THRESH
by J.S. Stewart
The movie opens with a panoramic shot of a grassy area overlooking a cliff that’s over looking the ocean. It is mid-afternoon and the sun is starting to go down. It’s sunny with a slight breeze and placidly quiet. In the center of the shot is a woman sitting underneath a shady tree and reading a book. As the camera zooms in you see that she has long flowing black hair. She has full lips and is strikingly beautiful. As the camera gets closer you see that she has tears in her eyes but they will not fall down her face. She seems relaxed and yet seems to have the weight of the world on her shoulders at the same time. She stares out into the ocean.
(The voice of Victoria narrates the beginning of the movie)
VICTORIA
That’s me. My name is Victoria. This is where I like to go
whenever I need some space. I work a lot so this is the only
time I ever really get to be alone. It’s nice. I only wish I got
a chance to do it more often. I was once told by a wise man
that life will only give you so many chances. The way my life
has been in the past few years, I figure I don’t have a whole
heck of a lot of chances left. So, I guess the only thing I wonder
about, nowadays is…will I get it right?
("O" Headquarters – An International Organization that has no known ties or affiliations with any recognized governments. Based out of the Pacific Northwest, they’re unified goal is to make the worst known killers, criminals and terrorists disappear quietly. They specialize in "erasing" the best and most dangerous assassins in the world. Their success has been limited by their people. Until now, that is. They found one woman whose tests and success rates are so phenomenal that she has given them all renewed zeal and hope that they will get a better grip on the evil and injustice in the world. Her name is THRESH, but there is only one problem….
She is missing).
CUT TO:
(O H.Q.)
ERIC
Are you telling me that she got off our radar again?
This is the third time!
JAMES
I’m aware of that.
ERIC
She can take out ten people in the time it takes me to
finish this sentence! You know our concerns with her,
she HAS to be watched.
JAMES
Eric, we devoted extra resources to her this time and
still no one knows how she does it. That’s why she’s the
best. Maybe she’s just trying to get a little peace, she
knows we watch her.
ERIC
That isn’t acceptable, James. "Thresh 15" is coming up
in less than two days and it’s one of our biggest targets.
JAMES
Well, we haven’t come up with any new technology since
she took her vacation so what do you want me to do?
ERIC
Technically, we can’t do anything yet. She’s already on
probation. (Pause) Get me Simon.
JAMES
Okay.
James opens his cell phone, punches in a code and then closes it and looks at Eric. Eric nods at him and walks over to the huge window overlooking a lush forest. He stares out and whispers:
ERIC
Why do you always do this to me, Victoria? We need
you now more than ever.
CUT TO:
That camera is pulling back and Victoria is still sitting quietly underneath the tree. A hissing sound fades in, an eye blinks (close up) and suddenly the woman underneath the tree has turned into a bizarre looking creature of some sort. It happens very fast and an eye blinks again (close up) and the camera cuts back to the placid scene, except for one thing. There is no one sitting underneath the tree and as far as we know, there never was.
CUT TO:
(Opening Movie Credits + Music)
CUT TO:
ERIC
Simon, we’ve got a problem. Thresh is off the radar
again and she’s got less than two days to get in. Right.
She’s been warned three times, Simon, what do you want
me to do? Yes, I agree this assignment is too important to
screw around with. Let’s give her a nine hour window to
be briefed and then we have to move on. Yes, if she comes
in I will have her contact you. Okay.
He closes his phone. He turns to walk to his office and almost runs into Victoria.
VICTORIA VIENETTA (VV)
Hey, boss, what’s new?
Eric gasps and then sighs.
ERIC
V, you have to stop doing that (clutching his chest).
James spots her and comes over to them.
JAMES
Victoria, where have you been, we’ve been looking
all over for you!
VV
I was on vacation, James, see my tan?
(she shows her arms, there’s no tan).
JAMES
You said you were in the South Pacific, where exactly did…
He is stopped in mid-sentence by her blasé look. She won’t tell him anything.
JAMES
Fine, whatever. Simon needs to talk to you.
I’ll have him call you.
She turns to Eric.
ERIC
Victoria, come on, we’ve been over this. You have to keep
us informed, at least.
VV
My time is my time, Eric, it’s not my fault your people
aren’t good enough to find me. You know I deserve my
space for the stuff I do for you guys. You have no one
better. You won’t fire me. You need me.
ERIC
God, the ego on you…
Victoria turns and sexily walks away.
VV
I’ll be in the lounge talking to Simon if anyone needs me.
Toodles.
ERIC
You almost gave me a heart attack, you know.
VV
I guess you better get in better shape, then.
It only gets worse with age and, well…you know.
Eric frowns behind her and starts examining his own body.
ERIC
(Moodily) What? I’m in shape.
CUT TO:
Three employees are in the lounge talking about Victoria.
JULIA
She scored a 157 on her I.Q. test. I heard she purposely
scored lower than she is capable of because she knows so
much about psychology and appearing to be weaker than
she really is. You know, for stealth and surprise. She could
use it like a weapon. I bet she does, sometimes.
X
Jeez, I’d kill for a 157, that’s beyond genius. I did good
on the spatial skills but my overall was not great. 127,
above average. What was yours, John?
JOHN
Oh, you know, I don’t like to brag.
JULIA
That bad, huh?
JOHN
Hey, I’ll have you know…
Victoria walks into the lounge and surprises them.
JOHN
V! How’s the ocean?
VV
Still blue.
JOHN
We had a bet going, you know. Hey, X, what time is it?
X
(Looks at his watch) Ten-forty.
JOHN
What time did you have?
X
Yesterday.
JOHN
Ooo, that’s not good. How about you, Julia?
JULIA
I wasn’t in the pool. You guys are idiots.
JOHN
Good point. However, I believe I was the closest at 7 a.m.
this morning.
VV
Good for you, John, now you can afford a new face!
JOHN
Hey, hey, now, we can’t all look like you, babe.
VV
That’s true, but you are pretty good at eating my dust.
Whoops, that’s my phone (buzzer) gotta go.
She walks out into the hall.
VV
Simon. Yes. Yes. One briefing on 15 and then I’ll catch
my flight. I won’t. Okay, you too.
She hangs up. Julia comes out into the hall.
JULIA
Big plans?
VV
They always are.
Julia stares at her.
VV
Don’t ask.
JULIA
Sorry, force of habit. Were you going to eat something?
VV
I’m not hungry. I’ll see you, Julia, I have to brief and then go.
JULIA
Okay, well…I want to hear about your vacation so you know
where to find me.
VV
Yhea, thanks.
JULIA
Seeya.
VV
Seeya.
Victoria walks off briskly.
She takes a left down the hall and disappears into the briefing room. She punches in a security code clearance, states her name and puts her face up to an eye scanner. When her identity is confirmed the door locks, the lights go out and she sits down in front of a large computer. She hits a button and the briefing for "Thresh 15" begins. As the information begins to play, Victoria starts to daydream.
MESH TO:
Victoria is seven years old and her parent’s are ignoring her as she plays by herself. Neither one of them have jobs and they snipe at each other all day, unless they’re drinking or doing drugs, that is. Today is her birthday and it seems like they both forgot. Daddy always forgot but mommy usually remembered. She thinks maybe they’re going to give her a surprise birthday party. That would be fun! She hardly ever gets to see her friends when school is out. Their house was in a secluded, elite community far away from the private school she attended. It is getting late and she is starting to realize that maybe they forgot. She hears them talking loudly in the other room and she peeks her head around the corner to listen.
TOM (Father)
I promised Avery I would stay the weekend at the ski
lodge, Gloria.
GLORIA (Mother)
Yhea, well you promised me we’d go to the wine country.
TOM
You’ve had plenty, already (motioning to her glass)
GLORIA
Yhea, well you’ve done enough Coke to kill a horse!
TOM
Oh, shut up, I only did a few lines. There’s plenty left,
knock yourself out.
GLORIA
I’d like to knock myself out. At least it would end this
nightmare.
TOM
Do you hear yourself? You’re drunk and I’m going up
to Avery’s for the weekend.
GLORIA
Fine. I just hope you can get back into the house when
you come back.
TOM
Look, just take care of Victoria. We’ll do your thing
next weekend.
GLORIA
My "thing"? Screw you, Tom.
TOM
Yhea, yhea, right back at ya.
She glares angrily at him and they both go to their separate bedrooms. This is when Victoria finally realizes there will be no surprise birthday party. They didn’t even say goodnight.
MESH TO:
The briefing is ending and Victoria’s eyes are slightly wet. She presses a button and the computer asks her if she wants to repeat or delete the briefing. She clicks on delete and then walks out. The door shuts closed and immediately slams into the next scene.
CUT TO:
Victoria in full suit as THRESH. The camera is on her eyes and pulls back to view the scene. She is in the middle of a frozen wasteland and the camera pans around behind her. A blizzard rages all around her. Just the kind of challenge that she loves.
CUT TO:
(O H.Q.)
The camera shows that Eric is talking to about five employees.
ERIC
We had to drop her in the middle of nowhere to be
completely undetected. Don’t worry, even by herself
she can cover the distance in no time.
They all start throwing money down on a table.
JOHN
Fifteen minutes to target!
X
Ten, I’ve got ten!
ERIC
Oh, stop it, you guys, this is serious….(pause)
Okay, put me down for seven.
They all start throwing money down again. Someone says: "Hey, that’s a Canadian Dollar"!
CUT TO:
The horizon is across a vast area of tundra and you can see her breath in the cold air. She positions her arms and body into a cool, martial arts position and says:
THRESH
This is for dignity and honor…psyche!
She starts running incredibly fast. She’s egging herself on as jungle drums pound in the music.
THRESH
C’mon! Do it! Do it! Go! Faster! Come on, girl!
She starts laughing. She is truly enjoying herself.
CUT TO:
(O H.Q.)
Five employees are standing and looking up at the TV on the wall. They are watching Jeopardy and the answer is: "The numerical term 3.14 that denotes infinity is also know as this".
X
Oh, what is the sideways eight!
JOHN
What are you, an idiot? It’s Pi!
An employee walks into the lounge.
EMPLOYEE
We have pie?
JOHN
Yhea, Julia has lots of pie.
EMPLOYEE
Is there any left?
JOHN
Plenty, from what I hear.
JULIA
Shut up, John! How would you like pie in your
eye, buddy?
JOHN
Ooo, I think I might like that.
ERIC
John, please, let’s keep the sexual harassment
lawsuits to a minimum this year, okay? (Looking
at his watch and sighing) No one told me this job
would include babysitting.
