FADE IN:

EXT. SHADEGROVE MALL, ARBORSIDE, VA – DAY

A snake coiled on Shadegrove's Perimeter Road centerline.

A rusty car and a gleaming sedan converge on the snake. Thump of helicopter rotors above a snarl of traffic on nearby Shander Road.

The rusty car reaches the snake first. Swoops around it. Swerves into the lot. Rattles and cuts off in a space marked "SECURITY". The windows shudder to the beat of Detroit Techno.

ALLIE CADWELL, 20, white, a bundle of high-tension wire in a security guard uniform, exits as the sedan glides into view.

INT. SEDAN - DAY

CHICAGO, 46, black, his thick body encased in an expensive, 1920’s style suit, sees the snake.

Chicago catches the eye of his driver. Motions. The sedan stops. Chicago reaches for the door.

A white pickup approaches in the oncoming lane as Allie nears the roadside.

KNIFEMAN, 37, white, ropy muscles and prison tattoos, nods toward Allie.

KNIFEMAN
That's her.

Knifeman looks at a Smith and Wesson on the seat.

Chicago puts his hand over the barrel. Watches Allie step into the path of the truck.

INT. PICKUP TRUCK – DAY

SEBASTIAN GALVAO, 27, black, compact muscles, hands of a fighter, eyes of a saint, slams on brakes.
A pile of textbooks tumbles to the passenger floorboard. "ESSENTIAL ANATOMY FOR PARAMEDICS" lands on top.
EXT. PERIMETER ROAD - DAY
Allie rescues the snake. Releases it on the other side of the road. Briefly locks gazes with Chicago.  Hurriedly recrosses the road.

She passes a winged heart bracketed by upright pitchforks, freshly carved in a light pole.

Chicago motions to the driver. Faces forward as the sedan picks up speed.

On the window of the car beside Allie's, a badge-shaped sticker with the word “SECURITY” in the center. "WE DIE FIRST", in English and in Latin.

On Perimeter, a loud honk drags Sebastian’s attention away from Allie and back to the road.

INT. GANGSTER I.T. CENTRAL – DAY

The light of dozens of monitors reflected in a PROGRAMMER'S glasses. Black male, 20, bookish without being nerdy.

INT. DISPATCH WING - DAY 

Allie struggles, head down, through a crowd of shoppers. Sound of sobbing, somewhere close by.

SHOPPING BARBIE, 15, trendy clothes, shopping bag, and TIARA BARBIE, interchangeable with Shopping Barbie, minus 
bag, plus glittery headband, see Allie and duck into a store.

Allie looks up reluctantly as the sobbing continues. Sees a toddler's red, tear-splotched face.

She looks around. Takes a step toward the toddler with the expression of someone about to disarm a bomb.

LYNN SHAYS, 21, sergeant stripes on the lapels of her security uniform, strides out of the crowd. Drops to one knee beside the toddler. Gives Allie a quick smile.

Allie flees to a tinted glass door marked "SECURITY". Inserts a key. 

The dead bolt falls into her hand.
INT. DISPATCH - DAY

Allie enters a room lit only by a bank of monitors, thirty or more, labeled "UPSTAIRS DISPATCH WING", "DOWNSTAIRS MAIN HALLWAY", "MAIN LOT”, and so on. Live pans and a scattering of blank screens.

At eye-level, a larger monitor, labeled "PRIMARY". On Primary, a slow pan of Main Lot. 

Beside a softly humming equipment stack, a cabinet with the words "IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, BREAK GLASS". Inside, a fire extinguisher and an ax.

FRANK PRESTON, 44, white, reads a magazine. Preston heaves his sloppy, six-foot-some bulk upright.

PRESTON
You're late.

Allie shrinks against the door frame as Preston exits. She drops the lock on the narrow desk running beneath Primary.

INT. FOOD COURT – DAY

Three kids jostle each other, throwing playful punches. They are PERRY ANDREWS, 14,black, wearing a gigantic crucifix necklace, LUPE PELIZ, 15, Latino, handsome and graceful, and CUZ, 12, little and quick.

INT. DISPATCH - DAY

On Primary, Allie watches Lupe balance on the edge of a table. Perry leaps on the table, His fist brushes past Lupe’s nose. Lupe twists sideways, regains his balance.

Allie touches a controller. Main Hallway replaces Food Court. Allie zooms toward young Crips in baggy pants and blue shirts.

Not far from the Crips, Shopping Barbie and Tiara Barbie, holding cell phones. 

The Barbies stand beside TWO KENS, 16 and 17, new jeans and baseball caps, self-assured stances.

Lynn enters dispatch with TRAVIS STANT, 26, black, easy grin, police uniform.
                      LYNN
(mimicking)
But he was there just a second ago!

	STANT
You people shouldn't be allowed to have kids.
(to Allie)
Your door is broken.

Allie nods without looking away from Primary.

	LYNN
You people! You sound like Green.

	STANT
Except Green isn’t joking.

Lynn leans over Allie's shoulder.

	LYNN
What you got?

	ALLIE
Drug dealers.

Lynn points at the teens in the baggy clothes.

	LYNN
Those guys?

Allie shakes her head. Points to the Kens and Barbies.

	STANT
Let me see.

Stant leans in. Brushes Allie's arm. Allie flinches.

STANT
Zoom in on the phones.

Allie obeys.

                      STANT
 Nope. Not dealers.

LYNN
How do you know?

STANT
Because dealers use drop phones. Cheap prepaids. Use em, drop em. Those phones there cost more than Allie's car.

LYNN
(to Allie)
How do you know they're dealing?

Allie gives Lynn a look that says Lynn shouldn't need to ask.

On Primary, Shopping Barbie looks at her phone. Shows it 
to Tiara Barbie. The Barbies and Kens start walking.

Allie keeps them on camera.

ALLIE
Now the girls will go in the shoe store.

The Barbies enter the shoe store, "BRICK-BRICK". The Kens stop outside.

LYNN
Do you know who has the drugs?

ALLIE
They use the stores.

Allie loses interest in the loitering Kens. Impatiently taps the controller.

DREAMDATE KEN and DREAMDATE BARBIE, a smiling teen couple in the Food Court, replace the Kens.

ALLIE
Those two are out here every day.

STANT
Barbie and Ken Mall Dreamdate?

On Food Court 1 monitor, Preston stalks toward Perry, Lupe, and Cuz.

ALLIE
Red sports car with working headlights sold separately.

Even when she's trying to be playful, Allie's voice is distant, her attention mostly on the monitors.

Dreamdate Ken looks at his phone. Shows it to Dreamdate Barbie.

LYNN
Must cost more than I thought to fill the Mercedes.

STANT
Nail polish.

Dreamdate Barbie looks up nervously.

The equipment stack stops humming. The monitors go black.

ALLIE
Damn it!

Lynn rattles a metal pipe running floor to ceiling beside the door.

STANT
How does that help?

The camera system hums back to life.

LYNN
The wiring runs through the pipe. Short inside somewhere. So they say.

STANT
Do they say when they're going to fix it?

LYNN
Fix? Groveside breaks. We don't fix. Any word on my application?

STANT
I told you, calm down. You're getting in. Hey, Allie-cat, did I see you picking a snake up off the road earlier?

ALLIE
Yeah.

LYNN
If they would just tell me--

STANT
They don't pay me enough to kill snakes. That's what the fire department's for.

ALLIE
Why would I kill it?

STANT
You didn't kill it?

ALLIE
Wasn't poisonous.

LYNN
It's been four months--

STANT
Snake's a snake.

A radio keys up.

PRESTON (V.O.)
Dispatch, I'm in pursuit of three subjects, main hall.

Allie scans the monitors, sees Perry blur across Upstairs Main Hallway. Lupe and Cuz run parallel, on the opposite side of a railing that overlooks the first floor.

PRESTON (V.O.)
Need some help out here!

STANT
For what? All he has to do is fall on the kid. 

Lynn grins at Stant. Drags him toward the door.

LYNN
Let's go.

PRESTON (V.O.)
Did you hear me, dispatch? Get me backup. Now!

INT. MAIN HALLWAY – DAY

Perry swerves out a customer entrance. Preston tries to follow. Goes sprawling. Cuz and Lupe, laughing, leap nimbly over him.

EXT. MAIN HALL ENTRANCE - DAY

Stant, Lynn and Preston watch a trio of distant specks bolt for the perimeter.

STANT
(to Preston)
What'd they do?

PRESTON
Knocking over chairs in the food court. 

Stant claps Preston on the shoulder.

STANT
You'll get them next time.

Preston glares at Stant's hand. Glares at Stant. Stomps back inside.

INT. DISPATCH WING - NIGHT

Lynn peeps around the Brick-Brick store awning. Watches 
Shopping Barbie.

On the other side of the hall, Stant watches Lynn and talks on his cell phone.

STANT
Just let me know anything you can.

A leather-faced woman, 40's, white, like a hooker in a teenage-girl costume, gives Shopping Barbie a jittery hug.

STANT
Yeah, I know. But she's driving me nuts.

Flash of plastic baggy as Shopping Barbie's hand brushes Hooker Barbie's.

Knifeman and BAGMAN, 41, white, meth-hollowed, glance at Lynn. They pause to stare into dispatch, then slink away.

INT. DISPATCH - NIGHT

Allie doesn't see Knifeman and Bagman. She’s watching the crowds filling the upstairs and exterior monitors.

On the downstairs monitors, a darker, quieter world. Few people. "FOR LEASE" signs on shuttered storefronts.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY – NIGHT

Lynn breaks up a fight between a group of preteen Crips and Bloods. They scatter as Stant arrives.

                      LYNN
          So much for the Eastcoast 
          Crip-Blood truce.

STANT
What do you know about truces?

LYNN
See these? Opposable thumbs. Standard issue now for flashlight cops. I breathe through my mouth, type on the  computer-thingy. Read what's on the screen.

STANT
You can read, too?

Lynn punches him. He dodges a follow-up swing. Laughs.

STANT
Okay. Stop. The fights are the kids. You won't have petty-over-nothing from the older ones. Not unless something screws real bad with their truce.

INT. FOOD COURT - NIGHT

DAVID GREEN, Security Captain, 47, black, sharply-intelligent eyes, bar bouncer's build, approaches a group of Bloods.
The Bloods are in their early twenties. All have neatly-pressed red bandannas hanging from their pockets.

Among the older Bloods are LITTLE MAN and BIT, thirteen and twelve. 

GREEN
Okay, people. This is neutral territory. Put the bandannas away.

The Bloods sullenly comply. Pull the bandannas out again as soon as Green turns his back.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY – NIGHT 

Lynn waits in a service corridor alcove. Trips Shopping Barbie as Shopping Barbie walks past with Barbie Dreamdate.

A halter-top and two small packets, one green, the other white, spill out of Shopping Barbie's bag.

Lynn scoops up the green packet.

LYNN
Let me guess. Cooking school. And this is your special blend of herbs and spices.

The Barbies start to sidle away. Lynn grabs Shopping Barbie's arm. Snatches up the white packet.

LYNN
And this better be your single serving size packet of laundry detergent.

LITTLE MAN and BIT stand off to the side, glaring at Lynn.

INT DISPATCH – NIGHT 
On Primary, a patrol car drives away, Shopping Barbie inside.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY - NIGHT 

Lupe and AMANTHA LERNER, 16, argue, voices lost in the crowd sounds. Amantha storms off. Lupe starts to follow. 
Lupe sees Preston on the other side of the hallway. Steps quickly behind a storefront pillar.
Preston sees Perry and Cuz leaning against the railing, 
looking down at the floor below.

Preston moves to the rail on his side of the hall.

PRESTON
Hey, you!

Perry and Cuz look up.

PRESTON
You're banned from this mall!

INT. FIRST FLOOR MAIN HALLWAY - NIGHT

Below Perry, Chicago and Bagman walk. Their footsteps echo. The racket above barely reaches them.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY – NIGHT 

Perry grins. Waves to Preston. Lupe leans toward Cuz.

LUPE
(in Spanish)
Tell him you don't have to listen to someone who washes his badge with his shirt.

PERRY
What'd he say?

CUZ
He said
(shouts)
I don't have to listen to no one who washes his badge with his shirt!

Cuz and Lupe vanish into the crowd as Preston charges.

PERRY 
Hey Officer Flashlight!

Preston turns toward Perry.

PERRY
Tell you what. I'll let you ban me. But you gotta catch me first.

Perry jogs in place, then takes off at a slow run, looking back playfully.

PERRY
Come get some more of that healthy exercise!

INT. DOWNSTAIRS DISPATCH WING - NIGHT

Chicago and Bagman enter a service corridor.

INT. UPSTAIRS MAIN HALLWAY - NIGHT

Green steps in front of Preston.

GREEN
Let it go. We close in twenty minutes.

INT. FOOD COURT - NIGHT

Stant sees Lynn and Green on the other side of the food court. They argue, too far away to hear.

Stant looks at his watch. Keys up his radio.

STANT
I'm callin it. Mall's closed.

GREEN (V.O.)
That's my job.

STANT
Yes sir. So call it.

GREEN (V.O.)
Move em on to the house.

EXT. MAIN LOT - NIGHT

Stant steps outside with Lynn. Stops to answer his phone.
STANT
What'd you find out?

Lynn walks alone down a lane choked with loiterers. Several cars up, Sebastian stands beside his truck, watching a group of Bloods, Little Man and Bit among them.

STANT
Leave it in my locker for me. And thanks.

The Bloods stare at something in Little Man's hand. Then they all look toward Lynn.

Sebastian turns to see what the Bloods are looking at. Sees Lynn.

Lynn sees him, too. Beginnings of a smile on her lips.

Sebastian moves toward her.

From the huddle of Bloods, the glint of metal and an orange flash. Sharp crack of a pistol.

Lynn, her smile fading to puzzlement, crumples.

Stant's phone clatters to the pavement.

INT. DISPATCH - NIGHT

Allie, on her feet, reaches for the monitor as Lynn’s body hits the pavement.

