto the road and re-engages the autopilot.

CAR NAVIGATION
Re-routing to ... Mom's work:
Zombie Quaratine Zone - Topless Bar
and Grill.

ZOEY (V.O.)
I know what you're thinking. Yes
there is a zombie themed topless
bar, that exists. And no, you don't
get to see my mom's tits. Also the
food there is not that good so it's
really more of a bar than a grill.

Zoey's PHONE begins to ring. She looks down and sees NO

CALLER ID.

She ignores it and continues to eat.

Her burger DRIPS a glob of ketchup onto her phone screen and
when she goes to wipe it off, she answers the phone on
accident.

A HOLOGRAM takes life from her phone screen. A bust of a man

with a mustache and a fancy suit. This is WILL BLACKWATER.

WILL
Hello? Is this Zoey Ashe?
ZOEY
Shit. Hold on.
 5.

WILL
Is everything alright?

ZOEY
No. I'm spilling ketchup
everywhere. Give me a sec.

Zoey GRABS her phone and wipes the ketchup off the screen
before licking it off her fingers.

ZOEY
Yeah, I'm Zoey. Who's this?

WILL
My name is Will Blackwater. You are
the daughter of Arthur Livingston,
correct?

ZOEY
Oh jesus. What did he do this time?
Is he in jail? Is that why you're
dressed so fancy?

WILL
No Zoey. I hate to be the one to
tell you this.

Zoey takes a bite out of her burger.

WILL
But your father died. It happened
last week.

A beat.

ZOEY
Shit. That sucks.
There's another beat of silence as Zoey continues to eat her
burger.

WILL
Wait that's all you have to say?
Your father literally died and all
you have to say is "Shit. That
sucks."?

ZOEY
It's not like I knew him. Or liked
him even. So yup. That's pretty
much it. Why do you give a fuck
anyway?

Will's hologram shakes its head in disbelief.

WILL
Zoey listen to me. A man is coming
to abduct you. His car is about a
block behind you.
 6.

ZOEY
What?

WILL
See for yourself.

Zoey climbs up on her seat to TWIST around and see behind

her. The dark sedan follows with its headlights OFF.

ZOEY
Maybe he just forgot to turn his
lights on?

WILL
I'm going to take control of your
car. Do not interfer.

ZOEY
Wait I don't-

Zoey's car abruptly VEERS left and hops a curb.

Zoey is tossed into the dashboard, her burger FLIES out of

her hand, and she ELBOWS the radio.

As she attempts to push herself up the radio cycles through

stations. We hear VROOM VROOM BY CHARLIE XCX and TOYKO DRIFT
BY TERIYAKI BOYS.

It settles on A PIMP NAMED SLICKBACK BY LAKIM.

Zoey rights herself and fastens her seatbelt.

She looks behind her and the dark sedan is still there but
its headlights are on now.

Her car flies through SHRUBBERY on a median.

ZOEY
Holy shit!

Her car dives across 4 lanes, straight through a stoplight

and into a neighborhood.

WILL
I'm sorry about the driving.

Zoey looks around for her phone and spots Will's hologram on
the floor of the passenger seat.

She REACHES across the console to grab it.

WILL
(re: the driving)
My associate Andre has the controls
and I'm afraid he's had a few too
many.
 7.

ANDRE (O.S.)
I drive better with some scotch in
me.

The car swerves to miss a RACOON in the middle of the road

and takes out a SWING SET on someone's lawn.

Zoey covers her eyes.

ZOEY
Why the fuck is that guy trying to
abduct me?

WILL
I'll explain everything later. But
for now- hold on. Andre cut the
lights.

The car jumps off the road again and plunges into a grove of
pine trees as the headlights go out.

ZOEY
Jesus Christ! I'm gonna die.

WILL
Not now. Not if I have any say in
it. As I was saying, for now we
need to figure out a safe place for
you to get out.

ZOEY
Get out?!? Why the fuck would I get
out?

WILL
Because we can't outrun him in a
toyota corolla.
The car jumps out the other side of the trees and fish-tails
for a moment before stablizing. The headlights flip back on.

They drive in silence for a moment before the black sedan

jumps out of the trees and continues its pursuit.

ZOEY
Who even is this guy?

WILL
A hired thug. That's unimportant.

ZOEY
Hired by who? I think it's kind of
important who he is, ya know, since
he's trying to kill me!
WILL
He's a hitman who has a
particularity about his targets. He
(MORE)
 8.