CUT TO:
THRESH is running hard. She is nearing some kind of compound. She plants her feet into the ground and grunts. The camera cuts to a man in black standing watch. He hears something that sounds like the wind. He looks up. The camera takes the view from his eyes and you see something dark coming down fast. The camera goes dark and you hear a huge sick crunch. The camera pans up and you hear a giggle. THRESH pulls up the suit off the lower part of her face and you see that she is smiling. She bites her lip and says:
THRESH
Mmmmmm….was it good for you?
She looks down at her watch and punches in a few buttons, smiles, pulls her mask back down and heads deeper into the complex.
CUT TO:
(O H.Q.)
Eric’s phone beeps. Everyone looks at him and he flicks it open. He looks up at them.
X
What? What is it? Is it her? What’s it say?
ERIC
Well, it only says one thing.
JOHN
What?!
ERIC
Seven. Lucky number seven.
He turns the phone for all to see the text. They all groan.
ERIC
Come on, you bums, pay up, pay up! Hey, don’t
take that Canadian dollar, I want it. I’ll use it the
next time I’m there.
They all start filing out of the lounge.
ERIC
Now, you know why I’m the boss around here.
Live and learn, people. I can read her like a book.
James walks by and looks at him.
ERIC
Shut up, James.
CUT TO:
A distinguished older gentleman sits by the fire reading a book. He seems to look European (Croatian). He is stroking his beard a bit. A beautiful short hair cat walks by (Russian Blue), rubs up against his chair and meows up at him. He looks down and pets it a little. There are darkened corners in the large, lush living room and from one of them suddenly you hear:
THRESH
Christopher.
He jumps out of his chair and looks around.
CHRISTOPHER
Who’s there? (Russian – subtitles)
THRESH
Who do you think?
She could have killed him already but, much like a cat, she likes to play with her prey, first.
CHRISTOPHER
Misca?
No answer.
CHRISTOPHER
What are you doing here and why are you hiding
in the shadows?
THRESH
Over here. I want to show you something.
He walks over cautiously and starts to smile. The cat starts to sense something and growls deep in her chest and puts her ears down flat against her head. It is too late.
THRESH’S suit flashes on in sheer green luminescence. She is grotesque. There are long hairs growing out of her mask and she smiling with huge, freakish teeth. It is only the suit but he doesn’t know that because it happened so fast. His eyes pop open and he freezes in terror, clutching his heart. He starts to stagger back but she grabs him with both hands and pulls him close to her.
CHRISTOPHER
My heart, it’s my heart…it’s bad.
THRESH
I know all about your heart condition, Christopher.
You are under the mistaken impression that I care.
You feel that fear, Christopher? You can’t breath,
can’t think, you are screaming inside but nothing
will come out? That’s what one feels right before
they die. Sometimes it can last for days. You put
many people through what you are now feeling.
I have only one tenth of your propensity for cruelty
so I am now going to free you from this fear.
You hear a soft but sharp metallic sound. You can’t quite see it but her right arm rams up into his lower chest from underneath. The sound is terrible. His body tenses and then goes limp. His body drops to the floor and she looks down at him for a moment. She turns to go and she hears him whisper, "Thank you". She turns around and pauses and then finally says, "You’re welcome". She continues through the house, looking for any possible information that they can use in other big cases. He had many connections. She finds his computer and starts typing on it. The camera pans around slowly to the other side of the computer and you can see Christopher lying dead on the ground, his eyes and mouth open, with only the soft popping of the fire and clicking of the keyboard as accompaniment while the scene fades slowly to black.
CUT TO:
(O H.C.)
Eric walks into Simon’s office and closes the door. It is dimly lit and it is dark outside the window.
ERIC
She did it again. The assignment went as planned.
There was only one collateral hit but he was working
for Christopher so it’s not a problem. At least not for us.
She’s on her way back, now.
SIMON
Excellent. Good girl. She continues to amaze me.
ERIC
She’s going to push it too far and screw up big time,
one of these days, Simon.
SIMON
You’re probably right but that screw up will knock a
little bit of the arrogance out of her. She will realize that
she is not infallible. The Romans fell because they got fat,
lazy and arrogant. Hell, they all fell because they got fat,
lazy and arrogant. Being beaten puts you back on your game,
makes you always remember you can lose. But until she makes
that mistake she’s the best we’ve got. She makes the others look
like amateurs. I’ve never seen anyone get in and out so fast as if
they were never there. It’s fascinating, really.
ERIC
Yhea, it’s fine when she’s on our side but what if she changes
her mind someday?
SIMON
Well, the good news is…you’ll never see it coming.
Neither one of them laugh.
FADE TO:
Victoria is sitting on the floor of her shower as the hot water runs full blast. She hugs her legs and her head is lowered. You can’t see if she is crying but she clearly is not happy. You can only see the upper part of her body but nothing explicit. This scene is just about her vulnerability. We can see that she does not know if she is doing the right thing with her life but we don’t know just how much is going on inside her head, yet.
CUT TO:
She is walking around the house in her bathrobe, looking much better and almost happy. Her eyes are a little puffy. She is drinking juice and eating Strawberries & Kiwi. This is when you see how huge her house is and the lifestyle she has inherited, handed down from her grandparents to her parents to her. There is no one else there but her. She doesn’t even have a housekeeper because she’s hardly ever home and doesn’t make much of a mess. She looks out a huge window with a breathtaking view of a Redwood Forest and slips back into memories of her childhood.
MESH TO:
Her parent’s are sniping at each other and it’s another weekend in which both of them seem to have separate plans.
GLORIA
You had you’re "fling" last weekend so I’m getting mine
this weekend. YOU watch her.
Tom stares at her a minute.
TOM
Fine. Anything is better than listening to you complain
for one more minute.
Gloria turns around and leaves.
CUT TO:
Victoria, still seven, is in her room and can hear them arguing. She can’t hear everything but she doesn’t like it. It makes her feel bad but what can she do?
Her father walks into her room and says:
TOM
Hey, kid, how would you like to see your grandma and
grandpa this weekend?
VICTORIA
Yay!
She runs and hugs her dad. He smiles and you know he likes her but you also know he’s such a snake that he’s just pawning her off on his parent’s so he can go do his own thing.
CUT TO:
Victoria gets out of the car and sees her grandma, Victoria, who she is named for. Grandma is standing in the driveway with her arms open.
VICTORIA
Hi, Grandma!
She runs and crushes her Grandma in a hug. She is such a sweet kid.
GRANDMA
Hi, sweetie, it’s so good to see you.
She eyeballs her son as he gets out of the car and then looks back at grandpa, who is coming out of the house to greet Victoria.
GRANDMA
Look who’s here!
GRANDPA
I thought I smelled a rat!
VICTORIA
Oh, very funny, Grandpa.
She runs to hug him, too. He hugs her twice as much. When they let go the camera
cuts to their hands and he gives her something. You can’t tell what it is but
it’s a secret between the two of them and it happens every time they see each
other. Victoria smiles up and him and he puts his finger to his lips and looks
sideways. Victoria puts her fingers to her lips and smiles again.
GRANDMA
So, are you coming in, Thomas?
TOM
Thanks, mom, but I’m on a tight schedule. I’ll check in
with you guys tomorrow.
GRANDMA
Okay, dear.
Victoria and her grandparents go into the house and close the door. Victoria is jumping up and down as they go in.
CUT TO:
Victoria is still looking out the window and has a huge smile on her face and her eyes are a little wet. Her phone rings and it rips her out of her mood. She stares at the I.D. for a minute. You can tell she doesn’t want to answer it but she does.
VICTORIA
Yes. I wasn’t informed of that. Sixteen? You can’t be serious,
I just got back literally two hours ago. Have you people ever
heard of sleep? Okay, fine. Clear it to the top and I’m there,
otherwise, you’re wasting my morning.
She hangs up and throws the phone across the room. She doesn’t look happy, anymore. She stares angrily around the room and then calms down a bit. She walks up the stairs to her bedroom. She walks into her room and opens a secret compartment next to her dresser. She takes out a case and opens it slowly. Inside are seventeen shiny, silver spheres. She takes one out and rolls it across her palm. It is what her Grandpa used to hand to her when they met from time to time. He used to call them, "chances". She only has seventeen. As far as she’s concerned, she’s burned through fifteen and only has two left to get it right. She has no idea what "right" is but she can’t get the thought out of her mind. Ever.
VICTORIA
(To herself) Seventeen chances. Only two left.
She stares at the spheres. She looks up at the ceiling for guidance. The answers don’t come. She stares back down at the spheres.
VICTORIA
Only two left. Get it right, Victoria, you HAVE to get it right.
FADE TO:
Victoria is on her phone in front of a mall. It’s a sunny day and she’s wearing a sun hat, shades and a summer dress. She looks good in anything.
VICTORIA
Eric. Yes, I have the assignment and I know my window
to get in for the briefing. I have two days. Do me a favor
and tell your people to stay out of site. If I even suspect that
someone talking to me is someone from the office I will tie
‘em in a knot. You may notice I’m a little grouchy this
morning so I’m going shopping. I’ll see you soon. Bye.
A mom and her boy come out of the mall and Victoria flashes a huge smile at the kid. "Hi"! She adores children. She goes into the mall.
CUT TO:
Eric is in Simon’s office after hanging up the phone with Victoria.
SIMON
Well, what did she say?
ERIC
Basically, she threatened everybody.
SIMON
Everybody?
ERIC
Pretty much. She’s not really a morning person…
kinda scary.
SIMON
Yes, well, get used to it. She’s been scary as long as
I’ve known her. I don’t care who she threatens as long
as she makes the assignment.
CUT TO:
Victoria is shopping and humming, trying to enjoy herself. A clerk comes up to her and asks her if she needs help. She immediately eyeballs him from head to toe and can’t seem to wipe the mean look off her face, wondering if it’s an agent. The clerk backs off, "Sorry".
VICTORIA
I’m sorry, I’m having a bad week, I could use some
help. I was looking for this dress but in fuscia.
AARON
Is that yellow?
She gives him a dirty look again. The clerk smiles, shamefaced.
AARON
I’m sorry. This is really embarrassing. I don’t
work here, I just wanted to…
VICTORIA
Trick your way into my pants because I’m so hot, right?
The mean look is back again.
AARON
No…I didn’t mean to…I’m sorry.
He walks away.
VICTORIA
Wait, I’m sorry (God, why was she always apologizing
to this guy)? Look, I’m not mad at you, I just want to
shop in peace.
AARON
I understand.