EXT. MAIN LOT - NIGHT 

The Bloods bolt toward the perimeter, leaving the gun lying on the ground.

Sebastian struggles to reach Lynn through a panicked stampede.

INT. DISPATCH WING – NIGHT

Allie stares in disbelief. Lynn. The fleeing Bloods. The gun.  
The cameras cut off.

ALLIE
No!

Milner slips out of the Mall Office. Hurries away.

EXT. COFFEE SHOP PATIO - DAY

Pink streaks the predawn sky. At an outdoor table, Allie with her laptop, eyes bloodshot, wearing her uniform pants and a tank top.

On a nearby glass door: "THINKER'S PORTRAIT: COFFEE, BOOKS, WIRELESS INTERNET!"

Visible inside, SHELIA KADINSKI, 23, streaky dyed hair, uniform, name tag, sets out stacks of napkins.

On the laptop screen, a graffiti-covered wall. A heart with wings. Upright pitchforks. The words "GANGSTER DISCIPLES" in bright blue spray paint.

A Fed site. "GANG THREATS NATIONWIDE" A popup window opens. "WARNING: VISITORS' ACTIVITIES ON THIS SITE MAY BE MONITORED."

ALLIE
Not really on my worry list.

Photos of Gangster Disciples, mostly wearing black or blue. Bandannas, white, black, or blue, cover their mouths, old-west style. The caption, "FOLK NATION: CRIPS".

Shelia sets a cup of coffee in front of Allie.

SHELIA
Heard from Leon lately?

Allie shakes her head. Doesn't look up.

SHELIA
Tell him if you see him, he owes me twenty bucks.

ALLIE
I won't see him.

Shelia glances at the laptop screen on her way back inside.

In dripping red font on Allie's computer screen, "BLOODS".
At the bottom of the page, in larger type, "ON MOST OF THE EAST COAST, THE TRUCE HOLDS. FOR NOW. THAT'S JUST BIZNESS, PEOPLE".

Allie sips coffee and stares at the screen.

A news headline. "BEYOND FOLK AND PEOPLE: AMERICA'S NEW GANG THREAT".

Photos of scruffy bikers. Skinheads. Latinos. Asians. Captions read, "MS-13". "SURENOS". "SKINHEADS". "ASIAN GANGS". "OUTLAW BIKER GANGS".

ALLIE
Not seeing Barbie Biker anywhere.

Another screen: “GANGS USE TEENS TO SELL DRUGS”.

ALLIE
Ah. 

She gets up. Almost falls into the table. Rubs at her leg. Picks up her laptop. Stumbles.

INT. ALLIE'S APARTMENT - DAY

A spare bedroom transformed into a gym. Battered weights. Stair climber. Exercise mat. Thudding techno.

Allie, in a tank top and shorts, does crunches at a furious pace.

Her left thigh is slightly thinner than the right. A long scar runs up the inside. A thicker scar slants across her ribs and back.

She sits up. Leans on her knees. Tears mixed with sweat on her face. She rubs her eyes.

INT. ALLIE'S CAR - DAY

Allie, dressed for work, listens to her radio as she speeds along Perimeter Road.

REPORTER (V.O.)
Chief Card, what can you tell us about last night's shooting?

                      CARD (V.O.)
Tragic.  Just tragic. Someone lets their kids get hold of a gun, this is what happens.

Allie turns into the security parking lot.

REPORTER (V.O.)
A witness told News 19 the suspects were all wearing red. Was the murder gang related, sir?

CARD
We don't have gangs in Arborside.

REPORTER (V.O.)
But the--

CARD (V.O.)
Look, the worse we got here are some wannabes. Now there's nothing to show--

Allie parks beside Lynn's car.

REPORTER (V.O.)
A News 19 source claims Ms. Shays may have helped break up a fight at Shadegrove last weekend. Could the shooting have been an act of retaliation?

CARD (V.O.)
We're following up on that. But it's more likely Ms. Shays was a randomly chosen...maybe even an accidental, victim. Even so, I want to emphasize to your listeners that these juveniles are armed and dangerous. If one of your listeners encounters these kids, do not approach. Call us.

REPORTER (V.O.)
Thank you for taking the time to speak with us, Chief Card.
Allie stares at the “WE DIE FIRST” sticker. The car is in the same place as last night, because its owner will never drive home again.

REPORTER (V.O.)
A spokesperson for Shadegrove assured mall visitors, quote, Guests are as safe at Arborside as anywhere else. There is no reason for anyone to--

Allie cuts off the engine.

INT. DISPATCH - DAY

The door lock is still on the desk. 

Allie watches the footage of Lynn and Shopping Barbie. Zooms on Little Man's and Bit's faces as their startled expressions turn to scowls.

A quick thief slips a necklace off a cart as Towns arrives and Dreamdate Barbie slips away.

Allie rewinds to Little Man and Bit, scowling. Pauses the footage and points at the monitor as Stant enters. 

ALLIE
These guys knew her.

STANT
Turn it off.

ALLIE
They're the ones who--

STANT
I said turn it off!

Stant turns off Primary Monitor. Whirls on Allie, enraged.

STANT
You haven't stirred up enough shit?

ALLIE
They’re using the--

STANT
Lynn should have known not to play cop. And you’ll never be a cop. So quit interfering in police business. Or I'll throw your ass in jail.

Stant drops an Arborside police department "OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT" letter with Lynn's name on it in front of Allie. 

STANT
                  (softer voice)
We'll get them, Allie-cat. Just leave it alone. We'll get them. If someone else doesn't first.

ALLIE
What about Barbie dealer? 

STANT
Released to her parents last night. 

ALLIE
What?

STANT
She didn't have enough on her to charge with intent. And she's sixteen. Her father teaches Economics at tech.

Stant goes out before she can say anything else. Allie lowers her head into her hands.

ALLIE
And that's just business, people.

Allie turns the eye-level monitor back on. All the monitors go black.

Allie kicks the equipment stack listlessly. Kicks it hard, with an enraged cry. Rushes to the pipe. Rattles it.

Green enters.

GREEN
I have a meeting with mall office in a few minutes. Mr. Milner told me to remind everyone about our media policy. Clear it with PR first.
Allie gives him an expressionless stare. Turns back to the cameras.

INT. DISPATCH - LATER

On Primary, Allie zooms on a Tall Ken walking with Dreamdate Barbie.

Dreamdate Barbie and Tall Ken look at Dreamdate's phone. They look around nervously, then walk faster.

Allie’s face registers sudden understanding.

She pulls up a different camera. Zooms down fast as Dreamdate and Ken walk under it.

Primary shows the back of Dreamdate's head and shoulders.

Dreamdate's shoulders and head are on Dreamdate's phone, too, the same as Allie sees them on the Primary monitor.

Dreamdate looks up. Searches the ceiling with frightened 
eyes. Elbows Ken. Shows him the phone, her hand cupped over the screen so only he can see. They hurry toward a nearby exit.

Allie rolls the tape back. Freezes the image of Dreamdate looking at the back of her own head. Grabs a blank CD.
The monitors go black.

ALLIE
Shit!

Allie slams her hand down on the power button. Rattles the pipe. Glances toward the door as the monitors flicker on.

On the other side of the hallway, Green and CARL MILNER, 50, white, ice-chip eyes, expensive suit, exit a door marked "MALL OFFICE".

Milner speaks into his cell phone, too far away to hear his words. Milner nods.

Allie's expression turns from frustration to fear. She scribbles down SATURDAY, 1810 on a scrap of paper.

A radio keys up.

GREEN (V.O.)
Preston!

PRESTON (V.O.)
Go ahead.

GREEN (V.O.)
Need you in dispatch.

PRESTON (V.O.)
En route.

Allie watches Green and Milner approach. Milner stares coldly at Allie as he passes the door.

Green enters.

GREEN
Need you on the floor, Allie.

ALLIE
What? Why?

GREEN
Milner wants a bilingual guard circulating in the crowd.

He holds out a hand to her, closed over something small.

GREEN
Here.

ALLIE
I'm not bilingual.

GREEN
You speak Spanish.

ALLIE
A little. That doesn't make me…

Green gestures impatiently, and Allie puts her hand reluctantly under his.

GREEN
You'll do fine…Sergeant.

Allie stares at the lapel pins in her palm.

ALLIE
I don't want―

GREEN
Get your stripes on and hit the floor, Sarge.

Green hands her a radio.

INT. DISPATCH WING – DAY

Stant and Green stand at the railing. Green walks away as 
Allie emerges, wearing the stripes. 

She glances miserably into dispatch as she trudges past. Preston's feet are on the desk. He reads a magazine.

Two running kids brush against Allie. She flinches.

STANT
Can't show them you're scared, Allie-cat.

He looks at her duty belt. No gun.  No mace. No taser. No 
baton.  And the cuff case is empty.

STANT
You got any cuffs?

Allie shakes her head.

Stant pulls a pair from his belt.

Allie stares at them.

ALLIE
I was just supposed to be in dispatch.

STANT
Not in dispatch anymore. 

INT. MAIN HALLWAY - DAY

Stant and Allie round the corner. Stant nods toward three Crips, CRIP LEADER, 31, SKINNY CRIP, 26, and BIG CRIP, 29.

STANT
You want to watch those guys.

ALLIE
The Crips?

STANT
Yeah.

ALLIE
You’re just imagining them.

Stant nods toward Big Crip.

STANT
I'd never imagine that guy.

ALLIE
You must have. Arborside doesn't have gangs. That’s why we're so safe.

STANT
Who said we don't have gangs?

ALLIE
Your boss. Chief whoever.

STANT
Card? He spews that crap for tourists. Can't scare off all that money.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY, DOWNSTAIRS - DAY

Chicago, on his cell.

CHICAGO
Yeah?

Bagman walks by. Nods slightly to Chicago.

CHICAGO
Where are they?

Chicago’s eyes follow Bagman.

CHICAGO
On my way.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY - DAY

Allie and Sebastian stand at the edge of the Food Court.

ALLIE
Why doesn't someone stop this?  Why don't you? You're the police.

STANT
We can't do anything until the higher ups decide something's gonna be done. And right now, the higher ups, and your smiling PR lady, don't want to admit there's a problem.

ALLIE
You can still arrest the dealers. The gangs use these little-

STANT
Wouldn't do any good. Arborside has a catch and release system.

                      ALLIE
A what?

STANT
We catch em, judge releases em. Just wait awhile, Allie-cat. This mall won't be here much longer.

INT. FOOD COURT - DAY

JOEL CARTER, 30, police officer, sees Allie's stripes, raises an eyebrow. Turns to Stant.

CARTER
I need to borrow you.

Carter steps between Stant and Allie.

                      CARTER
(to Stant)
Private conversation. 
(to Allie)
Graffiti is Sergeant's job. 
Saw some down the hall.

EXT. DISPATCH SERVICE BAY - DAY

Chicago steps out of the service corridor. 

Little Man and Bit dangle like disobedient puppies in Knifeman's grip. Their fear-glazed eyes watch Chicago approach. 

Chicago stops.  Stares at Little Man and Bit. 

CHICAGO
These two?

KNIFEMAN
Got clear shots of their faces, Boss.

Chicago steps closer, stares down at the boys. Little Man struggles briefly, hyper ventilating.

CHICAGO
Why. Do. Parents. Let. Their babies. Get ahold of guns?

Chicago pauses as though he expects the boys to answer.

CHICAGO
You took someone's life. A woman's life. Without orders. A woman cop!

LITTLE MAN
She wasn't no cop. She was a security guard.

CHICAGO
That's close enough to cop for two babies to leave. The. Fuck. Out. Of our business!

BAGMAN
What do I do with them?

CHICAGO
What do they know?

BAGMAN
Too much, maybe. Some of their brothers been runnin their mouths.

A sob escapes Bit.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY - DAY

Allie trudges down the hall. Stops in front of a six point star with a G in the center. Under that, more graffiti, a heart with E.B. + A.P. in it.

Allie takes out a pen. Scratches over the six-point star. 

Green walks up behind Allie.

GREEN
Jewish graffiti now?

Allie startles. Whirls on him. Is relieved when she realizes it's him.

ALLIE
Oh. That's got nothing to do with religion, anymore than the crucifixes. Just gang stuff.

She nods to a gold-adorned Crip with a dangling crucifix.

Green takes the pen from her and scribbles over the heart graffiti.

GREEN
Gangs aren't Shadegrove’s only problem.

Bagman and A BIKER, 37, all hard gut and menace, glance at Allie as they pass.

BIKER
There's the real rat.

Green, intent on his work, doesn't seem to hear.

GREEN
These kids.
(scribbles)
Do you have any idea how many babies should be named Groveside to commemorate the conception?

Allie looks at the two men. 

They lean against the second floor railing and stare back.

GREEN
First name, Groveside. Middle name, Corridor.

Green turn. Holds out the pen.

Allie is gone.

INT. DISPATCH WING – DAY

In front of a customer exit, PERRY is nose-to-nose with MARLOWE, 16, white, hard-faced.

Allie starts to pass the two teens.

MARLOWE
Fuck you. Treadin all over my shoes.

Allie stops. Looks at Perry and Marlowe.

PERRY
If you'd been lookin where your bigfoot ass was goin--

MARLOWE
These are six hundred dollar shoes, nigga.

PERRY
Nothin to me what your ugly ass crackerhead sneakers cost.

Allie steps between Perry and Marlowe with a mingled look of desperation and determination.

Perry and Marlowe look down at her, surprised.

Allie stares speechlessly ahead, eye level with Perry's collarbone.

Perry and Marlowe trade baffled looks.

Perry looks at Allie again, amused.

To Marlowe, Perry indicates the other side of the mall.

Marlowe nods. Gives Allie a contemptuous look. Starts walking.

AN ELDERLY WOMAN walks up to Allie.

ELDERLY WOMAN
Excuse me.

She peers at Allie's stripes.

ELDERLY WOMAN
Sergeant? Can you tell me where the food court is?

Allie looks at the woman in terror, mumbles incoherently, and bolts toward the food court.