WILL (cont'd)
likes women and he likes to take
his time stalking them. He's
calling himself The Hyena at the
moment, according to his feed.

ZOEY
Feed?

WILL
He's streaming this on BLINK right
now.

ANDRE (O.S.)
1.2 million viewers. Pretty
impressive!

WILL
Quiet Andre!

ZOEY
Fuck.

WILL
Zoey, our map shows a pond about
two hundred yards away. Is it safe
to bet that it's frozen this time
of year?

ZOEY
What do I look like? A duck? I
don't know!

Zoey is THROWN against the car door as the car veers rights.
Going off road and down a hill towards the pond.

WILL BLACKWATER
Looks like it's our only option.

ZOEY
What is? What's going to-

Zoey is thrown forward as the car slams on its breaks. The

driver's side door opens.

WILL
Go! Get on the ice! If he wants to
follow it will have to be on foot.

Zoey fumbles with her phone and after a moments thought she
grabs her CAR KEYS. The radio clicks OFF.

EXT. ICY POND - CONTINUOUS

She makes her way onto the ice.

She slips and slides, landing on her ass.

She pushes herself back up and continuies out on the ice.

 9.

Headlights appear behind her.

She turns to see the dark sedan parked ominously by the ice.
The door opens.

Zoey continues to move acorss the ice but she slips again,
landing hard. A CRACK is heard under her.

ZOEY
(To Will)
Are you there? He's coming and the
ice is getting thinner. What do I
do?

WILL
Let me talk to him.

Zoey slowly gets up and turns back towards her pursuer.

He is standing on the ice with a large KNIFE in his hand.

THE HYENA
You have nowhere left to run little
pig.

Zoey extends her phone in front of her and presses a button.

Will's hologram doubles in size.

WILL
I would stay where you are if I
were you Lawrence. The ice isn't
thick enough out here to support
both of you. I'd hate for you to
get an ice bath. Who knows how
often you bathe on your own.

The Hyena takes a few more cocky steps out onto the pond.
He smiles and his teeth are all sterling silver.

Zoey feels the ice CRACKLE underneath her.

THE HYENA
Come here little piggie. You're
going to end up coming with me one
way or another.

ZOEY
Fuck off! Get away from me.

WILL
Zoey, let me handle this. Look
Lawrence. We both want her for the
same reason. I would argue we want
her even more than you. Granted I
don't want to eat her flesh on the
internet for people to watch-
 10.

ZOEY
Wait what?

WILL
-but it's a good thing my
associates and I-

ZOEY
He wants to do what with my flesh?

WILL
Zoey please. My associates and I
have the money to pay you
handsomely for your troubles.

THE HYENA
Don't call me Lawrence! I'm The
Hyena. And it looks to me like
you're missing a few things. Like
the fact that I'm here and you're
not. Besides, you and I both know
that she's worth more than just
money.

WILL
I'm well aware of all of those
factors. However, I'm still
confident that we can reach some
sort of arrangement. Arthur
Livingston had many friends in high
- and low - places.

The Hyena laughs a fake, camera - ready laugh.

THE HYENA
You just don't get it, do you Will
Blackwater? Yes I know who you are.
One of Arthur Livingstons infamous
Suits. Would you pry a gazelle from
the jaws of a hyena and give him a
bucket of KFC? You can't take the
prey away from the predator. It's
the prize of the hunt that I'm
after.

ZOEY
Wow you really know how to flatter
a girl.

WILL
Quiet Zoey. I understand perfectly.
We honestly only need Ms. Ashe's
services for about 48 hours. Think
about it. Is there no greater
pleasure than that sweetened by
delayed gratification? Then you can
put those new, and let me say,
impressive, implants to good use.
 11.

The Hyena SCRATCHES at the stiches under his jaw as he

considers the offer.

ZOEY
Just wait a minute. There's no way
that I'm-

THE HYENA
If I were to agree to your terms
Blackwater, I would need guarantees
and compensation for delaying my
gratification.

WILL
I would suggest nothing less. Let
me-

ZOEY
How about a used toyota corolla?

Zoey holds her CAR KEYS above her head and clicks a button
labeled AUTOPILOT.

The Toyota's lights blink on and its tires squeal as it

takes off towards Zoey; HITTING The Hyena and throwing him
onto the hood.

The car smashes through the ice and The Hyena lays
motionless on the hood as they SINK.

The ice splinters and cracks from where the car hit, getting
closer and closer to Zoey.

ZOEY
Shit!

Zoey starts to run in the opposite direction but it's slow

going on ice.