He waves a bit and calmly walks away. She follows him around the mall, she can’t help herself. She has to know if she’s being played. She sees that he is alone, no friends or family to account for. No ring so no wife. And, no mark left from a ring that he took off so women wouldn’t know he was married. He seemed to just be shopping, too. She monitors what books he seems to be interested in from outside the store. Mainstream novels, video game magazines? He’s a grown man! Wait a minute. Freud. Oh, great, he’s a basket case, it figures. Dream analysis. Hmm. Shakespeare, Emerson. She walks into the store. She comes up behind him and clears her throat. He turns around.
VICTORIA
Hi. Remember me?
AARON
Yes, of course.
VICTORIA
Umm, have you eaten lunch?
She didn’t care if she came off as desperate. It had been so long since she had just talked to someone….anyone.
CUT TO:
They’re both on their backs in her bed, sweaty, panting and grinning. They obviously just had amazing sex.
AARON
Wow.
VICTORIA
Wow.
AARON
Wow. God, you’re strong, you know that?
VICTORIA
Yhea, I know.
Victoria looks over at him.
VICTORIA
So…(panting) what’s your name?
AARON
Aaron…(panting) what’s yours?
VICTORIA
Victoria.
AARON
Oh…that’s nice.
VICTORIA
Yhea….
INFO:
One of the best and least known assassins is thought by "O" to be currently residing in a suburb of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is not known what government organization he works for but his M.O. is unmistakable and some of the "work" he has done is completely unacceptable by "O". He seems to be driven by nothing but pure malevolence. He usually injures many people but he always kills three people at a time, ties their feet together, slits their throats and hangs them upside down by their feet until they bleed to death. He only uses knives. His work has been seen all over the world and no governments have been able to link it together the way "O" has.
SCENE:
(Buenos Aires, Argentina)
The camera pans down from the city lights to the dark, slick streets and alleyways. It is obviously a bad part of town. The camera walks from the street to a back door in a warehouse district. A man in a black hood knocks twice. We only see him from behind. The door opens and you hear two automatic weapons click. There is a large Argentinean standing at the door.
ARGENTINEAN
(Spanish - Subtitles) What the hell do you want?
ADAM
You know what I want.
The Argentinean looks behind him at a table where four older gentlemen sit. The one facing the door looks at the man in black and nods his head slightly. The man in black is let in. He sits down at the table, pulls down his hood and we see his face. He is a young, grinning American.
ADAM
(English) All right, gentlemen, it looks like you started without
me so let’s get this party re-started!
They all look at him like he’s an asshole, which he is, but he obviously has connections. He seems like a harmless punk. This is a ploy he has used many times.
(O H.Q.)
SIMON
Has she been briefed yet?
ERIC
Not yet…
SIMON
Why the hell not? We have to move immediately on this one.
ERIC
Simon, I’m not so sure about this mission. We have so
little information on this guy and the recog has been next
to nothing. As far as we know she could be walking into a
trap. Maybe someone is luring her in to take her out.
SIMON
I don’t believe that. The M.O. is closer to a serial killer than
an assassin with an agenda. Either way, this guy has to go. She
can take care of herself, you know that.
Eric looks down at the floor and sighs.
ERIC
But if we lose her then we would be…
SIMON
If we lose her then we find another one like her, goddammit!
Our goal is bigger than any one person, Eric. The new world
order has made better assassins, better killers and better terrorists
than we could have ever imagined. If we quit now we lose and they
win. End of story. Get her ass in here, now. She will answer to me.
Eric doesn’t look as though he believes Simon. He doesn’t think anyone can control THRESH. He nods solemnly and leaves the room. He walks by some of the employees in the hall and they say hi to him but he keeps walking. Julia and X look at each other and both say, simultaneously, "Victoria".
X
She is such a bad girl.
JULIA
She sure causes a lot of trouble, that’s for sure.
JOHN
Yes, a verrry bad girl. She needs a spanking.
JULIA
I’d like to see you try, she’d break your arm off and
club you to death with it.
JOHN
That’s a little grim, don’t you think?
JULIA
Not really. That’s what I’d do if I were her. Right, X?
X
Most definitely.
JOHN
Gee, thanks guys, I love you to.
CUT TO:
(Argentina)
The camera pans in a circle around the Poker table. The grinning American is talking a lot and no one is paying him much attention. Every time the camera pans close to him, computer effects show everything he has on underneath his clothes. He was not searched since he was waved in by one of the Cartel leaders. The first time you see a spring loaded, fiercely sharp blade attached to his right arm. The second time around shows cartridges of tear gas attached to his left arm. The third time shows throwing knives and nylon rope attached all around his belt. The fourth time around shows spring loaded blades in his boots.
He excuses himself from the table to use the restroom after a hand is over. They talk about him when he is gone in Spanish.
PLAYER1
Who is this asshole? Who does he know to come in here
and talk that way?
LEADER
His father knew my father. The were indebted to each
other and so are we.
PLAYER2
He never shuts up. He is hurting my ears.
PLAYER3
Yes, I’d like to jam his mouth open with a stick and watch
the bugs fly in and nest.
LEADER
Be quiet. I will only allow so much. I know he is irritating but
the debt of honor supercedes it. You don’t have to like him, but
hold your tongues.
They all just look at each other. The American comes back and sits down. He smiles and says:
ADAM
Hey, guys, did you happen to notice that your guards are missing?
They are not sure how to react. They look and see that, indeed, the guards that were at the door are gone. They look back at him. He raises his eyebrows. The cartel leader stands up, turns around and says:
LEADER
Our debt is paid. (To the guards) Kill him, if you can.
(Fight Scene – To be coordinated) Obviously, he beats the three men. They all lie on the floor, severely injured but still alive.
CUT TO:
The nylon rope has been slung over a rafter and is slowly being raised. The three sets of feet come into the picture, the legs, the bodies and then the heads, the slashed throats still dripping fresh blood. As he is hoisting the bodies he is whistling, "The Gambler" by Kenny Rogers. The American ties it off and looks at the bodies.
ADAM
Three of a kind beats no peace of mind, sorry guys.
It’s been fun but I gotta split.
He laughs. He’s obviously mentally imbalanced. He starts whistling again as he leaves.
CUT TO:
Eric is on the phone with Victoria.
ERIC
Victoria, I want to be totally honest with you. I’m not
authorized to tell you this but I think you should be extra
cautious on this assignment.
VICTORIA
Why?
ERIC
Our information is not as good as I would like, this time.
This guy you are going after needs to be dealt with, without
a doubt, but we’re not entirely sure who we’re dealing with
here. His M.O. doesn’t make a lot of sense but if we have the
right guy, it’s clear that he is extremely dangerous. As far as
we know no one has ever been able to touch him. He has just
killed three of Argentina’s leading henchmen for Diego. No one
saw anything. You have a contact that has been there for months
but her information is sketchy and she is one of our best information miners. You need to get in as soon as possible, Victoria. Simon is a
little "uptight" about this one.
Victoria stares for a minute.
VICTORIA
Alright, I’m coming in. I need to take care of one thing and I’ll
be right there.
ERIC
Okay, thank you, Victoria. I can always depend on you.
They both hang up.
Victoria’s jaw is tight and you can see that she is high strung and even a little nervous. Suddenly, a hand touches her shoulder. She reflexively grabs it, jams her elbow back and uses her back leverage to throw the intruder across the room. Her tension makes her overdo it a bit. The intruder lands on the coffee table violently and stays on the floor. She sidles over quickly and sees that it’s Aaron.
VICTORIA
Aaron! Oh, God, I’m sorry.
She goes over to him and checks to see if he’s alright.
AARON
Jesus, Victoria, you almost killed me.
CUT TO:
They are in the kitchen and Victoria is tending to Aaron’s wounds.
VICTORIA
Aaron, you have to knock before you come in, you can’t just
sneak up on me like that.
AARON
Believe me, I won’t. Where did you learn to do that?
Did you get mugged or something?
VICTORIA
No. I took a couple classes.
AARON
Well, you’re a quick study. Ow!
VICTORIA
Sorry. Aaron, I have to go visit my aunt for a few days.
She’s in the hospital.
AARON
Oh. I’ll go with you if you want.
VICTORIA
No, she’s in Montana and I have a flight going out tonight.
I’m sorry to kick you out but I have to get ready and go. You
look like you’ll be fine.
AARON
Okay. Can you give me a call when you get there?
VICTORIA
I’ll try. I’ll definitely call you when I get back. Okay?
AARON
Okay. Well, I hope your aunt is okay. I’ll see you in a few days.
VICTORIA
Okay. Bye.
She closes the door, leaving him bruised and slightly curious. She puts her head against the door and sighs heavily.
FADE TO:
(Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Victoria is dressed in local attire and blends in very well with her slightly Latin looks. She is at an outside café, talking to the local contact. The contact is Latin and anyone walking by could easily mistake them for sisters.
CONTACT
We can only hope he is still here. You got here quick so
that’s good. His kind never stay in one place for long,
however….this is the first time that we know of that he
has committed the same act twice in the same area. The
last one was in a smaller suburb. If could be a copycat but,
either way, we’re still getting a menace off the streets, no?
VICTORIA
No physical stats at all?
CONTACT
None. No one has seen him. We believe he is somehow
connected to a major drug cartel. It is the only way he
could have committed this act. Two thugs working for
Diego were not killed and must have seen him but they
refuse to talk. He scared them senseless.
VICTORIA
This guy is a natural.
CONTACT
Yes. I don’t envy your job. I will maintain close and immediate
contact with all law enforcement and our own resources. If
something happens you will be the first to know. I wouldn’t
presume to tell you how to do your job but if I were you, I
would lay low for now.
Victoria stares at her. She has no intention of laying low. If she is risking her life then she will have to do some "information mining" herself.
VICTORIA
Thank you. I hope to talk to you soon.
CONTACT
As do I.
She gets up and leaves. Victoria eyes her as she goes and then starts watching every minute detail around her. Even in the daylight there might be a clue.
FADE TO:
The camera zooms in to an open window on the second floor of a seedy hotel in the same area of the last known whereabouts of the target. Then the camera cuts to her standing inside the room and looking down into the streets. The lights are off and she is watching everything. She has a view of the back door of the place where the three men were killed two nights ago. She can’t imagine him showing up again, that would be insane, but she needed all the information she could get. After examining some of the people coming and going she presses something on her hip and, inside of her eye goggles, the time flashes. The local time is 2:43 a.m. She is finally getting a little tired when she sees movement of some kind on the roof of a building parallel to the one that she was watching.
THRESH
I don’t believe this.
There is someone on the roof, possibly watching the same area that she is. They are dressed all in black. Could this be him? She gets a decent view of him through her semi infra-red eye caps.
THRESH
Why would he come back? Is he luring me in?
She sits down on the bed and thinks for a minute.
THRESH
If I lose him now he’s gone forever. Screw it.
Ready or not, here I come.