Perry points in the direction Allie is going.

PERRY
That wa-

Marlowe blindsides Perry. They hit the floor, punching and grappling.

Elderly Woman shuffles backward as Perry tries to stand and gets knocked into the door by Marlowe.

Perry and Marlowe tumble outside.

Allie never looks back.

EXT. A STREET - DAY

Bagman drives, cell phone in his ear.

BAGMAN
Yeah. Tryin to get someone to come fetch her. Like this is nothin. And now- 
Bagman glances in the rearview at Little Man and Bit.

BAGMAN
Yeah. I know it.

Listens again.

                      BAGMAN
Six Hedges.

Looks at Little Man and Bit again.

BAGMAN
No. I'm not lookin for a war. It's for you hometowners to say. I'll send him back your way with the same vital signs you sent him down with. As for the other…

Glances in the rearview again.

Bagman
Taken care of.

EXT. A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET - DAY

Bagman hauls Little Man and Bit out of the sedan. Lets them go with a shove.

BAGMAN
Get the fuck out of here.

Little Man and Bit flee as the sedan speeds off.

EXT. A NEIGHBORHOOD CROSS STREET - DAY

Little Man and Bit run straight into a SHIFTY-EYED COP. The cop grabs them.

SHIFTY-EYED COP
Chief's had me looking for you two all last night and all damn day.

He hauls the boys toward an unmarked car.

INT. FOOD COURT - NIGHT

Carter and Stant order sodas from a vendor. Allie walks past, intent on two Brunette Barbies heading for the restrooms.

STANT
Hey Sarge!

The Barbies vanish into the bathroom.

CARTER
Got more news.

STANT
Allie-cat! 

Allie turns and stares blankly as Stant gestures for her to wait. He turns to Carter.

STANT
What's that?

CARTER
Chief's got troubles.

Allie takes off toward the bathroom again.

STANT
What kind of troubles?

Allie passes Sebastian, who sits at a table in front of a 
restaurant called "RIOS DE BRASIL" with a plate of food and a textbook in front of him.

CARTER
Federal. Bribery and drug federal.

STANT
Heard rumors for awhile now. Nothin ever comes of it. Probably just someone he pissed off tryin to start shit. Where the hell is she going?

CARTER
This time, the feds are paying attention, though.

STANT
Where'd you hear that?
CARTER
Nothing official. If she's out here, who's in dispatch?

STANT
Preston.

CARTER
Hope nothin happens we gotta have tape on for court.

INT. DISPATCH WING, FIRST FLOOR - NIGHT 

Chicago is on his cell, too far away to hear words. 

Bagman approaches. Says something to Chicago. Chicago looks surprised. Then suspicious. He waits until Bagman is too far away to hear, speaks into his phone again.

INT. DISPATCH - NIGHT

The phone rings. Preston drops his magazine on the floor.

PRESTON
Shit. 
(into phone)
Dispatch.

MALE CALLER (V.O.)
Is Allie there?

PRESTON
She's busy.

MALE CALLER (V.O.)
Tell her it's her boyfriend.

INT. FOOD COURT - NIGHT

PRESTON (V.O.)
Uh...Sarge, Dispatch.

Allie keys up as she hurries toward the bathroom.

ALLIE
Go ahead.
PRESTON (V.O.)
You're boyfriend's on the phone.

ALLIE
I don't have a boyfriend.

INT. DISPATCH - NIGHT

PRESTON
She says she doesn't have a boyfriend.

Preston bangs the phone down.

INT. GANGSTER I.T. CENTRAL – NIGHT

Geek reads text off his computer. Flicker of screen and the monitors in his glasses.

Text is, “NOT LOOKIN FOR A WAR. IT’S FOR YOU HOMETOWNERS TO SAY”.

Geek puts his cell to his ear.

INT. DISPATCH WING FIRST FLOOR - NIGHT

Chicago answers his phone. Listens.

INT. FOOD COURT - NIGHT

The Crips Stant warned Allie about, a Nervous Blood, 24, at their fringes, move to stand between Allie and the bathroom. 

As Green joins Stant and Carter, Stant watches Allie head toward the gang members like they're not even there.

                      STANT
Allie?
(to Green)
Now I know why you never let her out of dispatch. Turn around for a second, and she's off finding things to stir up.

GREEN
She's got about as much sense as a baby squirrel in traffic. We'll get you a leash for her.

STANT
Do they make leashes for baby squirrels?

Carter squints at the gang members.

CARTER
Is that--

STANT
Yeah. Let's go save the squirrels.

Allie walks up to Crip Leader. Stares straight ahead, far below Crip Leader's eye level.

Allie waits a few seconds for them to get out of her way. 

They don't.

NERVOUS BLOOD
It's taken care of.

CRIP LEADER
Never should have been nothin to take care of.

Allie steps closer to Jody and Crip Leader.

ALLIE
Scuse me.

They turn. Look down.

CRIP LEADER
You're interrupting our conversation.

ALLIE
                  (points)
I'm trying to get to the bathroom.

The Barbies emerge. They see Allie and veer toward the exit.

Sebastian glides toward the brewing altercation.
CRIP LEADER
We're conducting business.

Allie tilts her head up and looks Crip Leader in the eyes. Drops her head and addresses his solar plexus again.

ALLIE
Want me to ban you?

NERVOUS BLOOD
She serious?

Four older Bloods walk toward the Crips and Nervous Blood.

Sebastian sees the Bloods. Sebastian walks faster.

NERVOUS BLOOD
You gonna put us out all by yourself? 

Sebastian arrives. Skinny Crip leans toward Crip Leader.

SKINNY CRIP
Over a dead flashlight cop? Let's just go.

Allie straight-arms Crip Leader into Skinny Crip.

ALLIE
If you don't want your friend arrested, take him home.

Stant, Green, and Carter arrive.

STANT
How bout you all go somewhere else for the night.

                      CRIP LEADER
This...

He looks Allie up and down, his lip curled in an incredulous sneer.

CRIP LEADER
Flashlight cop. Assaulted me.

STANT
You know how women are when they have to piss. Seeing as how she started it, I'd hate to have you stick around and make me search you.

Crip Leader shrugs.

CRIP LEADER
We're finished here anyway.

The Crips walk toward the exit, the Bloods go a different direction.

STANT
What'd you do that for? Told you to watch out for them, not start a war with them.

ALLIE
I wasn't trying to start anything. I wanted to catch the Barbies dealing in the bathroom.

Stant follows Carter.

GREEN (O.S.)
Sarge!

Allie looks at Green. He gestures for her to follow.

EXT. MAIN LOT – NIGHT

The Crips converse just outside, voices low. Cuz listens at the fringes, half-hidden in shadow. They don’t see him, or don’t care. Something they say makes his eyes go wide.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY - NIGHT

Allie and Green stand at the railing, looking down at the 
floor below.

Neither sees Lupe, at the top of the stairs nearby, staring down at Amantha on the first floor. 

Amantha walks with a guy wearing a sports jersey altered to read, "MS 13" on the sleeve and back.
GREEN
You're doin good, Sarge.

ALLIE
I'd be doin better if we could get rid of Shadegrove's drug problem.

Lupe jumps up on the railing. Balances.

LUPE
Amantha!

His shout is faint and unremarkable in the crowd noises.

GREEN
You arrest a dealer, they're back out here tomorrow.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY, DOWNSTAIRS - NIGHT

Amantha and the guy look up at Lupe. The guy glares, Amantha looks startled. Then the guy drags Amantha toward the other end of the mall.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY, UPSTAIRS - NIGHT

ALLIE
Stant calls it catch and release.

Perry sees Lupe. Rushes up behind him.

GREEN
Yeah? Ask him why the prisons are so full. Some of em ain't gettin released. Guess which ones?

He stares down at her arm on the rail next to his. She follows his gaze.

GREEN
It's sorta like how white folks forage, and black folks loot.

ALLIE
Heard you went on about New Orleans for two hours the other day. Ly-

Allie's eyes widen as she registers her friend's death.

Perry grabs for Lupe. Lupe loses his balance. Falls. Perry bolts down the stairs.

Green nods toward a nearby kiosk.

                     GREEN
I wonder how many sandals and ball caps they sell in a day? Must be a lot. Rent's pretty high. Thousand bucks a day at ten, twenty bucks a sale. That's a lot of selling.

Green starts walking away. Turns.

GREEN
Lot of money in this place, Sarge. Lot of people gonna be hurtin if the store owners can't pay their rent. Best thing is just keep the lid on. That's all we can do.

ALLIE
(softly)
Lid came off last night. Sir.

INT. FOODCOURT – NIGHT

Cuz rushes in, Grabs Perry. Sebastian sits at a nearby table, reading a textbook.

Cuz speaks frantically to Perry, too low to hear, but Sebastian looks surprised, then worried.

PERRY
I’ll get Lupe.

Cuz rushes back outside.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY - NIGHT

Crowe rushes up to Allie.

CROWE
Need you on the stairs. Kid fell and he doesn't speak any English.
EXT. SECURITY PARKING – NIGHT

Meth walks past Allie’s car. Bends casually, as though inspecting the back bumper. Sticks his hand under edge. Sticks something small and metallic under the bumper.

INT.  MAIN HALLWAY STAIR LANDING - NIGHT

Blood streams from Lupe's head. He props his skinny body against the railing, struggling to stay on his feet. 

Perry stands helplessly beside him.

Allie speaks slowly to Lupe. Her accent terrible.

ALLIE
(Spanish, English subtitles)
Where are you hurt?

LUPE
(Spanish, English subtitles)
Get away from me. 
(groans)
I'm fine.

Perry turns to Crowe.

PERRY
I don't know where Cuz is at. He speaks Spanish.

                     ALLIE
(Spanish, English subtitles)
Did your head hit you?

Lupe looks confused, then contemptuous.

                      CROWE
(to Perry)
Go find him.

Perry takes off up the stairs.

ALLIE
(to Crowe)
Got EMS coming?

CROWE
Didn't know if we were gonna--

Allie gets on her radio.

ALLIE
Dispatch, get an ambulance out here. 

INT. FOOD COURT - NIGHT

Perry looks in vain for Cuz. Sees Sebastian. Heads toward him.

PERRY
Hey!
(waves)
Hey, man!

Sebastian looks up from his textbook as Perry barrels into the table and bounces off, knocking the textbook to the floor.

PERRY
Sorry.
(grabs the book)
Sorry. Haven't I seen you out at the after school center? 

Sebastian nods. Perry brushes off the book and put it back on the table.

PERRY
You speak Spanish Right?

INT. STAIR LANDING - NIGHT

Lupe clutches his chest.

                     ALLIE
(Spanish, English subtitles)
Does your heart hurt?

LUPE
(Spanish, English subtitles)
Yeah, stupid. My heart hurts. My girlfriend is here with another guy.

ALLIE
Que?
Lupe weakly shoves Allie.

LUPE
(Spanish, English subtitles)
Leave me alone. How can you help? You're dead and don't know it.

Lupe straightens, sways, and catches himself on the railing 
again, smearing it with blood.

CROWE
I'll get maintenance to bring the HazMat kit.

She turns and goes up the stairs.

ALLIE
(keys up radio) 
Dispatch!  Got that ambulance on the way?

Sebastian's and Perry's heads appears over the railing. Disappear.

PRESTON (V.O.)
What's the problem?

ALLIE
He's bleeding. Maybe a heart condition, too. I think heart.

Sebastian arrives on the landing. Gestures for Perry to stay where he is. Sebastian looks at the kid.

SEBASTIAN
Broken heart, I think. And maybe a broken collarbone.

He nudges Allie aside and drops to one knee as the kid slumps back to the floor.
ALLIE
(shouts into radio)
Or broken bones. Just get them out here now!

PRESTON (V.O.)
10-4.

SEBASTIAN
(to Allie)
Give me your flashlight.

Allie hands it to him, and he shines it one of Lupe's eyes, then in the other.

SEBASTIAN
(Spanish, English subtitles)
What's your name?

The kid shuts his eyes.

Sebastian puts one hand on Lupe's chest, the other on Lupe's wrist, two fingers over the pulse.

SEBASTIAN
(Spanish, English subtitles)
Do you know where you are?

Allie keys up her radio.

ALLIE
ETA on that ambulance?

PRESTON (V.O.)
On perimeter now.

The kid's breathing is rapid. Shallow.

LUPE
(Spanish, English subtitles)
At the mall getting tortured by you. Which isn't half the torture as that dead woman’s Spanish.

Sebastian looks at Allie. Takes off his shirt. Applies pressure to the back of Lupe's head.

Green bounds down the steps.

GREEN
(to Allie)
He certified?

Allie doesn't seem to hear. She stares at a mass of scars 
on Sebastian's chest, back, and sides. Most of all, she stares at the Folk Nation tattoo on his chest.
SEBASTIAN
EMT, sir.

Green nods and races back upstairs.

GREEN (V.O.)
Down here!

JOE QUENTIN and GRETA FOLSON, paramedics, rush down the stairs, carrying their response bags.

Allie goes partway down the lower steps. 

GRETA
Heya, Sebastian. 

The paramedics open their bags. Sebastian goes to stand beside Allie. 

Joe tosses Sebastian a packet while Greta shines a flashlight in Lupe's eyes.

Sebastian looks at a corner of his bloody shirt.

SEBASTIAN
Broken collarbone, broken ankle. Concussion, probably. No halo. No battle sign.

JOE
He fall from up there?

Sebastian looks up at Perry, who leans over the railing to watch. Joe follows the direction of Sebastian's stare.

Perry nods.

                      JOE 
Damn lucky he's not dead, then. Get cleaned up, then you better see Dr. Bornton. She's gonna be pissed you weren't wearing gloves.

SEBASTIAN
Not the kid’s fault. Be up there in awhile. Gotta take care of something.

GRETA
(to Joe)
Grab the stretcher.
(to Sebastian)
Aren't you supposed to be studying?