She slips and falls for a third time and the ice CRACKLES
underneath her.

She continues to run. The ice breaking gets LOUDER AND

LOUDER.

She keeps going but the ice has caught up.

Suddenly she drops...

But only to knee height. She's close enough to the opposite

shore that the water is pretty shallow.

ZOEY (V.O.)
See? Even from beyond the grave,
family will find a way to fuck you
over.

She stands in the shallow water for a moment breathing

heavily.
 12.

WILL (O.S)
Zoey? Zoey are you alright?

Zoey snaps out of it and looks down at her phone.

Will's hologram blinks to life.

ZOEY
Yeah I'm alright.

WILL
That was reckless. I had the
situation under control.

Zoey begins to trudge out of the freezing water.

ZOEY
It worked, didn't it? And you're
the one that was gonna turn me over
to some incel cannibal. I'm hanging
up.

WILL
I would never really do that. It
was just to delay him. I'm on your
side Zoey. Can we go somewhere to
talk? I promised you I would
explain.

Zoey sighs.

ZOEY
I don't even really know where I
am. Any suggestions?

CUT TO:
INT. HYENA'S CAR - A FEW MINUTES LATER

Zoey is sitting in the Hyena's sedan in a PIZZA HUT PARKING

LOT.

She's shivering and her pajama bottoms are still wet.

WILL
How did you know that would work?
There are always safeguards that
prevent self driving cars from
hitting pedestrians.

ZOEY
Yeah well mine got recalled last
year for faulty sensors. That's why
I got it for so cheap.
(and then)
So you work for Arthur?
 13.

WILL
Your father, yes. Well, before
the...accident that took his life.

ZOEY
What happened to him?

WILL
All we know is that there was an
explosion.

ZOEY
Shit. That's gotta sting.

WILL
Zoey, If I might ask-

ZOEY
Look Mr. Blackwater, I only met the
guy twice. Once when I was eight he
randomly showed up to my birthday
party and gave me a football. Yeah,
a football. And again when I was
sixteen. It's been six year since
then. So excuse me if I seem a
little jaded. He was literally just
a stranger to me. But why would his
death cause- (She gestures wildly
with her hands) all of this?

WILL
It's just a misunderstanding.
Arthur always had a flair for the
theatrics, and I guess that extends
to beyond the grave. But there is a
contract out on you and you'll be
in danger until my associates and I
can clean it up.

ZOEY
How am I supposed to trust you? You
could just be trying to collect on
the contract too.

WILL
If we were I'm pretty sure we would
have just done it when we- I don't
know- hijacked your car with you in
it earlier.

ZOEY
Fair enough... Hey earlier you said
something to that guy about
implants. What were you talking
about?
 14.

WILL
The Hyena was popular on Blink
because he had his jaw augmented
with a motorized, titanium, black
market implant.

ANDRE (O.S.)
The man can basically bite through
steel. It's pretty cool actually.

FLASHBACK

The Hyena in front of a video feed on Blink. He takes a

piece of copper pipe and bites through it for the camera.

BACK TO SCENE

ZOEY
And he wanted to...eat me. On
camera.

ANDRE (O.S.)
Yeah pretty much.

WILL
Andre you're not helping.

Zoey stares off into space.

Will clears his throat.

ZOEY
So more psychopaths are coming to
kill me because my good - for -
nothing father died and what? Sent
them after me?
WILL
Not exactly. All you need to know
right now is that this contract
states that after you've served
your purpose they can really do
whatever they want to you which we
obviously want to avoid. I'd rather
explain everything in more detail
in person if I'm honest. Have you
ever been to Tabula Rasa?

INSERT: BRIGHT LIGHTS, PEOPLE DRINKING AND GAMBLING,

FUTURISTIC STREET LIFE.

ZOEY
No. And I don't plan on making the
trip anytime soon. But I AM going
to the police. And I AM going to
call my mom.

Zoey begins to hang up the phone.

 15.

WILL
I wouldn't do that. Involving your
mother will only put her in danger.
And the police won't be able to
protect you or her.

ZOEY
I need to tell her SOMETHING.

WILL
Just let her know you're safe and
that your dealing with an issue
with your father's estate... And
maybe that you drove your car into
a pond but that's it!!

Zoey goes quiet for a moment while she thinks.

WILL
Zoey I am trying to protect you.
Please... There's already a car on
the way to pick you up.
(and then)
We are also willing to compensate
you for the inconvenience.

Zoey scrunches her eyebrows at the hologram.

ZOEY
How much we talking?