She checks the street quickly, climbs out the window and rappels down to the street with a nylon cord that recoils out from a belt on her waist and then coils back in when she lands. She turns around and bolts through the streets. She disappears quickly into the night.
CUT TO:
(Simon’s house, Pacific N.W., Midnight)
Simon’s phone rings. He rolls over in back and picks it up.
SIMON
Yes.
ERIC
Simon, we’ve got a major problem. We just verified that
our field and recog info on THRESH 15 is wrong. We were
purposely misinformed. We have to get her out of there,
Simon, it looks like a trap.
SIMON
(Sighs) Okay. Find her and get her to a secure area, ASAP.
We can’t lose her.
There is silence on the phone.
SIMON
Eric?
ERIC
Umm…They don’t know where she is, Simon. That’s the
problem and we have no way of knowing for days.
SIMON
Goddammit! (He rubs his head). You tell everyone on her
detail that if we lose her, they lose their jobs. Period.
ERIC
(Sighs) Okay. I’ll be up all night so I’ll get back to you when
I have anything.
They both hang up. Simon gets out of bed. His wife asks him what’s wrong.
SIMON
Nothing. It’s just the usual. Go back to bed.
He walks out into the living room and stares out the huge window overlooking the shadowy forest. He rubs his face with his hands.
SIMON
Oh, Victoria, c’mon. If you don’t make it I’ll never
forgive myself.
FADE TO:
(Buenos Aires – Rooftop)
The grinning American has taken off his mask and is looking through binoculars at the surrounding area.
THRESH
(From behind him) Hey, big boy, you come here often?
He stands up but doesn’t turn around. He grins from ear to ear.
ADAM
Victoria! I never thought you’d make it. They told me this
might work but I figured you were way too smart for that.
I guess I was wrong.
He turns around to face her. She recognized his voice and now his face. She is frozen in her tracks as a shiver runs down her spine but she will show no weakness.
THRESH
Adam. I might have known. How did you get out of a
Siberian prison so soon? I was told that was impossible.
Did you "Do some favors" for cell-mates, the guards and
the Warden? Did you "turn your head and cough" or was
it just straight down to business?
ADAM
You always did have quite the mouth on you, Victoria.
You don’t realize this yet but you’re already dead. However,
I have claimed first rights to you. And when I’m done I’m going
to sew that smart, pretty mouth of yours closed, forever.
THRESH
I hate to point of the obvious, Adam, but if you look closely,
you’ll notice that I’m not exactly shaking in my boots, here.
Adam’s smile drops off his face and he just stares at her. You can tell he is quite aware of how dangerous she is.
ADAM
So be it. But first…
(Fight Scene – Coordinate)
The fight starts with three guys and one girl coming out from their hiding place in each corner atop the building. She fights them all and beats them, of course. When she finally fights Adam, she is already a little bruised up. He starts getting some really good shots in on her. At one point he hits her with his open palm in her right middle chest. It goes in slow motion and you hear a couple ribs breaking. It makes a horrible crunch. She staggers a little but keeps fighting. He finally gets another really good shot in on her. She falls back and grabs onto a steel cord to break her fall. The cord snaps and she trips over the edge of the building and falls over. She falls three stories, bounces off a car and hits the ground. She can barely move and you can hear blood bubbling in her lungs as she breathes shallowly. Adam looks over the edge and sees that she is not moving. He turns to the others and says:
ADAM
(Russian - Subtitles) Come. We must make sure she is dead.
I doubt that she is. Quickly.
They start to run through the building and down to the street. When they get to where she fell they can see that she is no longer there. They search the immediate area, frantically. Adam finally stops, puts his hand to his head. He starts walking toward the camera, pissed off.
ADAM
Why will this woman not die?
FADE TO:
(Daytime). Victoria is wrapping herself in bandages and talking to Simon on her phone.
VICTORIA
Simon. Yes, I’m fine. It’s Adam. I came across him and
his minions last night. It was a trap. Simon, he knows my
identity, I have to get to a safe place, immediately. I can’t
be seen in public, he knows what I look like. How the hell
did he get out? Yes, I’ll be fine for a little while. Let me give
you my location and we can discuss it further when I get back,
tomorrow. There’s nothing more we can do, here. I don’t know
if he’s back with PUSHKA or it’s just a personal vendetta.
We’ll sort it out, later.
She hangs up and keeps tending to her wounds.
VICTORIA
Ouch. Son of a bitch. Okay, Adam, now you’re starting to
really get on my nerves. You’re screwing with my success
ratio, buddy. I took care of you one time, already. I will not
be so nice the second.
CUT TO:
(O H.Q. – Simon’s Office)
ERIC
This is a sign, Simon. This is the first time she didn’t succeed.
SIMON
I’m just glad she’s alive. Besides, it wasn’t her fault, the
information was bad.
ERIC
Yes, but what about going it on her own like she that? She was
supposed to lay low until we had something a bit more solid.
If she keeps doing this…
SIMON
All right, Eric, you’re point is taken. Let’s just get to work
on this. None of it fits. Get your best intel people on it and
let’s get it figured out.
Eric walks out and closes the door.
CUT TO:
Victoria opens her door. It is Aaron and he smiles at her.
AARON
Hi!
VICTORIA
Hey, Aaron, come on in.
She kisses him, quickly.
AARON
So, how is your aunt?
VICTORIA
Oh, much better. It looks like she’ll live, after all.
AARON
Was she dying?
Victoria pauses a minute. Oh, crap, what was it that she said to him, before? She needed more sleep.
VICTORIA
Um, well, there was a possibility so I wanted to be there for
her, just in case. The diagnosis was wrong, damn doctors.
AARON
Tell me about it.
Victoria turns around and walks toward the kitchen. She rolls her eyes and has a look on her face like (whew! That was close). Aaron comes up behind her and turns her around. They kiss longer, this time. He starts pulling up her shirt and you can see her bandages. She grabs his hand and stops him and pulls her shirt back down.
VICTORIA
I’m sorry, Aaron, it’s been a long few days, I just want to relax.
Do you want to go have lunch or something?
AARON
Sure.
VICTORIA
I know a place not far from here. You’ll like it.
CUT TO:
(Undisclosed Location). It is a great hall with fountains and statues. It is very dimly lit and there are only two people talking. They are speaking English and their voices echo. The camera pans through the hall until it finally locates them and focuses in.
ALEX
You took this upon yourself, Adam. If she gets back to
them alive they will know that much more about us. I
told you to be careful. You are very brave to come back
here after the trouble you’ve caused. We had them shut
out and you quite possibly let them back in.
ADAM
I’m brave because I intend to make up for it. If I never
come across her again I can live with that but if she comes
across me...she will die. I serve at the pleasure of the
company, you know this. I place personal rivalry well
beneath my allegiance to you, Alex.
ALEX
Your help in making our targets look like random, pointless
killings has done much to serve us. I will take responsibility
for you and give you another chance but if you fail again, I
could lose my own life. When they execute me, if you haven’t
been killed yet, I will see that they do.
ADAM
I understand, Alex.
ALEX
Now, rest. I will contact you soon.
Adam leaves.
CUT TO:
Victoria and Aaron are having lunch at a local restaurant.
AARON
This is a pretty unique place, I’ll give you that.
VICTORIA
Yhea, I know. It’s Buddhist Vegan but they can cook,
I’m telling you.
AARON
You have an incredible house. What do you do?
VICTORIA
Oh, I inherited everything from my parents on down
to their parents. My grandparent’s started with one
restaurant, expanded it into a successful chain and
then invested a lot of it. They were amazing people.
They gave much of their money and time to charity.
My parent’s bought the house and all the fancy stuff.
They blew a lot of it.
AARON
So, you’re parent’s aren’t alive, I guess.
VICTORIA
Nope. I’m the only one left.
AARON
What happened to them?
Victoria stares at him for a few seconds.
AARON
You don’t have to tell me, I was just curious.
VICTORIA
No, it’s alright. They liked to party a lot. They drove
their Jaguar off a cliff over the Pacific. The autopsy
showed they were both on Ecstasy and about 3 times
over the legal limit. Their deaths were meaningless…
just like their lives.
Aaron is struck by her words. He doesn’t know what to say. She just stares off into the distance with a defiant look on her face.
AARON
I’m sorry, Victoria.
VICTORIA
Don’t worry about it, I’m not. The real tragedy was
my grandparents. They were both murdered in their
sleep by two-bit thieves looking for what little jewelry
was in the house.
AARON
Wow. God, that really sucks.
VICTORIA
Yep. It kind of teaches you some things about life, real fast.
She had to control her emotions, she was starting to feel a little rage, as she always did when she thought about her early life. He stares at her empathetically and she stares defiantly into the distance and trying to feel nothing. She will not meet his gaze.
AARON
Well, you still have your aunt.
VICTORIA
Yhea.
AARON
Is she your mom or your dad’s sister?
Victoria didn’t like to lie to people she liked but she was schooled in psychology and she saw an immediate resource she could use for the future. She had no aunt but she could use the ruse.
VICTORIA
She’s not really my aunt. She was a younger neighbor of
my grandparents and she would come over to their house
a lot and spend time with us.
AARON
You spent a lot of time at your grandparents house?
VICTORIA
Every chance I could get. I wanted to stay there every night.
They were so good to me. I think I was closer to them than I
was to my own parents. They loved me, unconditionally.
Aaron smiles and she finally meets his gaze and smiles back. He reaches his hand across the table and she slowly accepts his embrace. Her eyes are a little wet.
CUT TO:
Adam is lying down and staring at the ceiling in a small but modern looking bungalow. He is thinking about the first time he met Victoria as THRESH. It is something that he replays in his mind over and over. He swears allegiance to PUSHKA but all he wants is another shot at her. This, of course, will be his downfall.
FLASHBACK: (five years earlier)
Adam works for PUSHKA and is their top assassin. He is about to earn his crowning victory. He has penetrated the fortress of a secret international organization and is very close to assassinating the head of it. He is walking casually to the area that the man is working, knowing that no one can stop him now. He starts humming to himself as he walks down a dark hallway. In the background on the floor are at least seven bodies lying either dead or unconscious. Suddenly, THRESH lights up in fluorescent fuscia and says:
THRESH
Hi there! Adam, I presume? (O doesn’t know his last name).
So you’re here to take out Sanjay, huh? I guess I got here
just in time. I’ve been watching you for a while, now. I could
have already put you away but, much like a cat, I like to play
with my prey, first. So...you wanna play?
Adam stops in his tracks and stares at her. It is obviously a woman. He has nothing to fear.
ADAM
I’m not sure how you know my name but I’m not impressed.
What are you, a sarcastic little girl in a glow suit? Where did
You get that thing, K-Mart?