SEBASTIAN
I just came out for food. Was studying at the table.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY DOWNSTAIRS - NIGHT

Allie stands at the bottom of the stairs. Watches Sebastian wipe up blood that has splashed over the stair railing and run down outside.
The paramedics and Lupe are gone.

A maintenance worker wipes the handrail on the landing  above. She wears gloves. She has a red plastic bucket covered in biohazard stickers beside her.

SEBASTIAN
(in Spanish)
Where'd you learn Spanish?

ALLIE
(frazzled)
What?

SEBASTIAN
Where'd you learn Spanish?

ALLIE
I didn't. Obviously. Where'd you learn?
SEBASTIAN
My mother's from Brazil. So we mostly speak Portuguese, but my father was from El Salvador

ALLIE
(softly)
MS-13

SEBASTIAN
He wasn't-

Allie stares at his tattoo. 
SEBASTIAN
It's not-

ALLIE
Folk Nation got ties to MS-13.

The maintenance worker goes upstairs with the bucket.

SEBASTIAN
Do you know how MS-13 started?

ALLIE
Anti-insurgents in El Salvador. Accustomed to killing and atrocity.

SEBASTIAN
Killing and committing atrocities with weapons and training your country gave them.

Allie stares at Sebastian. Sebastian stares at the bloody 
cloth in his hand.

Perry darts downstairs. Gives Sebastian his book. Pulls off his own shirt. Underneath, Perry wears a white tank top.

Perry gives the shirt to Sebastian. His eyes shine with something close to hero worship.

SEBASTIAN
Thanks--

PERRY
How long did it take you to learn how to do that?

SEBASTIAN
Everything I did tonight, you could learn. I can get you into a class.

PERRY
Like a college class?

SEBASTIAN
Only free.

He pulls a card out of his pocket.

SEBASTIAN
Through my church. Just give me a call when you're ready.

Perry grins. Nods and bolts back up the stairs.

SEBASTIAN
My father died in the war. Before Mara Salvatrucha existed. 
(puts on the shirt)
He was a union leader.

Allie goes up the stairs. Stops on the landing. Turns.

ALLIE
Then why?

Sebastian looks down at where the shirt covers his tattoo.

SEBASTIAN
Long, old story.

Allie's expression hardens. She continues up the steps.

SEBASTIAN
Hey! What time you get off work?

INT. MAIN HALLWAY - NIGHT

Allie stops at the top of the stairs. Brushes past Green 
without seeming to see him. Looks over the railing. Sebastian is gone.

GREEN
Night's over, Sarge. Let's get em outta here.

INT. FOOD COURT - NIGHT

Allie, Green, Crowe, Stant, and Carter herd people out the main entrance.

Allie tries to stand on her toes to see over the shoulder 
of a tall Barbie holding a cell phone. Tall Barbie glances back angrily. Snaps the phone shut. 

Allie startles sideways. 
Bumps into a SNEAKY KID trying to slip past the line of officers and security.

ALLIE
We're closed. Go to your car.

SNEAKY KID
Why, what are you going to do? Blind me with your flashlight?

Allie starts toward him. Pissed. 

Sneaky Kid grins and throws up his hands.

SNEAKY KID
Okay, okay.

EXT. MAIN LOT - NIGHT

Allie stares out into the lot. Stant and Green brush past her, heading out between the cars.

Allie takes a breath. Strides toward the largest group of 
kids, who scatter, sullen-faced, before she reaches them.

INT. FOOD COURT - NIGHT

Allie and Green stand by the door.

Crowe enters. Green hands Crowe a ring of keys.

GREEN
Lock up for me, please.

Allie grabs the keys.

ALLIE
I'll do it.

Crowe looks at her, then at Green.

GREEN
Fine by me. Night, ladies. And good job, Sergeant.

INT. DISPATCH WING - NIGHT

Allie walks toward dispatch. Stares down at the first floor. Another corridor door.

She looks around. Starts down the stairs, hurrying, fearful.

INT.  DISPATCH WING DOWNSTAIRS CORRIDOR - NIGHT

Graffiti covers the dim corridor. CK, a six point star with a G in it, pitchforks, Janell loves Mikey.

Allie walks toward the fire doors. A short hall branches to the right. The door at the end flies open.

TODD MOSS, 17, wearing a Brick-Brick name tag, steps out, 
a box in his arms. Beyond, a glimpse of Bagman and A HENCHMAN.

Brick-Brick looks at Allie. Sticks his head back in the store room.

TODD
Hurry up, cause I'm not spending all Saturday night counting shoes!

Allie and Bagman's eyes meet. Allie starts walking, fast. Goes out the fire door.

EXT. DISPATCH WING DOWNSTAIRS SERVICE BAY - NIGHT

Allie breaks into a run.

Bagman exits, stands in the doorway, cell phone in his ear.

EXT. DISPATCH WING DOWNSTAIRS LOT - NIGHT

Allie bursts out of the bay and runs into the customer entrance, jostling a Brick-Brick employee exiting with a box in her arms. The employee turns to stare as Allie races up the stairs.

INT. DISPATCH - NIGHT

Allie, out of breath, enters dispatch, flings herself in a chair. 
Checks the monitors in the corner, sees WARREN TREDEL, 67, the third shift guard, outside the Main Hallway customer entrance, talking to Milner.

Milner speaks into his phone. Closes it. Nods along with a bored expression.

Allie starts tapping on the controller. Puts in the date, time, and camera number she scribbled down earlier.

On Primary, the words, "INVALID DATE OR TIME".

                      ALLIE
          What?

She stares at the scribble, stares at the monitor. 
Warren is close. 

Allie glances up the Security Parking monitor as she finishes typing. It's out. 

She hits enter. Gets, "INVALID DATE OR TIME"

ALLIE
Damn it!

She pulls up the tape of Lynn's last seconds. Studies the 
expression on Lynn's face when Lynn sees Sebastian.

Warren is almost at the door.

Lynn's puzzled expression. Allie's wild panning. The Bloods. Lynn. The pavement where the Bloods will drop the gun any second...

“YOU DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO ACCESS THIS FEATURE.”

INT. DISPATCH WING - NIGHT

The dispatch door shuts as Warren rounds the corner. He pauses. Hobbles forward. Takes the keyring hanging off the dispatch doorknob.

The lock falls to the floor with a metallic clunk as the 
door swings shut behind him.

EXT. DISPATCH WING CUSTOMER ENTRANCE - NIGHT

Allie, car keys in her hand, steps out as Milner exits his car with a disposable camera in his hand. 

Allie stops. Wedges her heel in the door.

Milner strides toward her. Stops as Allie pulls the door 
open wider.

MILNER
Sergeant Cadwell! I need your picture for the company newsletter.

ALLIE
Can we wai―

Milner closes the distance between them.

MILNER
Got to have it. Wouldn't want you to have to come in on your day off.

ALLIE
I--

MILNER
That's right, just stand against the wall there. Get your foot out of the door.

He grabs her shoulder. Drags her sideways. The door closes.

He lets go of her. Holds the camera close to her face.

MILNER
          Big smile. 

Sebastian steps out from the shadow of a dumpster.  

MILNER
Okay. Got a joke for you. What's the difference between a security guard and a drug-sniffing dog? 

Milner shoves the camera toward Allie.

MILNER
They give you more time for shooting the dog.

Sebastian slams into Milner from the side. 

A flash. Not a camera flash, an electrical flash.

Milner and Sebastian roll on the ground, tangled in the shadows.

Another flash. Sebastian springs to his feet, disposable camera in hand, his book bag still on his shoulders. 

Around the corner, an engine revs.

ALLIE
What the hell? What-

Sebastian touches the camera to a drainpipe. An electrical arc strikes the pipe, flashes along it.
SEBASTIAN
Taser.

He grabs her.

SEBASTIAN
Come on!

They run toward Sebastian's truck, a few rows over and little closer than security parking.

An SUV pulls up to Milner. Milner jumps in.

The SUV barrels toward Allie and Sebastian.

Sebastian looks over his shoulder.

SEBASTIAN
Is your car locked?

ALLIE
No.

Sebastian veers toward Allie's car.

The SUV is almost on them, but Lynn's car is between the SUV and Allie's car. 

The SUV slides sideways, avoiding Lynn's car by centimeters as Allie and Sebastian reach the driver's side door.

Allie shoulders Sebastian aside.

ALLIE
Back's open.

INT. ALLIE'S CAR – NIGHT

Roughly idling engine mixed with saxophones over thudding bass. 

Allie stamps on the gas pedal.

Sebastian dives over the seat into the front.  Cuts the 
volume all the way down. Looks nervously at their pursuers.

SEBASTIAN
I drive an ambulance. 

Allie screeches onto the perimeter road with the the SUV on their tail.

ALLIE
That's nice.

Allie flicks the volume up to half.

ALLIE
I like this song.

Allie runs the red light and flies out onto the road, driving effortlessly.

Sebastian looks over his shoulder.

SEBASTIAN
Might want to speed up a little.

ALLIE
Got it floored.

The SUV draws even with Allie's car. Allie jerks left as the SUV slams into them.

Allie swerves onto a freeway entrance, almost losing their pursuers.
The SUV squeals onto the ramp behind them on two wheels. 

ALLIE
Thought that would work.

She sounds more annoyed than afraid.

SEBASTIAN
Where'd you learn to drive?

ALLIE
Detroit. How did you know Lynn? 

SEBASTIAN
Can we talk about this later?

Allie glances past Sebastian at the SUV nosing alongside.

ALLIE
Only if you want to get out and walk.

She taps the brake. The SUV lurches. Allie speeds up again, her car engine coughing.

SEBASTIAN
Some kids talked about jumping her after she broke up that fight. Probably just talk, but I walked her to her car just in case.

Allie darts little glances at him. Seems satisfied.

ALLIE
Tonight. What was so important you had to take care of it?

The SUV lumbers up. Allie eases back, then skitters over 
into the right lane as the SUV tries to ram them. 

SEBASTIAN
Maybe you could watch-

The SUV slides into the breakdown lane. Allie barely manages to keep her car off the guard rail, but she’s perfectly calm.

ALLIE
I'll keep drivin if you keep talkin.

SEBASTIAN
Heard you might have some trouble soon. Didn't figure it was just talk.

The SUV catches up again, this time on the left. Allie glances at it. Positions her car.

SEBASTIAN
He's going to try to pit you.

ALLIE
             (tiny smile)
I know.

The SUV veers toward her driver side rear. 

Allie slams on her brakes, hard, just as the SUV angles in.

The SUV hits the grass. Slams into an embankment. Flips over and over with whump of impact and crunch of metal.

ALLIE
That did it.

She speeds up again. Passes the still-tumbling SUV.

                      SEBASTIAN
          Stop.

ALLIE
What?

SEBASTIAN
Go back.

ALLIE
Why?

SEBASTIAN
          To help.

He watches the upside down SUV rapidly dwindle from view.

ALLIE
They tried to kill us.

She looks over at Sebastian. Sighs.

ALLIE
Fine.

She makes a screeching U-turn. Drives fast in the breakdown lane.

Sebastian gets out. Allie looks at the camera taser on the passenger seat. Picks it up and shoves it in her pocket before climbing out.

EXT. INTERSTATE - NIGHT

Money flutters out the SUV’s windows.

Sebastian drops to his knees. Presses his fingers against the driver's neck. It's Bagman.

ALLIE
I've seen him before.

SEBASTIAN
He brings the money out.

ALLIE
Is he alive?

Sebastian shakes his head. Goes around to the other side of the SUV.

                      ALLIE
          What about the Hooker Barbies?

Allie plucks a fifty off the driver window, where dark fluid has plastered it. Gathers more bills from the grass.

Sebastian reappears, blood covering his left arm and both hands.

ALLIE
Milner?

SEBASTIAN
His head...uh, injuries incompatible with life. 
              (watches her pick up money)
          What are you doing?

                      ALLIE
The passenger? That's my boss's boss. So I'm thinkin, I don't have a job anymore, right?

SEBASTIAN
Better hurry. Before the police get here.

ALLIE
So what if they do? Self-defense.

She stuffs the bills in her pockets.

SEBASTIAN
Which doesn't give you the right to rob the dead. And the police--

ALLIE
It's drug money.

SEBASTIAN
Any idea how long the dealers have worked Shadegrove? 

ALLIE
Since I started out there. Year or so ago?

SEBASTIAN
Years. Since I moved here, at least.

ALLIE
Yeah, well. Musta been easy, with the manager in on it.

SEBASTIAN
Word is, a story's going to break in the morning. Two kids decided to shoot it out with the cops. Even though they only had one gun between them. The gun they had last night.

He gives her an expectant look. 

ALLIE
If you're thinking I should care, you're forgetting those kids murdered my...
She trails off, expression thoughtful.

ALLIE
Didn’t they drop it when...

SEBASTIAN
Yeah. And there's rumors Chief Card might not be so eager to get rid of Arborside's drug problem.

ALLIE
Let's go, Senor Samaritan. If I'd known that, I wouldn't have stopped.

SEBASTIAN
I know.

INT. ALLIE'S LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

Moving boxes, half unpacked. Scattered clutter. Sebastian on the couch, his book bag on the floor in front of him. He pulls out a small first aid kit.

Allie throws him blanket from the hall closet doorway. Touches the blinking answering machine button.

ALLIE'S MOM (V.O.)
Allie? I'm so sorry. I told you that mall was dangerous. I don't know why those investors bought it--

ALLIE
The apartment’s not in my name. So we should be ok.

ALLIE’S MOM (V.O.)
Don't go to work tonight. They'll understand if you don't work a notice. You should have moved out here with us--

She finally notices he’s struggling, one-handed, to bandage a jagged gash on his wrist.

ALLIE
How’d you get that?

Allie goes over to him, helps him bind his wrist.
SEBASTIAN
The passenger door was all torn up. Caught it while I was trying to see if your boss's boss was still alive.

ALLIE’S MOM (V.O.)
Maybe it's not too late to get scholarships from your SAT s, there's a college two miles from the new house. Put some minutes on your cell! Bye. Love you--

ALLIE
Good thing for you he wasn’t. Probably would have killed you.