WILL
Fifty k.

ZOEY
What?
WILL
Fifty k. As in fifty-

ZOEY
Thousand dollars?

Will's hologram nods.

Zoey thinks for a long beat.

ZOEY
Prove it. Prove that the money is
real.

WILL
Okay.
A notification pops up on Zoey's phone. $500 DEPOSITED INTO
SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
 16.

ZOEY
Holy shit. Mom can get the fridge
fixed.

WILL
I'll put the rest in an escrow
account. Just give me twenty
minutes. That is- if you agree to
make the trip.

ZOEY
I will...think about it. But don't
bother with a car. If I go I'll
take the train.

WILL
I wouldn't recommend th-

Zoey hangs up the phone and puts the car into reverse.

She navigates the sedan out of the parking lot.

ZOOM IN TO THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WHERE THERE IS A SMALL

CAMERA IN THE CORNER. THE BLUE LIGHT BLINKS SLOWLY. IT'S
RECORDING.

CUT TO:

INT. TRAIN CAR - 1 AM

Zoey makes her way through the isle of a busy train car.

She's changed clothes and is carrying a BACKPACK and a HARD

SIDED CAT CARRIER.

Zoey makes her way to the back and takes an empty seat in
the corner, right by the door to the RESTROOM.
The woman in the seat next to her shifts to give Zoey more
room.

She is wearing GLASSES similar to what The Hyena was

wearing.

Zoey looks out at the eclectic people on the train.

Across the car there is a large man wearing STEAM-PUNK style

GOGGLES and he has baby doll heads sewn to his leather
jacket.

Zoey's seat is jostles as someone exits the bathroom,

distracting her from Doll Head Guy.

WOMAN
What's your cat's name?

Zoey looks over. Shocked that someone has started a

conversation.
 17.

ZOEY
Sorry?

WOMAN
I said what's your cat's name?

ZOEY
It's Stench Machine.

She gives Zoey a funny look.

WOMAN
Really? Kinda mean don't you think?

ZOEY
Have you smelled him?

She bends down and pets him through the grates in the side
of the carrier.

Someone jostles Zoey's seat again as they enter the

bathroom.

WOMAN
I'm Jenny, by the way.

Zoey opens her mouth to introduce herself but thinks better

of it.

ZOEY
Nice to meet you Jenny.

Zoey keeps an eye on the scary baby doll jacket guy as he

stands by the window of the train car.

JENNY
First time to Tabula Rasa?
ZOEY
Yeah. I'm more of a small town
person myself.

JENNY
A suburb girl?

ZOEY
Yeah something like that.

SMASH CUT TO:

Two hillbillies fly by Zoey trailer park in a beat up truck.

They extend a shotgun out the window of the truck and shoot
at the tacky, gold deer statue by the entrance.
They cry out in triumph as they drive off and throw an empty
beer can out the window.

BACK TO:
 18.

Jenny laughs.

JENNY
Stuff like that really happens
where you're from?

ZOEY
Yeah (She clears her throat
awkwardly) but what's Tabula Rasa
like? You sound like you've been
there before.

JENNY
I'll just say that you're in for a
culture shock. There's really no
place like it. There's no
government there did you know that?

ZOEY
Why?

JENNY
The founders of the town wanted to
create a place where anyone can do
anything. Your options are
limitless.

ZOEY
But doesn't that lead to like a ton
of illegal shit happening?

Jenny shrugs.

JENNY
Oh! Your phone will never die there
too. Wireless power coils
underneath everything.
ZOEY
Cool. Maybe I'll get cancer while
I'm there.

Zoey looks up to check on Doll Head Guy just in time to see

him put a cigarrette between his lips.

He lights it with a flame that seems to appear at his

fingertip.

ZOEY
Did you just see-

Her seat is jostled by someone leaving the restroom.

She looks back at the man but he's turned his back so she
can't see him.

Zoey shakes her head.

 19.

When Zoey turns back to Jenny, she's looking off at

something in the distance.

She's checking her email with her glasses.

ZOEY
Those are Blink Glasses right? Do
you like them? My ex-boyfriend had
a pair but they always gave me a
headache.

Jenny turns her attention back to Zoey.

JENNY
You get used to them. Now I find
myself looking for notifications
even when I'm not wearing them.

Zoey notices the blinking blue light in the corner.

ZOEY
Are you recording this? Are you
live right now?

JENNY
Oh! Zoey I'm sorry. I should have
told you. I've only got like four
viewers now anyway. My bad.