THRESH
Yhea, I bought it in the kid’s section, right next to your over
inflated ego.
Adam just stares at her. He didn’t have time for this.
ADAM
You’re boring me, get out of my way.
He tries to push her aside.
THRESH
Sorry, kiddo, playtime’s over.
She grabs his arm, swings him around and using her momentum, throws him into the wall with all her strength. His head hits the wall with a crunch as he goes down. He puts the back of his hand to his lip and sees that he is bleeding. He looks up at her and then does an incredibly smooth, fast backward roll to get up without using his hands.
ADAM
Okay, now you have my undivided attention. I don’t care to
play with my prey. I just kill it.
Thresh makes a duck bill motion with her hand like (you blab too much).
(Fight scene to be choreographed). It’s a tough fight but THRESH wins.
CUT TO:
Adam is in a Siberian prison and is talking to a contact through a window.
DIMITRY
It was very difficult to arrange a visit with you, my friend.
I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news but it may be a few
years before we can get you out. There is very little leeway
in this place. Whoever got you committed here somehow
knew that we had no contacts on the inside.
ADAM
All of that is fine. I can wait. I only asked you for one thing.
The contact slides a thin strip of paper through one of the holes. Adam takes it.
DIMITRY
We are not entirely sure the information is valid, but it
seems to be. We could only get the first name.
CUT TO:
Adam is put back into solitary confinement. Just before the door closes he opens the paper and sees the name. VICTORIA. He smiles as the shadow falls across his face and the door slams.
FADE TO:
The door opens and the light floods in. Adam is sitting calmly and wearing shades that he obtained through the guards. It has been five years and he looks a little older, harder and meaner. Today is the day he is released from prison. PUSHKA finally pulled enough strings to get him out. As he is walking through the halls he is nodding to the guards. He walks calmly and coolly. He gets his belongings. The Warden watches him as he leaves. He nods to the Warden who looks irritated by Adam’s release. When he walks into the sun, his friend Dimitry is there to greet him. They say nothing to each other. They get in a car and leave.
(In the Car)
ADAM
I want to see the information on the suit. Take me to it.
DIMITRY
Adam, you just got out of prison. Why don’t you rest for…
ADAM
I’ve been "resting" for five years. I need to see the info.
Dimitry nods.
CUT TO:
(PUSHKA H.Q.)
They walk down some stairs into a secluded room with computers and wall displays. Adam looks around the room slowly. Dimitry starts pulling up the info on the suit off the main computer. He loads it up on the wall display.
DIMITRY
Here. This is what we know. We were able to obtain footage
from three of the security cameras used on your last mission.
Using 3-D emulation and projected AI we can assume a hit or
miss ratio of about 10%, which is very good. The suit is
fascinating. It’s unnecessarily complicated but we believe
that much of the suit is designed to "shock and awe," for the
element of surprise. It appears to be made of an extremely
durable but light and flexible metal. Something even more
advanced than Titanium Nylon. The Americans are very good
at discovering new technology. There is something about the
freedom of the private sector that takes good ideas and turns
them into great ideas.
ADAM
Dimitry. Do not lecture me on Capitalism, I was born there,
remember?
DIMITRY
Sorry. Anyway, the suit can change colors and levels of
fluorescence. It looks as though there is a liquid substance,
probably silicon, that runs through the suit and possibly can
change temperature so that Victoria’s body can stay at a normal
temperature even in adverse conditions.
ADAM
Hmm.
Adam is walking around the display, examining the information thoroughly. He points at the fibers coming out of the lower part of THRESH’s facemask.
ADAM
What are these?
DIMITRY
Ah, yes, this is very interesting. These fibers that appear to
be tendrils are advanced fiber optics. They almost seem to
have an intelligence all of their own. They could possibly be
used to tap into phone lines, electric lines and possibly even
into the neuropath ways of the brain.
ADAM
What?
DIMITRY
Yes. It is just speculation but you know as well as I do how
clever the Americans can be. Our science lab definitely believes
these tendrils serve a multi-faceted purpose. Since the human brain
is highly electrical, the premise is not too far of a stretch, scientifically.
ADAM
Are you saying she could psychically link to people, even tap into their thoughts and memories?
Dimitry shrugs his shoulders.
DIMITRY
Or possible shut their brains down, completely. Put them into a coma,
never to awake.
ADAM
I believe she had something strapped to her back. What was it?
DIMITRY
Not strapped. Magnetically locked in so strong that it cannot
be removed from the suit without some kind of authorization.
There is a panel on the outside of both her thighs that is difficult
to see. She can punch in a code and release the weapon. It is a
sniper rifle with a highly effective silencer. There is another
weapon, which seems to be an odd choice, a throwback. A
Samurai Sword. It to is locked into the suit. The suit apparently
has digital telephonic capabilities, as well. The eye caps appear
to be semi-infra green technology with a powerful zoom function.
ADAM
Wow. They sure packed a lot into this thing.
DIMITRY
Yes. It’s only natural to assume that the suit is equipped with
upgradeable technology, as well. The face mask can change
shape and light up in different areas for some reason.
ADAM
That’s odd. What do you think that is?
DIMITRY
The lab thinks it’s strictly for surprise. You know how important
it is in battle to catch your enemy off guard.
ADAM
I do. This is a lesson she has taught me. I had been undefeated
until she caught me off guard. This sarcastic little girl put me in
prison for five years. I hope for her sake that we never cross paths
again. If we do, I will not make the same mistake again.
The camera slowly closes in on the dark, intense look in his eyes.
CUT TO:
(O H.Q. – Present)
O has decided to move on to THRESH 16 and let the Intel people work on the previous assignment, for now. Victoria and Eric are in Simon’s office.
SIMON
Why don’t you sit down, Victoria.
VICTORIA
I don’t want to sit down. I’m fine.
SIMON
Okay. The last mission wasn’t your fault so please
don’t think…
VICTORIA
I know it wasn’t my fault. The information you guys
gave me almost got me killed.
ERIC
Victoria, if you hadn’t gone off radar…
VICTORIA
Oh, shut up, Eric, don’t you ever say anything different?
ERIC
Hey, we extend you a lot of courtesy, Victoria. We let you
help design the suit, let you in on the Intel and turn our
heads the other way when…
VICTORIA
And I kill a lot of fucking people so you don’t have to get
your hands dirty, Eric!
SIMON
Okay, calm down guys, temperatures are running a little
high. I have the perfect solution. Victoria, you’re pacing
around like a caged animal so let’s give you something to
do. Let’s move on to THRESH 16, for now, and let the
Intel people handle…
VICTORIA
Move on! How can you say that? You know the trail
runs cold after….
SIMON
Victoria, he’s gone, let it go. We’ll find him. Let the
Intel people do their job.
VICTORIA
Okay, okay (waving her hands in the air).
SIMON
THRESH 16 is on a small Island (Kunashiri) off of Haikaido,
Japan. The island is in dispute with the Russians. There is a
reason the Russians will not give the islands back to Japan
that only we and few others are aware of. The target is well
guarded and you may come across many different types of
martial arts. It’s right up your alley.
Victoria is still fuming. She looks over at Eric and throws her hands up in the air.
VICTORIA
Okay, let’s do it.
SIMON
Excellent. Coordinate with Eric, brief and be ready to leave
tomorrow.
Simon and Eric remain seated. Victoria walks out and closes the door. As soon as the door shuts it cuts immediately to the next scene.
CUT TO:
THRESH is in a lush Asian area. It is night time and she is high up in a tree in a cool stretched out position to mimic the branch she is laying on. She is using the buttons on her hip to zoom in and survey the area with her eye caps. She zooms around the building and counts about twenty guards, some on the ground, some on the building and she knows there must be at least ten more that are well hidden. She has to thin out the heard. She has a sniper rifle with a new silencer that is extremely quiet and is good for ten shots. She immediately identifies which targets are the furthest from each other and will not have as much time to notice that something is definitely wrong. Once they do, she will have to move fast. She begins. Her speed and aim are perfect, except for the last one. She misses, swears to herself and says:
THRESH
I bet they’ll have a big laugh about that at the office.
Ha, ha. People are dying, very funny.
She hits the last guy and the silencer is no longer any good. She can’t believe her luck. It’s late and they are all fatigued. No one has noticed yet. She puts the rifle away and moves in. She goes in a series around the building and takes the rest out one by one. She gets ten more down before the rest finally notice. Then she fights ten at once (to be choreographed).
When she gets inside there is no one there. She can’t believe it. Was she being set up again? She moves like a ballet dancer quickly through the halls. She gets to the target’s quarters and let’s herself in. It is late and he should be sleeping. She hears his voice talking softly. She sidles over to see who he is talking to. She peers into a small room.
TARGET
(Japanese subtitles) Without you I would be no one, my son.
You are my only reason to exist, to appease the God’s for the
misdeeds I have done.
She looks over and is astonished and heartbroken to see that he is talking to a beautiful Asian boy. She didn’t know he had a son. She listens again.
BOY
Father, are we going fishing like you promised?
TARGET
Yes. Fishing is illegal here but I will find a way.
Anything, for you, my perfect son.
THRESH walks over to a chair and sits down, looking defeated. She has to kill him. Through his actions, he has killed thousands. She doesn’t have a choice. She hears that they are finishing up. She stands up and waits for him. He walks out slowly, unaware and with a small smile of contentment on his face. At least he was able to enjoy his last moments. She lets him walk far away enough from the room so that the boy will not hear. She grabs him, puts him against the wall and covers his mouth. She slowly moves her hand. He knows the end is near.
TARGET
(Lowly) You were sent here to kill me?
THRESH only nods slowly.
TARGET
There is nothing I can do or say that will change your mind?
She shakes her head no.
TARGET
One last favor?
She nods.
TARGET
My son. He is the only good thing that I ever did in my life.
Swear to me that he will be taken care of and I am ready to go.
She gives a long pause.
THRESH
I swear, Yoshi. I swear on my life. And I swear on yours.
Prepare yourself.
You don’t see the violence. You just hear something strange and you see his shadow slump against the wall. She lies him down gently.
FADE TO:
She is sitting beside the boy’s bed. Her mask is off and she has tears coming down her face. The boy senses her and wakes up. He is startled but she soothes him in Japanese.
VICTORIA
Shhh…it’s okay, my son, everything is fine. You are safe.
The boy is uncertain. He has never known his mother and is curious of her.
BOY
Are you my mother?
Victoria nods and takes his hand.
VICTORIA
Do you trust me? Will you come with me?
BOY
Where is father?
VICTORIA
He is fine. He wants you to come with me. Can you do that?
BOY
Yes.
VICTORIA
What is your name?