ALLIE’S MOM
Don't forget your exercises, or I'm telling Dr. Roland!--

ALLIE
You can watch TV if you want. I won't wake up.

SEBASTIAN
You okay?

ALLIE
Worse things have happened to better people.

Allie goes to her bedroom door.

SEBASTIAN
In Detroit?

ALLIE
Yeah.

SEBASTIAN
How long did you live there?

ALLIE
A year.

She leans against the door frame.

ALLIE
Took off for Detroit on my eighteenth birthday. Was my boyfriend's idea. Sounded good.

SEBASTIAN
Why'd you leave?

ALLIE
Got cold.

She steps backward into her room.

ALLIE
Night.

SEBASTIAN
Night, Allie.

Door shuts. Lock clicks.

INT. ALLIE'S ROOM - NIGHT

Allie, in bra and panties, doing sit-ups on the bed. She drops back to the mattress. Trembling, exhausted.
INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Chicago lies shirtless on his back in a room awash in light from the street. A fresh scar runs from his collarbone to his waistband.

EXT. CHICAGO'S DREAM – CHICAGO’S BAD SIDE OF TOWN - DAY

YOUNG CHICAGO, 8 or 9 years old, shabby clothes, shoes falling apart. He takes money from BOSS, 55, white, a mobster and dressed like one. Young Chicago’s eyes shine.

                      BOSS
          This is what it's about. Money.
          Money is time. Your time, to do
          what you want, instead of what
          someone else wants. They don't want
          you to know that.

Chicago hurries down a street, holding the money. But when he rounds a corner, he’s in Shadegrove’s service bay with Little Man and Bit.
BIT
Just cause someone used you, don’t mean you had a right to use us.

YOUNG CHICAGO
(scared)
I didn’t kill you!

LITTLE MAN
You sowed and we reaped. The reaper man and the judging man know. 

YOUNG CHICAGO
No.

BIT
Tell your heart it ain’t so. 

LITTLE MAN
After the reaper, the judging man.

BIT
Only one way to stop judging man. He gotta know why you’re here. But you don't know.

INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Chicago stares at the ceiling, his breathing labored. He touches the scar on his chest. Grabs a bottle of heart medication off the nightstand. Hurriedly swallows a pill.

INT.  ALLIE'S APARTMENT, BEDROOM - DAY 

Uncertain daybreak filters through the window. 

Allie moans in her sleep. Screams and thrashes, fighting 
someone or something. Screams again.

Sound of pounding on Allie's door.

SEBASTIAN
Allie? Allie!

The door crashes inward and Sebastian, shirtless, rushes 
into the room.

Looks around for an attacker as Allie sits up. She stares 
at the scars on his chest and sides.

Sebastian turns, and Allie shifts her body. Lowers her head. One hand covers the scar on her thigh.

Sebastian goes to the window. Looks out. Comes over and sits beside Allie on the bed.

SEBASTIAN
Are you okay?

ALLIE
Who knows?

Sebastian nods toward her door.

SEBASTIAN
I can fix that.

ALLIE
It's okay. Guess I was yelling in my sleep.

SEBASTIAN 
I didn't know you were asleep.

ALLIE
It's okay. Neither did I. Haven't had one of those in...But after yesterday. And I was talking about where I used to live.

SEBASTIAN
Detroit?

ALLIE
I don't remember much. Just waking up in an alley, and there was this crazy guy with a knife. I hit him with a brick. I remember that...Lynn came and got me. Should have left me there.

Sebastian reaches to touch her shoulder. She shies away. He pulls his hand back.

SEBASTIAN
That why you're scared of people?
ALLIE
You'd think.

She gets up, limps a little as she crosses to a pile of 
clothes in a basket, some folded, most not.

ALLIE
I woke up in so many different apartments they all run together into one really big, really crowded apartment. That's over a nightclub.

Sebastian's eyes trace over her scars.

                      ALLIE
Drugs helped with my scared of people problem. For awhile.

She pulls on a pair of jeans. Sebastian looks away. His eyes linger on a shelf crammed with books.

Paperback science fiction. Nonfiction hardbacks. “ASPERGER'S CASE STUDIES”. “SHAY'S REBELLION AND THE MAKING OF AMERICA”. “DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS”. “ADHD: DOES IT BELONG IN THE AUTISM SPECTRUM?”.

ALLIE
They like to tell you if you roll or trip, you'll be shooting up any day. But that's not true. Except it was for Leon.

Allie shakes one leg, then the other. Stretches.  

ALLIE
I have to work out a couple times a day, or the muscles in my leg and back lean me kinda sideways.

SEBASTIAN
Shouldn't you eat something first--

                      ALLIE
We ended up sleeping in my car, after he burned through all our friends. His friends.

She puts a hand against the wall to steady herself. Sebastian stands. Moves a step closer to her.
ALLIE
And then the car got towed, and that's how we ended up in the alley. And now I'm here again. Worse than before, I guess.

She straightens. Looks at him.

ALLIE
My Uncle, he said one time, you like drugs, cause you can let down your walls. But one day, something bad's gonna happen, and those walls are gonna go up higher than ever.

She takes a step, sways dizzily.

Sebastian reaches to steady her. She flinches. Glances  apologetically at him.

ALLIE
He was right.

INT. ALLIE'S CAR - DAY

Allie cranks her car. The engine coughs and dies, the sound suggesting it’s not her first attempt to start it this morning. She pops out the CD in the player, reaches 
into the backseat, and pulls out a CD case.

On the radio, a sermon, the PREACHER building to full steam.

PREACHER
Made in his image. Free can only mean we create ourselv-

Allie shuts off the radio, continues sifting through the CDs.

Sebastian turns the radio back on.

SEBASTIAN
I like this song.

      PREACHER
But there’s only one thing we create that’s eternal, brothers and sisters!

Submachine gun butts shatter Allie's and Sebastian's windows. Submachine gun muzzles enter. Outside, two gunmen, STOCKY GUNMAN and SCARRED GUNMAN.

EXT. ALLIE'S APARTMENT, PARKING LOT – DAY

PREACHER
Love--

Stocky Gunman opens Allie's door. 

Scarred Gunman keeps his weapon trained on Sebastian. 

SCARRED GUNMAN 
We don't want you. Just her. So don't move, and you might just walk away.

PREACHER
But not just any love! No--

                     STOCKY GUNMAN 
I don't know, he looks like he might be fed.
(to Sebastian)
You DEA?

PREACHER
It’s the hard love--

STOCKY GUNMAN
(to Allie)
Get out of the car, bitch. 

PREACHER
The love that doesn’t want anything back--

ALLIE
Why?

PREACHER
The love of turn the other cheek--

STOCKY GUNMAN
Cause I'll kill you if you don't.

PREACHER
Bless those that curse you--
ALLIE
Go ahead, then. Kill me. I don't feel like moving. Tired.

Stocky Gunman grabs the door and yanks it open, grabs Allie and jerks her out of the car. She collapses, boneless, to the pavement.

STOCKY GUNMAN 
Up, slut. No one asked you what you feel like.

PREACHER
Love your enemies.

SCARRED GUNMAN 
Up slut. That's good.

Sebastian swings open his door. Sends Scarred Gunman flying. Jumps out, disarms him, breaking his elbow in the process.

PREACHER
That’s the love that brings us into the kingdom!

Stocky Gunman steps around the front of the car raises his gun. Sebastian moves in too close for Stocky Gunman to swing the barrel around. 

Sebastian disarms him and puts him on the ground.

PREACHER
Not in some afterlife! Right now! Right now into eternity!

Stocky Gunman pulls a pistol from his waistband. Sebastian takes it from him, breaking Stocky Gunman's wrist.

Sebastian puts the pistol on the roof of Allie's car.

Allie looks startled, and impressed.

SEBASTIAN
Brazil, home of the Gracies. My country teaches your Army Rangers how to fight.

He looks unhappily at the two men, one holding his elbow and moaning, the other curled in a ball around his wrist.
SEBASTIAN
Let's go.

Allie picks up the pistol.

SEBASTIAN
What do you want that for?

ALLIE
America, home of rednecks with guns. My country teaches countries how to shoot.

Allie tucks the gun in her waistband.

ALLIE 
Where are we going?

SEBASTIAN
I'm thinking you should stay at my place. 

He looks at the car's busted windows.

SEBASTIAN
We can walk. It's not that far.

EXT. A STREET - DAY

Allie and Sebastian walk, both looking in all directions.

ALLIE
Guess I should get out of here.

SEBASTIAN
They probably have pictures of you in every state by now.

Allie looks startled.

SEBASTIAN
You thought it was just here? It's nationwide. Coalition of gangs run it. Folk, mostly. They mostly set it up, too, but they're smart enough to make sure everyone else gets a piece.

ALLIE
Guess you'd know.

SEBASTIAN
Was a long time ago. The little time I spend with gang members now is volunteer work.

Allie's eyes flit up and down the street.

ALLIE
Waste of your time.

SEBASTIAN
Why? Because some of these kids sell drugs? That makes them trash, just things to throw away? There are people sellin worse things.

ALLIE
Drugs are illegal because they get people killed. I didn't used to believe that. Now I do.

SEBASTIAN
                   (in Spanish)
Law is for rich people with skin like milk.

ALLIE
Law is for people who drink milk?

SEBASTIAN
               (smiles a little)
Where do you think those clothes you're wearing come from? Sweatshops. You don't think people get killed working in those? No one's gonna stop it, either. Not so long as money gets in the right pockets.

ALLIE
Fucked-up world. For fucked up people. Doing fucked up things.

Two men, AGENT SANCHEZ and AGENT FELTER, both mid-forties, inconspicuously conspicuous, turn a corner. Sebastian sees them. A second later, Allie sees them, too.
The agents flash their badges.

AGENT SANCHEZ
FBI. And surprise surprise, we have some questions for you two.

AGENT FELTER
This way, Sir. Ma'am.

The agents usher Sebastian and Allie toward a waiting SUV.

Allie catches Sebastian's eye. Nods meaningfully toward one of the agents. Sebastian looks puzzled. Shakes his head sharply.

INT. FBI INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY

An interrogation room. The two agents, Allie, and Sebastian.

On the table, a file folder. A printout. The money Allie took from the wreck. The gun from her waistband. 

AGENT SANCHEZ
Here's what we know. You're rival gang members, trying to take over Shadegrove. Which explains the gun. And the money. And why you, Ms. Cadwell, returned to Virginia. You were selling drugs in Detroit, but someone tipped you off to a better deal.

ALLIE
That was my boyfriend.

AGENT SANCHEZ
He's the one tipped you off?

ALLIE
He's the one who was dealing.

She glances at Sebastian.

ALLIE
My ex-boyfriend.

AGENT FELTER
Were you present when he was dealing?
ALLIE
I never sold drugs.

AGENT FELTER
You knew where the money came from.

ALLIE
I tried to get a job. I―

AGENT FELTER
We know about your job, too. You lured victims onto side streets so your pimp-boyfriend could rob them. 

AGENT SANCHEZ
Except you picked the wrong mark, that last time, didn’t you? He fought back.

Allie looks completely confused.

AGENT SANCHEZ
And you, sir, are a gang member. Not to mention in this country illegally. 

He picks up the printout, flips a page.

AGENT SANCHEZ
And a gang member.

SEBASTIAN
I was fourteen. Sixteen when they sent my mother back. I stayed with my Uncle, stayed out of trouble. No one ever said my papers weren't...

AGENT FELTER
(sympathetic)
No one wanted to. Youngest regional jujitsu champion. Smart, motivated. You'd be in med school right now if your family had the money.

AGENT SANCHEZ
(reading)
Never been arrested.

He looks at a streak of blood on the edge of Sebastian's hand. Allie covers Sebastian's hand with hers.
AGENT SANCHEZ
Which doesn't mean you're innocent. Maybe just smart. Or lucky. Only you picked the wrong woman to beat the hell outta two guys over.

ALLIE
They would have killed me--

AGENT SANCHEZ
You were moving in on their turf. You and Ms. Shays. 

AGENT FELTER
The perfect insiders.

AGENT SANCHEZ
Did you talk her into stirring up trouble for the gangs, so you two could get a foothold? Or was it her idea?

AGENT FELTER
We know she didn't break up that gang fight, Ms. Cadwell. She started it. And we know you had something to do with what happened to kids who killed her.

ALLIE
You don't know shit. Except you got some dirty cops here. 

AGENT FELTER
(to Sebastian)
That dream of med school was just too hard to let go, wasn't it?

SEBASTIAN
I want to be a doctor. But not by hurting more people than I already have. Not as a drug dealer's muscle.

Agent Sanchez pulls out a photo of Chicago.

AGENT SANCHEZ
(to Allie)
How do you know this guy?

ALLIE
I don't. I've seen him. At Shadegrove. But he isn't in the pattern.

AGENT FELTER
Pattern, huh? So that's how you...

He looks thoughtful. Shuts his mouth. Opens it to say something else. Meets his partner's eyes. Closes it again.

AGENT SANCHEZ
He goes by Chicago. Major player. Doesn't come down south unless there's something seriously wrong.

AGENT FELTER
We're thinking you're what's wrong. You and your friends trying to move in on his operation.

                      ALLIE 
We aren't...Lynn wasn't! Even Leon...this is so far above anything he ever did...I had nothing to do with this!

AGENT SANCHEZ
Prove it.

He leans toward Allie, eyes gleaming.

AGENT SANCHEZ
The phones picking up your cameras. That's federal. That's our in.

AGENT FELTER
Go back to work, get us proof. Some footage. Can you do that?

                      ALLIE
If I can get access. If the system doesn't crash. If they don't kill me before I can get in the door.

AGENT SANCHEZ
They don't know about the wreck yet. We can keep that quiet. So far they don't know what to think about you. 
AGENT FELTER
Chicago won't make a move until he knows what you are. Before he figures you out, get us some proof. And we'll forget about you leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Mr. Galvao's citizenship problems. The gun and larceny charges. And we'll forget assault with intent to kill.