Jenny clicks a button on the side of the glasses and the

light goes off.

Zoey looks at Jenny cautiously. She never told her her name.

JENNY
So what brings you to Tabula Rasa?
ZOEY
Oh, my father. He...died.

JENNY
I'm so sorry to hear that.

ZOEY
Nah. I didn't really know him.

Jenny pulls a FLASK from her pocket and takes a swig.

She offers it to Zoey.

JENNY
For your father.

ZOEY (V.O.)
Now I know what you're thinking...

Zoey takes the flask after a moment.

 20.

ZOEY (V.O.)
Taking alchohol from a stranger.
But I've been through a lot today
ok? Cut me some slack.

ZOEY
Sure. For my father.

She takes a swig and coughs. Jenny laughs.

ZOEY
So how much longer until we get
there?

JENNY
Oh not too long. Maybe an hour or
two.

Stench Machine moews in his kennel and Zoey bends down to

shush him. When she looks back up the Doll Head Guy is
staring at her.

JENNY
What's with that guy?

ZOEY
I was just thinking the same thing.

He stands and moves towards Zoey.

ZOEY
Shit. Don't make eye contact.

Both girls avert their gaze.

Stench Machine hisses in his crate and Zoey nudges it with

her foot.
DOLL HEAD GUY
Do you know the difference between
you and me?

Zoey and Jenny keep their eyes averted as he makes his way
over to them.

DOLL HEAD GUY

Hey. I'm talking to you. Do you
know the difference between you and
me?

JENNY
We don't want any trouble.

DOLL HEAD GUY

I'm not talking to you. I'm talking
to Zoey Ashe. Do you know the
difference between you and me?

Exasperated, Zoey looks up at him.

 21.

ZOEY
I don't know, hygene?

DOLL HEAD GUY

The difference is that I would
never let myself be intimidated
into answering stupid questions.

Jenny goes to stand up.

JENNY
C'mon let's just move to a
different car-

Doll Head Guy shoves Jenny out of his way. She falls into
the isle of the train car.

ZOEY
Hey! Don't-

DOLL HEAD GUY

What do you think these are?

He gestures to the doll heads melted to his jacket.

ZOEY
All I know is that I think you've
seen Mad Max one too many times.

DOLL HEAD GUY

Each one represents a soul I've
taken, freed. I am the Soul
Collector and you? You're the next
piece of my collection.

The Soul Collector reaches for Zoey.

CUT TO:

EXT. TABULA RASA TRAIN STATION - A FEW MINUTES LATER

Will Blackwater walks through the double doors of the train

station.

Behind him is ANDRE KNOX (Black, muscular, stoic), ECHO LING

(Vietnamese, annoyed, feme-fatal but make it business) and
BUDD BILLINGSLEY (Cowboy, handlebar mustache, white suit).

ANDRE
This is bad. It's all over Blink.

They pass large digital billboards scattered all over the

station.
They all have The Soul Collector's feed playing and "ARTHUR
LIVINGSTON'S DAUGHTER HELD HOSTAGE" scrolling across the
screen.
 22.

WILL
You think I don't know how bad this
is? I told her not to take the
train. She didn't fucking listen.

ECHO
Perhaps she's too much like her
father.

WILL
They might have even more in common
soon especially in the 'being dead'
department. Who's at the station
already?

ANDRE
The Co-Op, the Black Vests, and the
LoB so far; along with the other
normal mercenaries.

BUDD
It doesn't matter who's there. It's
all about containment now.

WILL
Budd's right. If we can regain
control of the situation as soon as
the train pulls in then we can keep
media exposure to a minimum. Echo,
what have you got?

Echo jogs to catch up to Will with a tablet in her hand.

ECHO
Brandon Sanzenbacher. Born in
Indiana. Ties to Molech. And
according to his feed he has some
sort of electrical current super
power? You're guess is as good as
mine.

WILL
All I need to know is if you have a
phone number.

ECHO
Of course I have a phone number.

WILL
Perfect.

BACK TO:

INT. TRAIN CAR - 3 AM: TWO HOURS LATER

Zoey and Jenny are zip tied to a seat on the train and all
the other passengers are cowering by the windows.
 23.

THE SOUL COLLECTOR

We're almost there little pig. I
have to say they were smart hiding
you on the train but finding you
was my destiny.

He leans down, getting right in Zoey's face and shows her

his hands.

He snaps his fingers and lightning flies from one hand to

the other.

Zoey flinches away.

THE SOUL COLLECTOR

And now you know what I can do.