BOY
Tai. What is yours?
VICTORIA
Victoria. We have a long journey ahead of us. Try to sleep.
She picks him up and slowly walks out the door with him.
FADE TO:
Three days later, Aaron walks up to Victoria’s house and he rings the doorbell. A little Asian boy answers it. Aaron smiles at him.
AARON
Hello, who are you?
TAI
Who are you! (He’s just repeating Aaron’s words).
AARON
I’m Aaron. Is Victoria home?
Tai just stares at him. From behind the door, Victoria appears and sees Aaron.
VICTORIA
Hey, babe.
AARON
Hi. Who’s your friend?
Victoria just stares at him for a minute. He always knows she’s contemplating something big when she looks at him this way and says nothing. It suddenly dawns on him.
AARON
Is this your son?
Victoria nods her head. She is eating a peach. It was impossible to read her emotions.
AARON
Wow…that’s great.
VICTORIA
Tai, why don’t you go play your Wii (Nintendo).
Tai runs off to the living room.
Aaron just stares at her a minute. He has no idea what to say.
VICTORIA
I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. Remember my "aunt"? Well, I
work a lot so he stays with her, sometimes so he can have a
more stable life.
AARON
Well…how can she watch him if she’s in the hos…
VICTORIA
She’s not really in the hospital, Aaron. I’m sorry I had to lie
about that. He just means so much to me that I have to know
I can trust someone before I tell them, you know?
AARON
Yhea, I can understand that.
VICTORIA
It’s kind of weird with me. I’ve always resented my
looks and my money because I was never sure if people
liked me for who I was or just for all the stuff. You could
throw it all out the window and I wouldn’t care. With my
grandparents, I never had to guess. They made me feel like
I was really worth something in this world, you know?
AARON
They sound like they were really great people.
I’m glad you had them.
VICTORIA
Yes. So am I. And thank you.
AARON
Absolutely. So…I guess you kind of trust me now, huh?
He smiles. She smiles back at him.
VICTORIA
Yhea, I guess I do.
They kiss.
AARON
Mmm, you taste like Peach.
VICTORIA
You better believe it.
They laugh.
VICTORIA
Lock the door and come into the kitchen. Wanna
taste me when I’m Strawberry?
Aaron gulps, immediately locks the door and follows her into the kitchen.
CUT TO:
Tai is playing Nintendo Wii and can hear them laughing in the kitchen. It makes him giggle, too. He doesn’t know why, of course.
CUT TO:
Victoria is still eating Strawberries. Aaron has red Strawberry all over his lips and face and she’s trying not to laugh. He seems to be in a daze.
AARON
You seem to be eating every time I see you, but I noticed
it’s always healthy stuff. No room for a steak or ice-cream
once in a while?
VICTORIA
No way, can’t do it. I guess I’m in a Zen mode, right now.
She has to constantly eat healthy, natural foods to keep up with her massive calorie burn.
AARON
So, you said you work a lot. What do you do? Is that what
the trips are about?
She pauses again. He’s getting used to these scary little pauses. She just got more mysterious every time he met her. That deep look was back again. He just waits.
VICTORIA
I like you, Aaron. A lot. But I can’t tell you what I do,
right now. If you hang around a while, you’ll get it all,
I promise. Okay?
He has learned not to argue with her. He figures he’s getting a pretty good
deal.
AARON
Okay.
VICTORIA
Okay. Now, it’s Kiwi time!
Aaron looks thrilled. She starts kissing him and they start laughing. In the background you can hear Tai giggling as he plays his video games. He repeats out loud, "Kiwi time"!
They both laugh and Victoria says:
VICTORIA
Oh, man, I am such a bad influence on that kid.
CUT TO:
(Undisclosed Location)
Adam is walking through some dark tombs in a robe and in a meditative state. He is very focused with a very evil and determined look on his face. A voice comes out of the darkness:
VOICE
Adam, are you ready? Adam?
ADAM
(Breathing deep) Yes. Let’s do this thing.
VOICE
What?
ADAM
Never mind. Let’s go.
CUT TO:
THRESH stands atop a forty story building, surveying the night above and then looking down at the streets below. She slowly examines a smaller building that’s a block away through her goggles.
THRESH
I know he’s over there. He has to be.
She pulls a device off of her belt and shoots a thin, durable steel line across to the top of the other building. When it connects, she immediately hooks up a small zip line and starts to cross over. Just as she about to make it to the roof of the other building, Adam pops up and says:
ADAM
It’s been a great summer, Victoria, have a nice fall!
He cuts the zip line. Her momentum carries her forward and she bounces off the reinforced glass windows and plummets to the streets below.
ADAM
Say hello to your dead parents and grandparent’s for me!
There is nothing she can grab onto. She starts desperately trying to get out another zip line but her hands are shaking too much. She starts whimpering to herself.
THRESH
Oh, God, no. Not like this, please not like this!"
The street comes up at her fast. The streetlights glow in the night.
THRESH
Aaron. Oh, no, Aaron……AARON!!!
CUT TO:
Victoria wakes up with a gasp. Her forehead is beaded with sweat. It’s still dark out. She rests her elbows on her knees and catches her breath. She looks over at Tai. He is sound asleep. She starts stroking his brow when the phone rings. It makes her jump. She reaches over to the nightstand next to her bed and answers it.
VICTORIA
Yes?
SIMON
Victoria, I need you in here, ASAP. We need to talk.
She sighs.
VICTORIA
Okay. Give me thirty minutes. She hangs up. She looks
over at Tai and sighs again.
CUT TO:
(O H.Q.)
They have found out that Victoria has a steady boyfriend and that a small Asian boy is living with her and they are in a state of panic. She has been called in to explain.
ERIC
Victoria, are you nuts? First, the Argentina fiasco and now
you steal a Target’s child?!
VICTORIA
What difference does it make? The target won’t be killing
anyone, anymore and I couldn’t leave the kid without a home.
Besides, I promised Yoshi.
ERIC
What?
VICTORIA
I promised him I would take care of the boy.
ERIC
No. You didn’t.
VICTORIA
Yes.
Eric starts running his fingers through his hair and is tongue tied. Finally, he says:
ERIC
Victoria. Besides your new boyfriend, that’s starting to get
serious, you have opened us to such a huge risk that I’m
afraid I have no choice but to recommend…
VICTORIA
Tai is not going anywhere.
ERIC
Tai?
VICTORIA
My son.
ERIC
Victoria, he’s not your son!
VICTORIA
Says who? You?
SIMON
Victoria, please be reasonable.
VICTORIA
As far as I’m concerned, this is the most reasonable thing
I’ve EVER done. The kid obviously can’t be traced back to us
and I need someone I can trust to watch him when I’m gone.
ERIC
And that would be Aaron.
VICTORIA
Yes, Aaron. Why, are you jealous?
ERIC
Hey, Victoria, that’s out of line. I’m just trying to do my job.
Victoria calms down a minute. She starts walking towards the door.
SIMON
Victoria, where are you going?
VICTORIA
I want to show you guys something.
SIMON
Victoria, no, I forbid it.
She opens the door and brings in Tai. She picks him up and coos at him. She turns to the two men who have their faces buried in their hands.
VICTORIA
You see those two guys, Tai? That’s your uncle Grumpy
and Captain Grouchy.
ERIC
Simon, she’s calling us names.
SIMON
I have ears, Eric.
Simon finally looks up. He looks at the kid and then at Eric.
ERIC
Simon, I…oh, forget it. She always gets what she wants.
He walks out and slams the door.
VICTORIA
That was Captain Grouchy, Tai, you can tell by the way
he slams doors. He’s a meanie.
SIMON
Okay, Victoria, go home. I’ll call you. I need to relax for a while.
VICTORIA
You got it, boss, whatever you say.
She closes the door and Simon stares at it for a long time, his hair messy. He sighs.
CUT TO:
(Undisclosed location)
Adam is sitting comfortably in a private jet. The man sitting next to him is a colleague.
DIMITRY (Russian accent)
It is fortunate that you were able to serve on this
mission after your last incident.
Adam looks at him emotionlessly but you get the sense he wants to strangle the guy.
DIMITRY
This will be a very long flight. Sydney is 14 hours away.
Adam just looks at him.
DIMITRY
Well, I am going to sleep, my friend. I hope you don’t
mind if I’m quiet for a while.
Adam watches him go to sleep and then finally looks out the window.
CUT TO:
(O H.Q.)
Five people are in the "war room" discussing what the Intel has found and on the new mission. Simon is at the head of the table. Victoria is on his left, two other people we haven’t seen (Intel) are sitting across from each other. Eric is standing and explaining the situation.
ERIC
What we already know is that this is Adam Kriss.
He points to a monitor display on the wall.
ERIC
He was born in Fresno, California and relocated to Irktusk,
Siberia when he was 21. He is a known spy and a known
assassin. He is also one of the best.
Victoria rolls her eyes but stays quiet.
ERIC
We don’t know when, why or how he became affiliated with
PUSHKA but it happened early in his life. There are no
connections through his family that we can find but the
possibility remains that he was born and raised here just
for this purpose. We have recently discovered that he is still
working with PUSHKA.
Victoria sits up in her chair. Eric looks over at her and then continues.
ERIC
They have been using him as a distraction to further carry on
their own agenda. The killings that Adam carried out had no
agenda or purpose, whatsoever. This makes PUSHKA’s crimes
even more heinous than before. However, they’ve gotten sloppy
recently and we have been made aware of their next hit. It’s a
big one. They are going to take out one of our best in Sydney.
They are sending Adam. We have at least ten operatives there
and two of them know that Adam will be arriving in less than a
day. They are going to need some help.
Victoria looks over at Simon. Simon nods and Victoria starts to leave.
ERIC
Simon, she still needs to be briefed.
SIMON
We can send one of the Intel people with her on the plane. They
know everything we do. Time is of the essence, Eric.
He looks at Victoria who is chomping at the bit.
SIMON
Go. Someone will meet you at the airport.
VICTORIA
Give me thirty minutes.
Simon nods.
Walking briskly through the halls, Victoria calls Aaron on her phone.
VICTORIA
Aaron. I need to ask a huge favor from you.
AARON
What?
VICTORIA
I need you to watch Tai for me for a few days.
AARON
Victoria, I have to go to work in…
VICTORIA
Whatever you get paid for the time I’m gone, I’ll double it.
Just tell them you got incredibly sick, you can think of something.
AARON
Victoria, I’m not sure I can…
VICTORIA
Please, Aaron. I will owe you so big time if you do this for me.
AARON
Big time?
VICTORIA
Double big time.
AARON
Okay. I’ll think of something.
VICTORIA
Thank you. Can you just stay at my place and watch Tai?