AGENT FELTER glances sheepishly at Sebastian.  

AGENT FELTER
Me, I think, if you'd wanted those guys dead, they'd be dead.  But the DA likes to start with the more serious charges. Let you plead down.

ALLIE
Got a problem.

The agents look at her.

ALLIE
I'm not in dispatch anymore.

AGENT SANCHEZ
Well, they'll have to put you in dispatch this weekend. Because when you wrecked your car--

AGENT FELTER
This afternoon.

AGENT SANCHEZ
Yeah, today. Your leg got all banged up.

AGENT FELTER
She better stay in the hospital until Friday, in fact. It's a compound fracture.

Allie stares down at her unbroken legs.

AGENT FELTER
Might even need some screws put in it.

ALLIE
Friday's no good. Got somewhere to be. Saturday. I'll do it Saturday.   

EXT. A PARK NEAR SEBASTIAN'S APARTMENT - DAY

Allie and Sebastian walk in a park across from Sebastian's apartment.

Between the trees, the FBI's SUV idles.

SEBASTIAN
What's Friday?

ALLIE
Funeral. Teach me how to fight.

SEBASTIAN
What did you mean, when you said he wasn't part of the pattern?

ALLIE
I don't know. It's... 
(struggling)
There's a pattern. The dealers, they...

She stares ahead, obviously seeing it in her head, but unable to put into words.

ALLIE
They're in the pattern. That's how I know they're dealers. Teach me how to fight, Sebastian. Please.

                      SEBASTIAN
Real fighting...you don't teach it like--

ALLIE
Show me.

Sebastian lunges, swinging, barely missing her face. He throws her, softening the fall.

His fists whistle through the air in front of her face. Fear replaces her puzzled expression.

SEBASTIAN
This is how it is, that fast, they keep hitting you, over and over, your face, your body, your shoulders snapping, jaw breaking, cheekbones crushed, nose smashed.

Sebastian stops swinging.

SEBASTIAN
That's if they're not trying to kill you. If they are, it's your windpipe, your eyes, the back of your head with a boot or a pipe. It's the blow or the knife you can't see that keeps stabbing over and over as you lay there, trying to figure out why your body won't work.

He helps Allie to her feet. She's shaken. Silent.

SEBASTIAN
They'll leave you on the ground, dying or dead, before you even know you're in a fight.  

ALLIE
Then teach me how not to let that happen.

SEBASTIAN
Most times, there won't be any talking when it's serious. No warnings. If someone is talking, look behind you, don't look behind you, or to the side. Just run.

ALLIE
But if I can't run.

SEBASTIAN
I can't teach you to hold someone down until police get there. All I can teach you is how to do enough damage, cause enough pain, to maybe give you a chance to get away.

He looks at her clothes. Sandals, jeans, t-shirt.
SEBASTIAN
We should get you a pair of pants you can move in.

ALLIE
Can we sew in a machete?

SEBASTIAN
If you're cornered and you have a choice between a sharp weapon or a blunt one, grab the blunt one. At least until you learn sharps.

He glances at the SUV. Scans the rest of the park.

SEBASTIAN
Come on. We better practice inside.

INT. SEBASTIAN'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

The living room is large and bare, bereft of a TV, but filled with books. Medical textbooks. A Bible. Leo Tolstoy's The Kingdom is Within You. Several books in Spanish and Portuguese.

Allie, in rolled up jogging pants so big even the drawstring can't keep them from slipping down her hip, is under Sebastian. She propels him off her.

SEBASTIAN
Good. Now next is the strike. If you know you can't get away. Only if.

He takes her hand. Balls it into a tight fist.  

SEBASTIAN
Remember, throat. Fingers in eyes will work. And all your weight behin-

Allie strikes toward his throat, playful. He grabs her hand.

SEBASTIAN
Not on me. Never on a person.

ALLIE
I wasn't going to--

SEBASTIAN
I know. That's the point.

He rolls to his feet and opens a narrow closet. Drags out a dummy. It has eye sockets. A slit in the throat. Dents and rips.  
SEBASTIAN
This isn't for play.

He drags the dummy across the floor.

SEBASTIAN
Don't practice holding back. Don't learn how not to hurt someone. Fight for real.

He drops the dummy beside her. Goes toward the bathroom hallway. Sheds his shirt. Turns to look at her.

Allie stares at his scars.

SEBASTIAN
Real as Detroit.

ALLIE
Where are you going?

SEBASTIAN
Test. For my Paramedic license. Then work.

Allie jabs the dummy hard in the throat. Looks at Sebastian again.

ALLIE
You really hate this, don't you?

SEBASTIAN
Teaching someone to maim, maybe kill? Yeah.

ALLIE
Cause we're supposed to love our enemies. Turn the other cheek.  

Sebastian nods.

ALLIE
If you can't do something, there's no choice. No free will if you can't do something.

Allie stares at the dummy as the shower runs. Starts pounding on it, punches, elbows, knees. Fast and vicious.

INT. SEBASTIAN'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 

Allie, no longer sweating or breathing hard, looks at the dummy flopped beside her against the wall.

ALLIE
Guess it's just us. Two dummies. 

Glances out the window. Two agents sit in the SUV, staring at nothing.

ALLIE
And a couple of assholes.

She leans her head back. Stares at nothing, face haggard.

LATER

Sebastian enters. Allie sleeps with her head on the dummy. Sebastian picks her up.

BEDROOM

Allie's arms go around Sebastian as he puts her on the bed.

ALLIE
Unh uh.

Sebastian lies down, shoes and all. Watches her sleep.

INT. SEBASTIAN'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Allie peeks out the window. different agents, same car.

SEBASTIAN (O.S.)
I want you to know it was your idea.

Allie turns. Sees him standing in the hallway. 

ALLIE
What?

SEBASTIAN 
I was going to sleep on the couch.

ALLIE
I was asleep with the dummy.

SEBASTIAN
Like I said. Your idea.

ALLIE
The other dummy.

SEBASTIAN
Oh. Gotta watch him. He holds a grudge.

ALLIE
He grabbed my ass last night, too. How'd you do on your test?

SEBASTIAN
Dunno.

Allie looks at him, quickly looks away.

                      SEBASTIAN
Don't. It wasn't your fault. And it wasn't your decision. I involved myself.

ALLIE
Can you take it again?

SEBASTIAN
Yep. Not today, though. Beat up Dummy while I fix breakfast.

ALLIE
I never beat up anyone who's making me breakfast.

Allie looks at the dummy. Sighs and flops down on the couch. Surveys Sebastian's book collection. Picks up Tolstoy's Kingdom of Heaven is Within. Leafs through it.
LATER

Sebastian enters as Allie hurls Tolstoy against the wall.

SEBASTIAN
Breakfast is ready.

Allie retrieves Tolstoy. Brushes off the cover.

SEBASTIAN
Thrown that book a few times.

Allie puts the book down. Goes to window. Stares out.

ALLIE
I have a name for your dummy. Leo Dummy Tolstoy. Leo, for short.  

SEBASTIAN
There are more ways of interacting with people than fight, flight, and being a smart ass.

ALLIE
There's sex.

                     SEBASTIAN
Someone brushes against you, you run like they're on fire. So how...

ALLIE
It's like, You know how some stutterers can sing?

SEBASTIAN
There are more than four ways, too. 

ALLIE
There's always bumming around someone's house eating their food. 

SEBASTIAN
Hurry with the eating my food so I can eat with you, then. I gotta go to work. 

Allie kicks the dummy on her way to the kitchen.

EXT. SEBASTIAN'S DOORSTEP - DAY

A FEMALE FBI AGENT holds a brown paper sack and her badge.

FEMALE AGENT
Your boyfriend said there wasn't much food in the house, so we got you lunch. There's enough to last you through dinner, too. But if you get hungry again, let us know.

ALLIE
He's not...

Allie takes the bag. 

ALLIE
Thanks

Shuts the door. Opens it again.

ALLIE
I need some clothes.  

Digs out her car keys. Dangles them in front of the agent.

ALLIE
From my house.

FEMALE AGENT
That may not be--

ALLIE
Go ahead and search while you're there. I give you permission.  As long as you bring the clean ones. At the bottom of the basket.

Allie smiles. Clearly enjoying herself.

ALLIE
Never know, might be some drugs in there. I need some sandals, too. Check in my closet. That's usually where I hide the bank blueprints.

FEMALE AGENT
                   (sighs)
Need anything out of your car?
ALLIE
My CDs. On the seat. Some in the trunk, too. Don't scratch them up while you're looking for the AK-47s.

She hesitates. Thinking. Then speaks hurriedly.

ALLIE
And my camera. Oh, and my laptop and the exercise mat out of the spare bedroom.

INT. SEBASTIAN'S LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

Sound of techno, bass so loud the walls shudder. The dummy, propped against the wall. 

Allie, in her workout clothes, practices falls and rolls on the exercise mat. She's almost dancing.

Sebastian enters. Allie tackles him playfully.

BEDROOM - LATER

Allie and Sebastian, clothed, kiss on his bed. Allie snuggles against him. Sebastian closes his eyes. Smiles and holds her.

INT. SEBASTIAN'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Allie, scowling, assaults the dummy. Sebastian, sleepy-eyed, enters.

Allie whirls on him.

ALLIE
What are you going to do if someone kills me? Pray at them?

She jabs viciously at the dummy.

ALLIE
You're all the same. You're all...Christians, drug dealers, Americans, Brazilians, you're all the same.

SEBASTIAN
Did you sleep?

ALLIE
Killers like killing. People don't change. They just fool themselves.

                     SEBASTIAN
What do I have to do to get you to trust me?

Allie collapses on the couch and shuts her eyes. 

ALLIE
What do you want?

Sebastian sits next to her. She edges away.

SEBASTIAN
To be close. To be with you.

ALLIE
That's in the Biblical sense, right?

SEBASTIAN
That's in the only way there is to be with you sense. I think you were right. Everything else I do just makes you more afraid.

ALLIE
I'm not afraid. I'm pissed. You're going to work today, right?  

Sebastian nods.

ALLIE
Another day with the dummy, the feds, and some stupid book about not fighting back. And I have to...

SEBASTIAN
You don't have to.

ALLIE
I do have to! They made sure of that. Saying Lynn was a drug dealer. Saying they'll put you in jail. I don't have a choice now, do I?
SEBASTIAN
You have a choice.

ALLIE
Do I have a choice about being left alone?

Allie watches him go guiltily.

LATER

Allie attacks the dummy with a flurry of punches. It slides to the floor.

                      ALLIE
Yeah. Come on. Try that again. Little hard with two broken arms, huh, Leo?  

She kicks the dummy. Looks at it a little guiltily. Picks it up. Brushes it off. Props it back against the wall. 

LATER 

Allie, barefoot, sits cross-legged on the couch, reading Tolstoy. Looks over at the dummy.

ALLIE
Starting to make sense here, Leo.

Allie looks out the window at the agents.

                      ALLIE
I'm talking to a dummy. I'm going to die. We're going to die.  

She stands. Grabs a notepad and pen. Starts scribbling.

BACK OF SEBASTIAN'S APARTMENT BUILDING

Allie drops a backpack out the window. Climbs out after it.

SEBASTIAN'S LIVING ROOM

A note on the dummy. "I'M UNINVOLVING YOU. AND SORRY."
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY

Allie sits at a table with a coffee and her laptop, the backpack beside her.

An old Chevy cruises past outside. Allie doesn't notice.

On her laptop is a road map tracing the shortest route from Virginia to South Dakota.

EXT. IN FRONT OF COFFEE SHOP - NIGHT

Allie exits the coffee shop, laptop under her arm. The disposable camera taser sticks out of her front pocket.

She stops and stares at the ancient, rust and primer colored Chevy parked on the curb. LEON steps around a corner, pale, shaky, face and arms scabby.  

LEON
Hey, Allie.

Allie whirls. Stares at him.

LEON
I bailed our baby out. Cost me, but I knew you'd want her back.

He grabs her arm and propels her into the car. She struggles a little. He slings his arm around her neck, making it look casual and friendly. Shoves Allie into the passenger seat. 

Leans in and kisses her before rushing around to the other side. The kiss startles her. And stirs hope in her eyes.

INT. ALLIE'S CHEVY - NIGHT

Leon drives. Allie slouches in the passenger seat.

ALLIE
Talk.

LEON
After you left, I hooked up with some folks. These guys know what they're doing. None of this fifty bucks here, a hundred there stuff.
He barely misses colliding with an oncoming car as he looks over for her reaction.

ALLIE
Pull over and let me drive.

LEON
I really missed you, baby.

He looks at her again. The Chevy swerves all over the road.

ALLIE
Leon--

LEON
Lets go dancing. Like we used to. Remember?

ALLIE
I don't want...just tell me-

Leon smiles. Grotesque ghost of former charm.

LEON
I'll tell you everything. No more lies, no more secrets. First, let's go find a hookup, then we can go dancing. I know you don't get high anymore. That's good. I need you clean. They like that. They like people clean. Sharp. 

INT. CLUB - NIGHT

Allie follows Leon inside, the taser-camera still in her pocket. This isn't Barbie and Ken land. It's Gangsta land.

Leon is obviously high, settled down and confident. He steers her toward the dance floor.

ALLIE
Who told you about this place?

LEON
Takeout. 

ALLIE 
How does he know--
LEON
He's in here somewhere. He's coming to Florida with us.

ALLIE
Florida?

LEON
It's warm, right?

They dance, Allie trying to watch everyone in the room.

LEON
You'll go with me, right, baby?

He pulls her close.

LEON
No more living in the streets. I promise. I got us a nice little setup. Place to live, jobs, everything.

ALLIE
What kind of work?  

LEON
Got us the hookup. Straight out of South America, baby. Done good for us, once I found these guys. I'm in with some major players, baby. It was rough going for awhile, but...

Leon looks around. Lowers his voice.