ZOEY
Look man. I already told you that
I'll cooperate. Just tell me what
you want. It's about Arthur isn't
it? Does he owe you money? He
screwed you over didn't he? Look,
just have your people call his
people and I'm sure-

THE SOUL COLLECTOR

Open his vault for me.

ZOEY
Yup sure absolutely. I have no idea
where the fuck that is but I will
absolutely do that for you.

The Soul Collectors PHONE starts RINGING.

THE SOUL COLLECTOR

No talking.

He stands up and walks to the other side of the car to

answer it.

JENNY
Hey do you have a plan?

ZOEY
Yeah, give him what he wants.

JENNY
You can't! Zoey, you cannot let
that maniac into Arthur
Livingston's vault.

ZOEY
How do you even know about my
stupid dad? And how do you know my
name? Is he some kind of celebrity?
 24.

JENNY
In Tabula Rasa, yeah. He was
practically a founder of the town.
One of the big guys.

ZOEY
So? I know his money is dirty and I
want NO part of it. If giving this
guy what he wants gets me the fuck
out of here then so be it.

JENNY
You can't!

ZOEY
Well I don't really see any other
options right now.

JENNY
If you would just-

The Soul Collector puts his phone away and returns to the
girls.

THE SOUL COLLECTOR

What did I say about no talking?
Maybe I need to show you my power
in order for you to respect it.

ZOEY
No you really don't-

The Soul Collector grabs Jenny by the throat and RIPS her
from her chair. Her zip ties SNAP.

JENNY
No! No please!
Using his other hand the Soul Collector grips Jenny's skull
like a bowling ball.

JENNY
No please I swear I didn't say
anything!!

We hear a POP then a SIZZLE and SMOKE rises from Jenny's

skull. She goes slack. Zoey SCREAMS.

The Soul Collector drops Jenny's lifeless body in front of

Zoey. Her eyes are OPEN and her Blink Glasses are CRACKED.

ZOEY
What the fuck?!?! What the fuck?!?!
THE SOUL COLLECTOR
I freed her from her pathetic body.

The train is starting to pull into Tabula Rasa. Zoey looks

over through tears and sees a METROPOLIS of color and light.
 25.

It's vibrance is a stark contrast to the horror Zoey feels.

There are dozens of people at the station waiting for the

train. Many have guns and weapons.

ZOEY
HELP ME!! HE'S GOING TO KILL ME!!

The people at the station only stare, many of them are

recording.

As the Soul Collector points out people we see them standing

there seriously, waiting.

THE SOUL COLLECTOR

They're all here for you little
girl. See the men with the machine
guns? They're the Co-Op; private
security. The practically naked
girl with the blue hair? That's
Vixxxen, leader of the LoB. And the
guys in the black vests, well
they're the Black Vests. And
they're all here to get a piece of
you. Except I got you first. I won!

Zoey watches through tears as the crowd parts. Will, Andre,

Echo, and Budd make their way through the crowd.

Will breaks off from the others and approaches the train.

The Soul Collector grabs Zoey face and makes her turn to
look at him.

THE SOUL COLLECTOR

I don't have much time. I can take
your treasure or I can take your
soul. You have three seconds to
decide. One-

WILL
That's quite enough Brandon. You're
scaring the poor girl.

The Soul Collector turns to see Will standing at the

entrance to the train car.

THE SOUL COLLECTOR

I was wondering when you'd show up.
Are you ready to hold up your end
of our deal?

ZOEY
Deal? What deal? You know this
psychopath?

WILL
Who do you think he was speaking to
on the phone? Really Zoey?
 26.

ZOEY (V.O.)
Oh yeah I guess I forgot to mention
it but Will Blackwater is a total
ass.

Will looks down at Jenny's body.

WILL
Is she dead?

THE SOUL COLLECTOR

Not dead. Freed.

WILL
Well either way that complicates
things a bit. I can get you out of
here Brandon but we have to be
quick. The girl is unharmed?

THE SOUL COLLECTOR

Yes.

WILL BLACKWATER
Good. You see we've drawn quite a
crowd?

THE SOUL COLLECTOR

My power can reduce them to ash.

WILL
Well, this suit is Tom Ford so I'd
rather not have to explain that to
my dry cleaners. You did get to her
first so you do deserve the prize.
I'll take you to Arthur's estate,
that's where the vault is. There's
a car outside.
ZOEY
You fucking bastard! And I really
believed that you were looking out
for me!

Will walks over to Zoey and uses a small POCKET KNIFE to cut
her zip ties.