It’s easier that way.
AARON
Are you kidding me? It beats my dump any day of the week.
VICTORIA
Okay. I’m getting him out of daycare, now. I’ll be at my place
in fifteen minutes. Can you make it?
AARON
Yhea, I think so.
VICTORIA
Great.
CUT TO:
Victoria pulls into the driveway and brings Tai up to the house. Aaron is waiting for them. They go into the house.
VICTORIA
Hi, babe. Here’s the keys and if you can’t get in the code
is 2394765432 pound, got it?
AARON
Uhhh…
VICTORIA
Just don’t lock yourself out. You’ll never be able to get
back in, trust me.
AARON
So, where are you…
VICTORIA
Aaron, I don’t have time to explain and I can’t tell you,
anyway, I have to go.
She kisses him and then kisses Tai.
VICTORIA
Bye, honey. Mommy will be back soon, okay?
They both watch her hurry back out to her car and leave. Aaron is holding Tai’s hand. He looks down. Tai looks sad as he watches her go.
AARON
Hey, don’t worry, Tai, she’ll be back in a few days.
Tai looks up at him like he doesn’t believe him. He is used to not having a mom around.
AARON
We’ll play video games and you can eat anything
you want, okay?
Tai looks a little happier. It’s enough for now.
TAI
Okay.
CUT TO:
(Undisclosed location)
Adam is using his laptop to gather information on the organization that has been shadowing them all these years. Until recently, PUSHKA had gained the upper hand. His colleague is sitting next to him and watching.
DIMITRY
Yes, we do have some information. They are based out of
the Pacific Northwest, probably between Seattle and Portland.
ADAM
I bet they are disguised under a legitimate corporation.
They can’t just hide in the hills. It would be too big of an
operation for that.
His colleague nods.
ADAM
She probably lives nearby, it would be too inconvenient,
otherwise.
DIMITRY
Who? Victoria?
ADAM
Never mind.
The colleague starts to read a magazine and Adam continues. The screen shows him trying to match up the name Victoria with anything he can find that relates. Finally he stops and his mouth parts a bit. He is looking down the screen intensely. He slowly slides his tongue across his teeth and into his cheek. He has the smallest smile creep across his face. It looks as though he has discovered who she is, somehow. He slowly closes the laptop and lies back to relax. He closes his eyes and the pilot comes on over the loudspeaker to tell them they are coming in for landing.
ADAM
Good, it’s about time. I know at least two people that need
to die tonight.
He is referring to the two operatives that know he is coming to Sydney but it sounds like he may be talking about Aaron and Tai.
CUT TO:
(Undisclosed location)
The camera shows Victoria discussing the details with the Intel director. You can’t hear what they’re saying. This is just to show she is on her way but about eight hours behind Adam. Victoria finally leans back and closes her eyes. The camera pans in on her face. The camera does a slow fade, like it is going to sleep at the same time she is.
FADE TO:
Eric is working out at a gym when his phone rings. He looks at the I.D. and gets off the treadmill. He walks towards a secluded spot and answers it.
ERIC
Yes.
SIMON
The operatives are gone, Eric. He must have known about
them, somehow.
Eric just pauses. He doesn’t know what to say. Everything is spiraling out of control. Finally:
ERIC
She’s on the way, Simon. Just let her go. If anyone can find
him, it’s her. Let her do her thing.
SIMON
Are you sure?
Eric pauses.
ERIC
Yes. We have to believe she can do it.
SIMON
Okay. I hope your right. We have to get control of this
Adam situation.
ERIC
No parameters on this one this time, Simon. No Siberian prison.
He has to go.
SIMON
I agree. I have a feeling she would make it happen, anyway.
ERIC
All we can do is wait. She should be arriving in Sydney about now.
SIMON
Yes. Her plane just landed.
ERIC
Are you going to tell her?
SIMON
Of course. The outrage will give her even more strength.
She thrives on it.
ERIC
Okay, I’ll come back in tonight.
SIMON
Okay.
They both hang up.
CUT TO:
(Undisclosed location - Sydney, Australia)
The scene is a small, dimly lit warehouse. The two operatives working for O are tied securely into chairs, back to back. One is a man, the other a woman. They have obviously both been beaten very badly. Adam walks into the camera’s view.
ADAM
I can see why you work for the organization that has
been shadowing us for years. Rarely, have I seen two
people take such punishment without talking.
Adam nods to his colleague, who then starts slowly pouring gasoline around the operatives. Their eyes widen a bit.
ADAM
You know, it’s amazing at what a low temperature the
human body can burn. 411 degrees to burn a thin piece
of paper, not much higher to barbecue the two of you.
Normally, I would just char you and see if you take that
kind of pain without talking. I’ve been told it’s quite
agonizing. The problem is that I don’t have the time,
right now. So….no information on Victoria to spare your
own lives? I could see that the two of you disappear into
the sunset, anywhere you want to go, never to have to worry
about money or rainy days ever again.
He raises his eyebrows. They give no response.
ADAM
I didn’t think so. It takes a much higher temperature to
turn a body to ash but that isn’t our goal, here. We want
them to be able to identify your dental records. As you
experience the last few moments of your lives I would like
you to ponder the meaning of your existence and if it was
worth it. Did your lives have meaning? Go with God, my
children.
He starts to walk out as his colleague sets them on fire and watches from a distance to make sure they don’t somehow escape. Adam walks toward the door calmly.
ADAM
I’ll be in the car, Dimitry. Be quick about it but make sure
they are dead.
Dimitry nods.
The scene fades as he walks away and you can see the light of the flames on his back and against the steel walls. The operatives make some noise but not too much, amazingly.
FADE TO:
It is the same scene about four hours later. Victoria has her back to the smoldering bodies and is on the phone.
VICTORIA
Yes. It’s impossible to identify the bodies but you know
the dental records will show it’s them. Right. I’m sorry,
too. Not quite as sorry as he will be.
The scene switches to Simon’s side of the conversation.
SIMON
Victoria, we believe he is going to try to assassinate LaRue
tonight. We have already informed him and he is in a safe
house. Adam will probably go to where he usually works or
his house if he has that info but things being as they are…if
that doesn’t pan out, make sure he hasn’t found the safe house,
just in case. Understand?
VICTORIA
Yes. I’ll be on the move. Keep me informed.
She hangs up.
CUT TO:
Adam is in the passenger seat as they drive down the highway towards downtown Sydney. He is talking on the phone to a contact he has in Seattle, WA.
ADAM
You found the house? Excellent. You know your next move.
Move in quick, her house is bound to be protected extremely
well. Take the two hostage but do not harm them unless I tell
you or my monitor is no longer active. Do you understand?
The camera cuts to the person he is talking to. His name is Ristra.
RISTRA
(Russian accent) Yes. I will take care of it.
He closes the phone. He turns to his partner and says:
RISTRA
We need to get into the house quickly which means we have to
get him to open the door. He will respond less suspiciously to
a woman.
KASCHA
(Russian accent) I’ve got it. Be ready.
She walks up to the door and knocks on it. Fifteen seconds later a man answers the door.
AARON
Yes.
KASCHA
Oh, hi. I, um, this is really embarrassing but I locked my
keys in my car, just down the road. My cell phone is in the
car, too. Can I use your phone to make a quick phone call?
My husband works a few miles from here and I can have him
bring my extra key so it’s not a big hassle. (Her Russian accent
has completely disappeared).
AARON
Uhh…
KASCHA
I promise I won’t hurt you. I’m not a deranged psycho or
anything. Heck, I’m from Kansas, originally!
They both laugh.
AARON
Umm, okay, c’mon in.
KASCHA
Thanks a bunch. This will only take a minute.
When she comes in she is engaging Aaron in conversation and he does not notice Ristra, who blocks the door and quickly comes into the house and closes the door.
AARON
Hey, what’s the deal…
RISTRA
Be quiet.
Ristra pulls out a semi-automatic weapon and holds it in front of him calmly.
RISTRA
I am Ristra and this is Kascha. We are associates of Adam.
I need you to listen carefully to me. If you do what we say,
when we say it, you will live. Our objective is not to harm
you, unless we have to.
AARON
Who the hell is…
RISTRA
Shhh. I’m afraid I will have to ask you to be silent for now.
This makes it easier on everyone involved. Now, calmly tell
me where the boy is and I will not slaughter him.
Aaron’s eyes open wide.
AARON
He’s upstairs, taking a nap. Please don’t hurt him, he’s…
RISTRA
He will not be harmed if you follow my instructions.
Ristra looks at Kascha and motions with his head for her to go upstairs.
RISTRA
Put him in the bathroom if there are no windows. I will follow.
She turns to go and Ristra just looks at Aaron, calmly and smiles politely.
CUT TO:
Night has fallen and Victoria is getting suited up as THRESH. Show her putting on the suit and all her gear. Especially note the Samurai Sword she has strapped to her back. She is pressing buttons on her hip and getting ready for action. She presses one last button and a connection is dialed. A man answers on the other end. He says hello.
THRESH
Simon. It’s me. I’m ready to go. I need to ask a favor from
you. I need you to send someone over to my place just to
check up on Aaron and Tai. I left in a hurry and they are
not too familiar with the house yet, so…
SIMON
Oh, I’ll do it, I was heading home, anyway, to grab something
to eat and say hello to my wife before she divorces me.
THRESH
If you’re sure it’s not too big of a deal.
SIMON
Victoria, it’s on the way to my place, anyway, it’s the least I can
do. Is there anything else?
THRESH
….…
SIMON
What is it?
THRESH
It’s nothing…it’s just…just in case this goes like the last time I
wanted to say…
SIMON
Ditto, Victoria. Don’t fade on me, now. You have to be strong.
Go get the bastard. I want him gone, V. You understand?
THRESH
Yhea…(pause)…so do I. So do I.
SIMON
Don’t worry, just get it done. THRESH 17 will be one for the
record books.
THRESH
Yhea. Okay. I gotta get moving. Thanks again.
They both hang up. Victoria looks down at her hands and flexes them. She is a trained killing machine. She has other people in her life to think about, now. The longer she does this, the more jeopardy she puts them in. She takes a deep breath, lifts her head and bounds out the door into a dimly lit hallway. As she goes she leaps and bounds off the walls, alternating from side to side. She is incredibly agile. She disappears down the end of the hall, silently.
CUT TO:
Adam is rifling through his target’s office. He is angry and looking for something. He finally just stops and uses the phone to dial out. Dimitry is on the other end of the line.
ADAM
Dimitry, I need information. Find his home address for me.
He must have known I was coming. He wasn’t here but his
office was guarded by two people. They’re dead, what do you
think? Get that info and get back to me, ASAP.