LEON
Then, when they found out I knew you, they gave me some cash, bailed your car out of impound, and told me to get you out of here, before you got yourself hurt.

                      ALLIE
Who?

LEON
They aren't mad, Allie. They won't bother you. Not as long as you're with me.
ALLIE
Who are they?

She leans closer, ear close to his mouth. Reaches down. Slides the car keys from his pocket.

LEON
GD, baby. Folk Nation's business end.

Allie slips the keys in her pocket. Hope gone from her face.

ALLIE
So they sent you down here to get me.

                      LEON
Yeah, baby. Dropped five grand for it, just like that.

Allie steps out of his arms.

LEON
Hey, where are you going?

ALLIE
Bathroom. Get me a drink, k baby?

She slips away into the crowd.

LEON
You still like whiskey and cola, right?

ALLIE
Yeah, baby. That'd be great.

She weaves her way toward the entrance.  A hand falls on her shoulder. She whirls. Confronts TAKEOUT, 31, white male, tall, clear-eyed, and menacing. 

ALLIE'S FLASHBACK – EXT. - DAY 

DETROIT TAKEOUT, less sober-eyed than present day Takeout, and Detroit Leon pull Crazy Guy off a terrified, bleeding Allie. Stand over him.

CRAZY GUY
You said she would--

Leon kicks Crazy Guy.

DETROIT LEON
You weren't sposed to hurt her. You fucking crazy fucker!

CRAZY GUY
She hit me! The bitch hit me with a brick!

Takeout and Leon start kicking and punching Crazy Guy.

BACK TO PRESENT

TAKEOUT
Bathrooms are that way.

Allie stares at him, as his voice echoes from the past.

DETROIT TAKEOUT (V.O.)
You can't stab someone for ten bucks!

Allie steps back. Hand on hip. Looks Takeout up and down.

ALLIE
What the hell are you doing here?

TAKEOUT
We're going to Florida.

Allie's hand darts toward the camera. Takeout grabs her wrist.

TAKEOUT
What's this?  A camera? 

Allie hits the button. Electricity flashes. Takeout still has her wrist. They collapse to the floor, both tased.

Allie grabs the camera and tases him before he can touch her. Scrambles to her feet. Runs for the door.

TAKEOUT
Bitch!

A BOUNCER, 20's, gangsta-wear, steps in front of the door. Allie Tases him. Bursts out the door.

EXT. CLUB - NIGHT

Allie races toward her car. Several men follow, Leon in the lead.

LEON
Allie! You're not screwing this up, little girl. You're coming with me to Florida if I have to put you in the fucking trunk!

He leaps at Allie. His fingers graze her shoulder. 

Allie turns. Hits the camera button.

The camera crackles. Sparks weakly.

Leon laughs and grabs her arm.

LEON
In the trunk? How about in my lap?

Allie aims a knee at his groin. Leon blocks deftly. 

Allie kicks him hard in the knee, rakes her foot down his leg. Punches him in the throat.

Leon chokes. Lets go of Allie as she rakes him across the face with the camera. He doubles over, Backs away.

LEON
Psycho-bitch!

Allie scrambles into the car.

ALLIE
Shelia says you owe her twenty bucks.

Takeout grabs the door frame.

Allie slams the door on Takeout's fingers.

INT. ALLIE'S CHEVY - NIGHT

The Chevy's tires spin on the graveled lot. Takeout yowls in pain.

Everyone scatters. A man falls. Allie runs over his leg. A Hooker Barbie tumbles over Allie’s hood.

The rest fall away as she accelerates over the curb. Slams hard into the grassy slope, Screeches down it onto the road below.

EXT. GRAVESITE - DAY

Allie stands by Lynn's grave, the Chevy behind her, running.

ALLIE
I'm sorry you never got to be a cop. And I'm sorry you never got to have five kids so you could not take them to the mall and not lose them.

Allie struggles to speak.

ALLIE
I'm sorry they think you're a drug dealer. Sorry you got me this job. Sorry I stirred shit up. Sorry for getting you killed.

Allie turns and walks toward her car. Stops. Looks back.

ALLIE
Thanks for getting me out of Detroit.

EXT. HOSPITAL - DAY

Allie stands by the emergency entrance. An ambulance pulls up. Sebastian and Joe exit. Pull out a sheet-covered gurney.

Sebastian sees Allie. Says something to Joe. Joe nods. Sebastian goes to Allie. She steps into his arms. Rests her head against him.

EXT. SEBASTIAN'S APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY

Allie on crutches. Bandage on her ankle. Two metal screws stick out. A blood stain. Iodine stains.

AGENT FELTER stands at the door. He nods to Sebastian, coming out behind Allie, med bag over his shoulder.
AGENT FELTER
Nice work. Would be more convincing if two hundred people hadn't seen her out dancing last night.

SEBASTIAN
Things go wrong, someone's gonna be there, right?

AGENT FELTER
The second it looks like trouble.

INT. SEBASTIAN'S TRUCK – DAY

Allie wears a t-shirt and a pair of loose pants. On one foot is a sandal, on the other, the bandage.
Sebastian drives, his med bag on the floor under Allie's feet. A crutch leans against the back window.
They listen to the radio.

RADIO ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
Toxicology report showed positive for small amounts of alcohol and amphetamines. In other news, a brawl at a nightclub late last night leaves one man with minor injuries and several people in jail.

Sebastian turns onto Shander Rd.

ALLIE
I'm going to be late. 

SEBASTIAN
I'll stay close by.

They come to a stop in a sea of cars.

ALLIE
I was always scared. Always.  Scared of the police when they chased us. Scared he'd leave me, scared I wasn't pretty or skinny or happy enough. He said I was ripping his heart out.

SEBASTIAN
Leon is Leon's fault, not yours.
ALLIE
And I'm my fault.

SEBASTIAN
Now you're getting it. Doesn’t mean you have to hate yourself.

ALLIE
Why not? I deserve it.

SEBASTIAN
You deserve everything. You deserve...You deserve to...Have you figured out what I can do to make you trust me yet?

ALLIE
Marry me.
SEBASTIAN
And that will make you trust me...why?

ALLIE
Cause it’s for life. You'd be stuck with me.

SEBASTIAN
Okay then.

Sebastian glances at his watch.

SEBASTIAN
When do you want to get married?

Allie considers.

ALLIE
Tomorrow. But you won’t do it.

SEBASTIAN
Oh, you think I won't?

ALLIE
If you do, it'll just be for papers.

Sebastian looks at his watch again.

SEBASTIAN
Took you almost ten seconds to think of that one. You're starting to trust me. I was never here legally, so marrying you won't help. Morning, or afternoon?

ALLIE
Afternoon. I like to sleep late. Besides, I need a dress. And a ring.

SEBASTIAN
Remember the paramedic last Saturday? The pretty one, not Joe.

ALLIE
She your wife or something?

SEBASTIAN
Or something. She runs a bridal shop.

Sebastian puts his cell phone to his ear as the traffic inches forward.  

SEBASTIAN
Hey, Greta. Need a favor. Two rings. And a dress. Yeah. As in wedding.

A huge wreck, smoke rising, someone on the side of the road, forehead covered in blood, dazed and stumbling.  

ALLIE
Finally, I get to drive. Go. Shoo. Out.

Sebastian looks at her. Looks back at the wreck.

SEBASTIAN
(into phone)
Get everyone to Shander, by Shadegrove. Got a seven or eight car wreck. 

He kisses her. Grabs his bag.

SEBASTIAN
Be there as quick as I can.

Allie slides into the driver's seat.
ALLIE
I know.

RADIO ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
Arborside police chief Bryce Card arrested today on bribery and drug charges. 

Allie shoves in a CD. Salsa fills the truck.

ALLIE
                  (happy grumble)
That's gonna take getting used to.

INT. GANGSTER I.T. CENTRAL – DAY

The feds bust in, guns drawn, and the geek drops to the floor. The cameras show interior and exterior views of dozens of shopping centers.

INT. MALL LOWER LEVEL DISPATCH WING - DAY

Henchman approaches Chicago as he stands with a Brick-Brick employee near the stairs. Henchman leans toward Chicago's ear, speaks, too softly to hear.

Chicago looks around at the storefronts. Up at the crowd on the second level.

CHICAGO
Take care of it. All of it.

INT. DISPATCH - DAY

Allie limps in. 

Preston looks up, annoyed.

PRESTON
You're late.

He sees her leg. Scowls. Stomps to the door.

PRESTON
Great, another Saturday night with the niglets.
Preston storms out.

ALLIE
Fuck you, too. Racist.

INT. AGENTS’ CAR – DAY

Sanchez drives, cell to his ear. Hangs up, baffled and angry.

SANCHEZ
It’s off.

FELTER
What?

SANCHEZ
They got the geek. 

FELTER
And?

SANCHEZ
And they figure that’s enough. No need to risk their agents.

FELTER
Witness protection for...?

SANCHEZ
Nope. 

FELTER
They’ll-

SANCHEZ
Both of them. I know. Agents are more important. Lot of time and effort, lot of money, invested in making an agent, right?

FELTER
Did they say we...

SANCHEZ
Not specifically.

FELTER
I pitched in for her lunch one day. That was an investment. 

SANCHEZ
Even bait has to eat.

INT. DISPATCH - DAY

Green enters.

GREEN
How you doin, Sarge? You're not all loopy on pain killers, are you?

ALLIE
Nah, they told me take four aspirin. Sadistic bastards.

He looks at her, surprised. Glances at the camera. Crowds are already filling the mall, and many of them look menacing.

GREEN
Good. Got a bad feeling about tonight. Started about midweek.

ALLIE
Guess we'll have to keep the lid on, Sir.

GREEN
If you can find the lid.

INT. DOWNSTAIRS STOREROOM – DAY

Chicago watches two henchmen and Todd move boxes into a pile.

INT. DISPATCH - DAY

Stant enters.

STANT
Allie-cat!  

He looks at her leg.

STANT
Damn, I wouldn't be at work on that.

ALLIE 
Poverty is inspiring.

STANT
You doin okay?

ALLIE
Think so. Maybe. You?

STANT
I didn't see you at the funeral yesterday.

ALLIE
I came after. Couldn't be around anyone.

STANT
Don't stir up any trouble tonight, okay, Allie-cat?

ALLIE
Promise I'll stay in my cage.

INT. DISPATCH - LATER

Allie works with the cameras, but every time she zooms near a phone, it closes.

The radio crackles.

CROWE (V.O.)
Anyone available near dispatch? Got a chipmunk under the Kicky-stix kiosk.

STANT (V.O.)
I'll handle it.

INT. DOWNSTAIRS DISPATCH WING - LATE AFTERNOON

Stant reaches the kiosk and the chipmunk bursts out from under it and scampers into the service corridor

Stant's radio crackles as employees shriek.

GREEN (V.O.)
Need any help?

Stant moves toward the door, grinning up at Crowe, who has arrived, breathless, to watch from the railing above.

Stant keys up his radio.

STANT 
Negative. I speak fluent chipmunk.

He draws his pistol. Steps into the corridor.

CROWE (V.O.)
With a gun?

STANT
I'm going to feed him to Allie's snake.

ALLIE (V.O.)
Snakes like their food live.

Stant holsters his pistol.

STANT
See, I didn't know that. I don't speak snake.

The chipmunk squeezes under the storeroom door. Stant approaches the door.

A hand falls on Stant's shoulder. He whirls to face AGENT SANCHEZ.

AGENT SANCHEZ flashes his badge. Gestures for Stant to be quiet and follow him out into the service bay.

INT. HOSPITAL - DAY

Sebastian bursts in the door with a gurney. Two attendants take it from him. His radio crackles.

DISPATCHER (V.O.)
Accident on Mendel road.  

Joe grabs Sebastian.

JOE
Shop later. Let's go.

INT. DISPATCH - DAY

Another phone closes and a Barbie looks at the ceiling.

ALLIE
Damn it.

On another monitor, Stant comes back in through the customer entrance.

CROWE (V.O.)
Did you get him?

STANT (V.O.)
Negative. Subject off property, fleeing on foot. 

INT. DISPATCH - NIGHT

Allie tries to zoom in on another camera, held by one of a group of girls coming in.

A group of men block her view. The girls say something to the men. The men reply, and the girls turn around and exit the door they just came in.

ALLIE
Uh oh.

She pulls up another monitor. Then another. And another. The Barbies and Kens are leaving. 

On the dispatch wing monitor, a Barbie talks on her phone.
Looks at its screen. Looks at the ceiling camera. 

Hurries past dispatch with the phone half shut.

Allie goes out after the Barbie.

INT.  DISPATCH WING - NIGHT

Barbie starts to pass a service area. Half turns. Sees Allie. Allie pounces, drags Barbie into the corridor.

INT. DISPATCH WING CORRIDOR - NIGHT

A fresh six point star sprayed on the wall. Allie slams Barbie up beside it. Under the star, in fresh spray, the words "6 POPPIN 2 DROPPIN".

Allie grabs the Barbie's phone.

BARBIE
What are you doing? I didn't do anything. Get off me!

Allie holds the phone out of reach.

BARBIE
I'm calling the police!

ALLIE 
Go ahead. All kinds of federal laws against tapping an encrypted feed.

Barbie struggles. Allie keeps her pinned. Slams her hard into the wall until she stops.

BARBIE
You can't do anything to me.

Barbie, panting, sneers at Allie.

Allie lets go of Barbie with a shove. Holds the phone out of her reach. Keeps it partly open.

ALLIE
I think your best bet is to leave.  Now. Tell them this was stolen. Or you lost it.

Barbie brushes off her clothes, picks up her shopping bag.

BARBIE
I think I'll tell the police. I'll be out before you can cash your shitty little paycheck for bail. 
Allie nods thoughtfully.  

ALLIE
Probably. Then they'll take you out somewhere nice and quiet, and kill you. Maybe after they have some fun first.

BARBIE 
You don't know shit about us.

ALLIE
You think you're safe cause your friends would wonder what happened to you, right? But they'll tell your friends they got you a new ID and you're set up somewhere the police will never find you. Someplace nice.  