WILL
The way I see it you can either
come with us and potentially live
or stay here and be eaten alive by
the people out there. Your choice.

Zoey stands up and grabs her bag and her cat carrier.
Will walks back over to the Soul Collector, turning his back
on Zoey.
 27.

WILL
There's easily over a hundred
cameras out there so, Zoey? When we
get out there here is what you're
going to say.

She spots JENNY'S FLASK on the ground by her lifeless hand.

Zoey slips it in her pocket and stands, casting one last

look at Jenny's body.

FADE TO:

A dream-like sequence of Zoey and Jenny in Tabula Rasa. A

"What if this never happened" senario. The instrumental of
JENNY BY STUDIO KILLERS plays softly.

They get off the train together and say goodbye at the train
station; agreeing to meet again.

Jenny picks Zoey up from her hotel in a fancy car, they

drive down a bright city street laughing.

They sit at a fancy restaurant and cheers to their

friendship...and maybe more.

Zoey smiles.

BACK TO:

ZOEY
Yeah I'm listening.

WILL
Say that you are being held
hostage-
THE SOUL COLLECTOR
By the Soul Collector.

Will rolls his eyes.

WILL
Yes, by the Soul Collector and that
any attempt to intervine will
result in your death. Say that all
of the bounties on you have been
resinded. Doesn't have to be those
exact words. You're a smart girl.
You'll figure it out. Come on.

The Soul Collector grabs her by the back of the neck and
pushes her in front of him. Will walks in front of them.
CUT TO:
 28.

EXT. TABULA RASA TRAIN STATION - CONTINUOUS

They emerge from the train and the crowd errupts in a flurry
of conversation.

There are giant screens in front of them displaying the

three of them on the news.

Zoey slips her hand into her pocket and grabs hold of the
flask.

After a beat the commotion dies down and Zoey looks out over
the crowd.

ZOEY
Um. My name is Zoey Ashe. I'm the
daughter of Arthur Livingston. I'm
being held hostage by... the man
behind me. I've been told that if
anyone tries to interfer that they
will kill me.

The crowd is silent.

There's a beat. Zoey gets an idea.

ZOEY
His name is the Soul Collector. He
has magic powers.

She turns to the Soul Collector.

ZOEY
Go on. Show them. So they respect
your power.

The Soul Collector smiles, relishing the opportunity to show

off.

Zoey quickly opens Jenny's flask, emptying the rest of the

Whiskey into her mouth.

The Soul Collector snaps his fingers, an arc of blue

lightning lights up the air in front of him.

Zoey spits the whiskey out towards the Soul Collector as

hard as she can.

The lightning ignites it into a fireball right at crotch

level.

The Soul Collector screams and falls backwards.

Zoey pushes past Will, using the chaos to her advantage.

WILL
Zoey wait!

Zoey plunges into the crowd, holding her cat carrier tight.
 29.

CUT TO:

INT. TRAIN STATION - CONTINUOUS

Zoey bursts through the door into the Central Train

Terminal. She stands in the middle of hustle and bustle for
a moment.

MISSING KITTY BY KREAYSHAWN kicks in from the speakers in

the station. It follows her throughout the chase.

A MOTORCYCLE BURSTS through the glass door. It's VIXXXEN

(Blue hair, Scantilly clad, baddie) on a blue motorcycle
that looks like a dragon. She's staring down Zoey.

The song builds as more and more people emerge, ready for
the chase.

The Co-Op come through another door. And Black Vests through
another. Finally Will and his team climb through the broken
glass door after Vixxxen.

WILL
Zoey!

Zoey is surrounded. She slowly backs up and as the beat

kicks in she shoulders her way out an emergency exit door.

EXT. BUSY STREET - CONTINUOUS

Zoey finds herself on an insanely busy street. She pushes

through the crown on the sidewalk for a beat.

"KITTY GOT ME RUNNIN ROUND THE BLOCK"

She looks behind her and sees Vixxxen's motorcycle fly out
of the station and into the crowd after her.
"LOOKIN FOR HER IN EVERY GODDAMN SPOT"

Zoey DARTS out into traffic, weaving between futuristic

cars. She climbs over the hood of one and keeps running.

She makes it across the street, jumps over a manhole, and

runs past a digital missing cat poster.

"KITTY I'M PUTTIN UP POSTER CUZ I MISS YOU"

Zoey looks behind her and sees Vixxxen and the Black Vests
fighting to get ahead, Will not too far behind.