CUT TO:
Thresh is talking to one of the other operatives that Adam didn’t find on her internal phone.
THRESH
I’m going to LaRue’s home. Adam will find that he is not at
the office and try that next. I don’t want to accidentally lead
him to the safe house and maybe I can beat him there. Pass
that on to Eric, ASAP, please. Thanks.
THRESH breaks into a full sprint and disappears into the night with the city lights on the horizon.
CUT TO:
Adam is in the rental car, talking to Dimitry on the phone.
ADAM
You got it? Excellent, this thing has GPS, just give me
the address. Excellent.
He hangs up and punches in the address and the GPS immediately brings up a
detailed map.
ADAM
Oh, I’m going to remember this night. The plans I have
in store for you, Mr. LaRue.
CUT TO:
(Pacific Northwest)
Before Simon pulls into Victoria’s driveway, he notices a black car parked in a peculiar spot, just out of site of the house. Was Aaron having guests over? Why didn’t they just park in the driveway? Simon decides he will be cautious, just in case. The way things were going lately, he had to play it safe. He turns off his lights before he pulls in the driveway and quickly turns off the engine. He checks his weapon and turns off the safety, just in case. He gets out quietly and briskly walks up the path to Victoria’s front door. He leans over to peer in through one of the small windows next to the door. He immediately sees two men, one of them holding a gun and speaking to the other man. He ducks back behind the door and wonders how to approach the situation. "Shit", he says. He opens his phone, hits a button and it dials a number.
CUT TO:
It is late at night as Adam gets out of the rental car. He is calmly walking to LaRue’s front door. There are no lights on in the house. He starts whistling lowly as the camera shows a close up of him pulling on his black gloves and his black mask. When he gets to the front door he pulls out a small device and scans the digital lock. A low frequency pitch waivers for a moment and then there is a low beeping as a green light goes on. You hear a click as the lock opens and Adam whistles again. He quickly goes in and closes the door. He looks around. The house is dead silent and dark. He walks up the stairs at a normal, calm pace and comes to the master bedroom at the top. The door is slightly ajar and he can hear LaRue snoring. He approaches slowly. Inside the room, the camera shows a digital tape recorder is making the snoring sounds and that the shape in the bed is not real. Adam reaches out and slowly pushes the door open wider. His left hand moves behind his back and slides a wicked looking knife out of his belt. He walks through the doorway.
Suddenly, a foot comes out at him and smashes him right across the throat. He
goes flying backwards down the stairs. He recovers quickly, however. THRESH,
comes out of the bedroom and looks down the stairwell at him.
THRESH
Adam! I thought you’d never get here. What took you so
long, buddy?
Adam rubs his throat and looks at her. His voice is raw.
ADAM
An ambush. That’s not your style, Victoria. Are you feeling a
little unsure of yourself?
THRESH
Hmm, let’s see. I’m up here, you’re down there and you’re
talking like an old man after a coughing fit. No, I’d have to
say I’m feeling pretty good right now. How about you?
Adam just stares at her. God, he hated her.
THRESH
What’s the matter, Adam, foot got your throat? I’m sorry,
that was really bad.
(Fight scene – to be coordinated)
1/3 of the way through the fight, the camera cuts back to Simon.
CUT TO:
(Pacific Northwest)
Simon peeks back in through the window and sees the two men walking up the stairs, the man with the gun behind the other one. When they disappear, Simon punches in the code for the door and quietly slides inside with his weapon drawn. He checks the upper landing and starts walking up the stairs, carefully.
(Fight scene – to be coordinated)
¾ of the way through the fight, the camera cuts back to Simon.
CUT TO:
(Pacific Northwest)
Simon is walking toward the bedroom at the end of the hall. He can hear voices. Two men and a woman. He tries to hear what they are saying.
CUT TO:
(Inside the room)
KASCHA
The bathroom has a window they can escape out of.
We will have to keep an eye on them in here. What
is the status on Adam?
Ristra looks down at a little digital device he is holding.
RISTRA
He’s still alive. There’s no telling how long he will be,
we could be here for a day or so. We may as well get
comfortable. We may have to watch them in shifts.
Dmitry will contact us as soon as they are free and clear.
Simon is shocked to hear Adam’s name. He now knows that this situation is serious.
RISTRA
I will watch them. Go make us something to eat.
Kascha starts to walk out of the bedroom. Simon knows that he can’t allow them to be separated. It is safer to have them in one space. He moves quickly into the doorway.
SIMON
Don’t you move that weapon, sir. I heard you use Adam’s
name and I know who he is. If you even blink I will put a
bullet right through your heart.
They are caught by complete surprise, of course. Simon addresses Kascha.
SIMON
Get back. Both of you sit down on the bed, next to each
other, now.
CUT TO:
(Pacific Northwest)
Thresh is badly injured but she has won the fight. She is crouched over Adam and she raises her arm and an extremely bright green fluorescent light in the shape of a blade comes out of her suit, near the top of her wrist. It is a white hot laser and she is about to take Adam’s life.
ADAM
You may want to reconsider, Victoria.
THRESH
Not this time.
ADAM
But you have others to consider, now, don’t you?
THRESH freezes.
ADAM
I thought so. You see, I found out who you were,
Victoria, less than a day ago. I found out where you
live and I sent a couple of my colleagues over to your
place to greet your house guests and keep them company.
THRESH
If they die, I will not be quick, Adam. I will take my time.
ADAM
No need for threats, Victoria. They’re fine. However, I am
wearing a heart monitor. If my heart stops, they will be killed.
If it is tampered with, they die. You could have had me but my
luck is good today.
He smiles at her. She looks at him for a few seconds.
THRESH
What do you want?
ADAM
Nothing much, really. Take off your mask.
She takes off her mask.
ADAM
Yes, you take a good picture, Victoria. I’m surprised you hide
that wonderful face.
She says nothing.
ADAM
I only want one thing, Victoria. One thing and they both live.
THRESH
What?
ADAM
Two lives for one. You can’t beat that deal and the deal is this.
I want you to die. That’s all. Can you do that for me, Victoria?
Inside her face mask, her phone rings. Adam hears it, as well. She puts on her mask and answers it by pressing a button on her hip. It is Eric.
ERIC
Victoria, it’s Eric, something has happened at your house.
Her heart sinks and she just listens.
ERIC
Simon went over there and there were two of Adam’s
cronies holding Aaron and Tai hostage. He was able to
get in and hold them at bay. When we stormed the place,
Simon was shot by one of the intruders and the other one
gave up. Simon is in intensive care and we’re not sure he’ll
make it but Aaron and Tai are okay. Victoria?
Did you hear me?
Victoria decides to play Adam.
THRESH
How did you get this number? You touch a hair on his
head and your life is forfeit.
She waits and sees what she wants from Adam. He smiles. He thinks he’s in control. Perfect.
THRESH
He hung up.
ADAM
I’m sorry my dear. You have no choice. The terms are
non-negotiable. Perhaps if we had never met…but I lost
five years of my life in a Siberian prison because of you.
THRESH
How do I know you won’t kill them, anyway?
ADAM
You don’t, but I will not. I have no interest in them, only you.
THRESH
Promise me.
ADAM
I swear.
THRESH stares at him and then finally stands up. She reaches behind her back and slowly pulls out her Samurai sword.
ADAM
Oh, you’re going the dramatic route. You are a professional,
I’ll give you that. I’m practically salivating. A little Hari-Kari
always does that to me. Do you know why the Samurai’s chose
this particular way to die in disgrace, Victoria?
THRESH
I do. Because the act doesn’t severely damage any vital organs
and it usually takes at least eight hours to die. Eight hours of
agony in which to ponder your misery and your disgrace.
ADAM
Excellent, Victoria. Thank you for this. Oh, it will be utter agony!
THRESH
Actually, Adam, it won’t hurt at all.
Adam’s eyes look up at her and he suddenly understands but it’s too late. The sword comes down. You don’t see it, but you hear something hit the floor and then something heavier hits the floor. The camera cuts to THRESH as she slowly brings the sword back up. Blood starts to pool around her feet, slowly as she looks down.
CUT TO:
You see her shadow walk out of the house and down the walkway. In her right hand is the shadow of Adam’s head as she carries it like a trophy and disappears into the night.
LONG FADE TO:
Victoria and Eric are sitting beside Simon’s hospital bed and smiling at him. She’s doing stuff like tickling his feet. Simon is in traction and has on an oxygen mask and can’t fight back.
VICTORIA
Gee, Simon, you’re just like a little baby, I could do anything
I wanted to you, ha, ha.
He starts getting irritated by her antics.
ERIC
Victoria, you’re killing him.
VICTORIA
I’m just kidding. I gotta go…gotta hot date tonight.
She gets up and kisses Simon on the forehead.
VICTORIA
Thanks, Simon, I owe you one.
As she leaves his eyes follow her and he’s trying to complain to her, but can’t.
VICTORIA
Toodles!
FADE IN:
Victoria is slowly walking toward the tree that she sits in front of at the beginning of the movie. Aaron and Tai are waiting for her and wave her over. She goes over to them and the camera follows. When she catches up to them she picks up Tai and hugs him. Then, she puts him down and hugs and kisses Aaron. They walk over to the tree and sit down.
VICTORIA
So, I guess they told you everything?
AARON
No, but they told me the basics because I wouldn’t let them
squirm out of it. I can tell they really care about you.
VICTORIA
So, I guess we have some stuff to talk about, huh?
AARON
Only if you want to, V.
Victoria just looks at him and nods.
AARON
So, I guess you’re kind of a Super Hero, huh?
She buries her head into his chest.
VICTORIA
It doesn’t feel that way.
AARON
Well, if it doesn’t make you happy then maybe you should
try something else.
VICTORIA
Like what?
AARON
Anything! With your skills and your brain you have no
limits, Victoria.
She sighs deeply and looks into the ocean.
AARON
You don’t want to do it, anymore, do you?
She shakes her head and her eyes water.
AARON
Well, how about you take some time off and think about it
and just hang out with me and Tai for a while. We’re not
going anywhere.
She looks at him and then over at Tai. She smiles.
Tai sticks his hand out toward the both of them and says out loud, "Kiwi Time"!
They burst out laughing and all say, "Kiwi Time"!
As they are laughing, Victoria’s voice starts to narrate the end of the movie.
VICTORIA
I guess Simon was right when he said that THRESH 17 would
be one for the record books. I guess my grandfather was right
to give me 17 chances. And I guess I was right when I somehow
knew I had to get it right this time. I think maybe I finally got it
right. Just maybe I finally got it right.
(Ending Credits and Music)
THE END.
J.S. Stewart
Copyright 2007