Zoey trips and the cat carrier flies out of her hands and
opens. Stench Machine falls out. Zoey scrambles to her feet
and grabs him as she continues to run.
"YOU REALLY NEED TO COME HOME"
 30.

INT. RESTAURANT - CONTINUOUS

"I THINK YOU SHOULD COME RUNNING UP THE STAIRS"

She runs into a restaurant, pushing past customers and

knocking over tables.

She pushes through the EMPLOYEES ONLY door and runs past
people cooking.

Will rushes through the door, a few moments behind her.

"CHOPPA DOESN'T THINK IT'S FAIR YOU'RE HERE OR THERE"

WILL
Zoey wait! Please let me explain.

ZOEY
Fuck you!

Zoey grabs a random pan and throws it at Will's head. Stench

Machine HISSES.

"COME BACK KITTY AND PLEASE LAY WITH ME"

He easily dodges but Zoey is already out the door on the

opposite side of the kitchen.

EXT. ALLEYWAY - CONTINUOUS

"KITYYYYY, WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN?"

Zoey is in an alleyway that's being used by a ton of street

vendors. Colors and smoke are everwhere.

Zoey turns and keeps walking down the alleyway, catching her
breath.
Will runs out of the door and looks around.

"KITTY WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU GONE?"

At the end of the alleyway Vixxxen's motorcycle stops

abruptly, searching.

"KITTY NEVER GONE FOR THIS LONG"

As the beat kicks in again, Zoey continues to run; knocking

a street vendor tent over blocking the alleyway.

EXT. PARK - CONTINUOUS

"KITTY SHE LOVE TO DRINK A BEER, NOW I SHED A TEAR"

She runs through a park, falling over a table at a birthday
party. The cake goes flying and she gets tangled in the
balloons.
 31.

She runs past a roped off area of the park where a group of
teenagers are literally wrestling a bear.

"NOW I'M WONDERIN WHERE SHE BE THO"

Zoey stops for a moment to stare in confusion before

continuing.

"SHE STARTED OFF AS A TRAP KITTY THEN A CITY KITTY"

She runs through a skate park where kids are riding

hoverboards and light up scooters.

Vixxxen flies across the park, diving into the bowl at the
skate park.

She uses the momentum to front flip her motorcycle in an arc

over Zoey. She reaches out to grab her.

"GOT ME WONDERIN IF YOU'RE DEAD LAYING ON THE GROUND"

Zoey looks up in shock as the motorcycle flies over her in

slow motion.

Stench Machine HISSES (in slow motion).

The slow motion ends as the beat kicks in for a third time
and time moves normally again.

"KITTY YOU BETTER NOT BE DEAD"

The motorcycle lands on the other side of Zoey and Zoey

takes off.

"IF SOMEONE HITS YOU WITH THEIR CAR I'LL CHOP OFF THEIR
HEAD"
She DARTS towards a roped off construction zone.

"MOTHERFUCKIN RIGHT, I'LL SHOOT THEY ASS KITTY"

Vixxxen is right behind Zoey. She revs her engine.

Zoey turns to see Will entering the skate park.

"I'LL PUT IT DOWN FOR YOU AS YOU GOT ME FEELIN SHITTY"

Zoey ducks under the caution tape and around construction

pipes and wires as she makes her way to the entrance of the
half way finished building.

"KITTY, I'LL NEVER STOP LOOKIN' CUZ IF YOU IN..."

The building looks like it has been placed on it's side.

INT. SIDEWAYS BUILDING - CONTINUOUS

Zoey ducks under the sideways doorway, checking behind her.

 32.

"SOMEONE'S HOUSE CUZ YOU GOT TOOKEN"

She makes her way across the sideways lobby, Stench Machine
MEOWS unhappily.

"I'LL KICK THEY FUCKIN DOOR DOWN"

Zoey hears Vixxens ENGINE REVVING behind her.

"LEAVE THEY ASS SHOOKEN"

Zoey holds Stench Machine tight and starts to run down the
hallway.

"GRAB MY KITTY BACK AND THEY I START BOOKIN"

But one of the doors that's on the floor is open and Zoey
steps right into it. She falls, holding Stench Machine.

She reaches out to stop herself but she only grabs the door
handle and pulls the door closed behind her as she falls.

"KITTY WHAT THE FUCK (WHAT THE FUCK, WHAT THE FUCK)"

Vixxxen rides her motorcycle through the hallway, right over

the door Zoey just shut. No sign of her.

She stops for a moment and as the song fades out, she drives
off, out of sight.

FADE TO BLACK