BARBIE
Shut up! 

ALLIE
And your friends, they'll believe it. Cause they'll want to. And all the time, you'll be rotting in the ground, naked, your throat cut, or your head bashed in. Barbie flees back into the mall.

BARBIE (O.S.)
Not like you'd ever believe anyone could be good. 

Barbie flees back into the mall.

Allie pockets the phone.

INT. STOREROOM - NIGHT

Chicago whirls as the two FBI Agents burst into the storeroom, guns drawn.  

AGENT FELTER
Down on the floor. Now!

Chicago dives behind a stack of boxes. Draws his weapon.

The henchmen open fire. One goes down, the other dives behind the boxes to crouch behind Chicago.

AGENT SANCHEZ steps out into the corridor, out of line of fire. Gets on his cell. As bullets start flying.

AGENT SANCHEZ
Need help out here.  Get SWAT, not Grove County SWAT. Brakley, or whoever is close.

INT. DISPATCH - NIGHT

On one of the monitors, Allie sees Barbie talking to two men with duffel bags, BLONDE FIRESETTER and BALD FIRESETTER. They nod. Barbie goes out.

INT. DISPATCH WING - NIGHT  

The Firesetters walk toward dispatch. Knifeman joins them.  The men go into the dispatch corridor.

INT. DISPATCH - NIGHT 

Allie keeps working as the dispatch phone starts ringing.

INT. DISPATCH STOREROOM - NIGHT

On one wall, a row of breakers, many with cabinet fronts ajar. Knifeman watches the Firesetters splash gasoline on the storeroom floor, then exits.  

INT. DISPATCH - NIGHT

Allie grabs the phone.

ALLIE
Dispatch.

She keeps her eyes on the dispatch corridor door.

SEBASTIAN (V.O.)
Allie?  Hey. I got pulled to another wreck.  

ALLIE
Ok.

SEBASTIAN (V.O.)
You okay?

ALLIE
Yeah.  

SEBASTIAN (V.O.)
Allie, I'm sorry.

Allie sees a commotion on the food court camera.

ALLIE
Everything's fine. But I got to go.

INT. FOOD COURT - NIGHT

Three men with guns enter and open fire on a group of Older Bloods. The surviving Bloods return fire. 

A Barbie falls, clutching her midsection.  

INT. DISPATCH HALLWAY - NIGHT

The Firesetters exit the storeroom.

BALD FIRESETTER 
Downstairs next, then back up to light this one. Generator out back should blow pretty quick.

BLONDE FIRESETTER 
Boss says we wait til after closing.

Bald Firesetter looks surprised, then annoyed.

The door leading into the mall slams open and Henchman rushes in.

HENCHMAN
Boss is downstairs with feds all over him.

The two men drop the duffels and all three exit.

INT.  DISPATCH WING - NIGHT  

They step out of the corridor.

BALD FIRESETTER 
Should we get--

BLONDE FIRESETTER 
     (to Henchman)
          How many are there?

HENCHMAN
Two.

BLONDE FIRESETTER
Only two? Let him have his fun. 

INT. DISPATCH - NIGHT

STANT (V.O.)
Shots fired in the Food Court.

More gunfire over the radio, screams and shouts.  

Allie starts to pick up the phone, glances at the dispatch wing camera just long enough to see Knifeman heading toward dispatch, a long knife in his hand.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY - NIGHT

A group of younger gang members attack each other. The three gunmen cut a swath through them. The gunmen move forward, until they encounter the older Crips. And start firing on them.

Crowe ducks into a corridor, shouting into her radio. 

Green runs past, shouting.

GREEN
Everyone out. Now!

Stant leans over an injured gang member.

Preston runs from dispatch wing toward the fray. A mother snatches up her kid just before a crowd of panicked teens are upon them.
INT. DISPATCH - NIGHT

Allie drops the phone and jumps up. She digs in her pants cargo pocket, pulls out Stant's cuffs.

She cuffs the dispatch door to the metal wiring pipe. As Knifeman reaches it, she breaks the glass over the axe and the extinguisher. Grabs the axe. Looks at it. 

Knifeman slams the door back and forth. Beats on the glass.

Allie drops the axe and grabs the fire extinguisher.

Knifeman slams his body into the door. The pipe tears loose. Glass breaks. Wires rip in the pipe, sparking and crackling.

INT. STOREROOM - NIGHT

A sparking breaker labeled “CAMERA SYSTEM” turns the gas-saturated Storeroom into an inferno. 

INT. DISPATCH - NIGHT

Allie sprays Knifeman in the face. Rams the butt of the fire extinguisher into his midsection. He collapses, his knife clattering to the floor.

The fire alarm alarm brays. The power goes out.

The emergency lights flicker on. A whuffing boom, and it's dark again.

Fire explodes out of the corridor.

INT. DOWNSTAIRS STOREROOM - NIGHT

Chicago and a wounded henchman are joined by the Firesetters and Henchman.

Agent Felter turns. 

Chicago pops up, aims.

Fire explodes down the wall. Half the ceiling collapses.

INT. DISPATCH - NIGHT

Knifeman crawls toward the stairs as Allie stumbles out of dispatch, coughing. Eyes streaming.

Sound of gunfire and shouts, approaching.

INT. AMBULANCE - NIGHT

Sebastian jumps into the driver's seat of the ambulance.

JOE
Ready to go shopping?

The radio crackles.

DISPATCHER (V.O.)
-at Shadegrove mall. Fire, possible shots fired.

They exchange looks. Sebastian flicks two switches. 

Lights and sirens flashing, the ambulance tears out onto the road.

INT. DISPATCH WING - NIGHT

The wing is on fire. Employees flee while looters bolt down the hall with their arms full. A well-heeled, elderly white woman drags two bagfuls of cell phones.

Bloods, bandannas tied over their faces, run past Knifeman.

The hit men come around a corner as Allie stumbles toward the Main Hallway. They level their weapons at her.

The Bloods emerge from the smoke. Open fire on the hit men. Allie crawls under a bench.

Silence. Two Bloods are down, one injured, one dead. One of the hit men is dead. The others are gone.

Allie crawls to the injured Blood. He is not more than fifteen. Allie unwraps some of the bandage from her ankle. The Blood dies as Allie tries to pack the gaping hole in his chest.

INT. FOODCOURT - NIGHT

The smoke thickens. A whuffing explosion. The emergency lights go out. Now there’s only firelight and a few weak flashlight beams as security and police evacuate people.

INT. DISPATCH HALLWAY - NIGHT

The skylights blow out as the flames lick higher.

Sound of a helicopter, approaching.

Allie picks her way through broken glass. Turns the corner into the main hallway.

INT.  MAIN HALLWAY - NIGHT 

The two remaining hit men, Shaky Hitman and Gaunt Hitman, nearly bump into Allie.

Shaky Hitman backhands her to the floor. Points his gun at her head. 

SHAKY HITMAN 
Thought this bitch was supposed to be dead already.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY - NIGHT

Preston walks, his flashlight sweeping the corridor.
A helicopter's searchlight penetrates the smoke and darkness.

PRESTON
Everyone out.  Now!

He sees, by the helicopter searchlight a toddler heading toward the broken railing glass.  

The floor is soaking wet from the sprinklers and covered in glass.

Gunfire as Preston drags the kid away from the railing. Crowe appears out of the smoke, the kid's mother sobbing beside her. Crowe grabs the kid and runs toward the Food Court.

Preston turns toward Dispatch wing.  A group of men run past, waving guns. Preston dodges sideways, ducking low, then slips. His body slides over the edge, and he's falling as they pass, not seeing him in the swirling smoke.

Preston shouts hoarsely, scrabbles for a hold. 

A huge gold crucifix dangles in front of his nose. 

Hands grasp his arms. Perry and Cuz look down at him.

CUZ
(to Perry)
Look out, they're coming back.

They struggle to pull Preston clear of the ledge.

PERRY
Man, you need to lose some weight.

They haul him clear as the gun toting gang members return, shooting indiscriminately and shouting. One of them is Marlowe, the guy Perry fought earlier. The other is George. 

MARLOWE
Gonna take some Folk out!

GEORGE 
Come out, come out, Cousins!

They see Perry. Marlowe nudges George. They stop. 

MARLOWE
That's the one who jumped me.

Cuz and Perry only see the main group of Bloods continuing down the hall, safely out of range.

PERRY
Guess you can ban me. Even though it was me that caught you.

Perry sees Marlowe just as Marlowe strides over and points his pistol at Perry's chest.

PRESTON
Don't!  

Preston steps in front of Perry. 
Marlowe swings his gun and cracks Preston in the head, knocking him to his knees.

MARLOWE
Stay down or I'll kill you, too.

Perry's eyes meet Preston's.  

Cuz leaps at George, but George knocks him down. Kicks and punches the much smaller boy.

Marlowe raises the gun to Perry's chest again.

Perry takes a step back. His heel on open air. He stops.  Looks Marlowe in the eyes as Marlowe fires.

Preston stares in horror as Perry falls.

Perry stares up at the ceiling, fear and shock in his eyes. The helicopter searchlight shines down in his face.  

There's nothing but light. His expression becomes peaceful, and his eyes close just before his body hits the floor.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY - NIGHT

The hitmen stand over Allie.  

SHAKY HITMAN 
Maybe we should wait to see if Boss wants to ask her a few questions.

GAUNT HITMAN 
No time. The whole damn place is comin down.

Shaky Hitman's finger tenses on the trigger. 

A shot.

Shaky Hitman falls. Gaunt Hitman fires several rounds in the direction of the shot. Falls backward, a bullet in his head.

GREEN
How many times do I have to say it? This mall is neutral territory.

Carter and Green hurry toward Allie, both carrying pistols.  
Green limps. Stumbles in the rubble. Carter holds him up. 

Carter eases Green down next to Allie. Allie unwraps the bandages on her ankle.

GREEN
What are you...

The pins come away.

GREEN
Had me fooled. You tired of walkin the floor, lazy?

Allie tries to stop the bleeding. Carter stares at the flickering fire. Sweep of helicopter searchlight. Sound of the blades loud through the broken window. 

CARTER
We need to go.

Allie helps Green to his feet.

EXT. MAIN LOT - NIGHT

The ambulance pulls up behind a firetruck and police cruisers. People pour out of the mall, choking, limping.  
Bleeding.

Sebastian jumps out.

                      DISPATCHER (V.O.)
-until police secure the scene.  Repeat, do not enter until police call all clear.  Stay away from entrances.

Sebastian heads toward the Food Court entrance with the others, all ignoring the dispatcher.

One of the last intact panes of glass blows out in a burst of gunfire.  Smoke pours out. A kid falls, and two rescue workers rush to help.

Sebastian runs through the shattered glass doors. Preston passes him, carrying a bloodied, moaning Cuz. Preston's chest heaves. His eyes stream. Blood from glass cuts soaks his uniform, pours down his arms.
A rescue worker grabs Cuz and Preston falls, face down. Blood caked in his hair. His shirt covered in blood. More blood pumps from two round holes in his back.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY - NIGHT

Allie, Green, and Carter head toward an exit. 
From downstairs, the cry of someone in severe pain and terror. 

Allie pushes Green toward the exit. Takes a step backward.

CARTER
Where are you going?

ALLIE
To find whoever is screaming.

Green presses his pistol into her hand.

ALLIE
I don't--

GREEN
It's easy. Point and shoot. Whoever is making whoever scream like that might still be around when you get there.  

Allie takes the pistol.

GREEN
Stant is still inside.  Find him.  Get him to come out. And loot yourself some shoes.

ALLIE
I don't loot.  I forage.

GREEN
Shut up and hurry, smart ass.

Allie shoves the gun in her waistband. 

INT. FOOD COURT - NIGHT

Flame, muzzle flashes, and the lights of rescue workers illuminate the food court.
Knots of brawlers, shooters, and looters.

Sebastian doesn't fight so much as move people aside, slipping gracefully between the combatants.  

Sebastian, tears mixed with the sweat and soot on his face, moves deeper into the Food Court, reaches down and pulls a Blood free of a knot of kicking, punching Crips. The Blood flees, leaving Sebastian to face the scowling Crips. 

INT.  MAIN HALLWAY - NIGHT

Allie helps an injured woman to her feet. Glass and concrete rain down. A chunk of concrete barely misses their heads.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY DOWNSTAIRS - NIGHT

Stant and Crowe crouch behind plant holders and an overturned bench. Sporadic gunfire.  Strobe of helicopter searchlight.  
Allie, wearing a pair of tennis shoes, limps down the stairs, the woman leaning against her, choking and holding her side.

INT. FOOD COURT - NIGHT

A bullet strikes Sebastian's arm as he grapples with a burly gang member.  

A second gang member raises his gun to strike Sebastian in the head.  

Sebastian stops himself from driving his hand as it grazes a gang member’s throat.

INT. DOWNSTAIRS MAIN HALLWAY - NIGHT

Chicago, Henchmen, the Firestarters, and a limping Knifeman holding his side encounter a pack of Bloods. Armed with the hitmen's automatics and various smaller weapons.

Before Chicago and the others can react, they open fire.

Henchmen and the firestarters, plus gang members, go down. Chicago and Knifeman flee.

Chicago stumbles. Blood stains the right side of his suit.        
Sound of gunfire and shouts above.  

INT. FOOD COURT - NIGHT

SWAT pours in through the ruined doors.

Sebastian takes a knife cut to his thigh that sends him to his knees. Older gang members fall on Sebastian, punching and kicking as he goes down.

INT. DOWNSTAIRS MAIN HALLWAY - NIGHT

The helicopter hovers, light sweeping over where Stant and Crowe crouch. Most of the combatants are gone now, but from somewhere, there are shots. 
Stant turns, sees Allie.

STANT
Get down!

Allie falls down the last few steps and crawl-drags herself and the woman over to Stant and Crowe.  

A terrified group of young Crips members rush past supporting the weight of wounded companions.

Another group runs past, yelling in terror and adrenaline. One falls. His companion turns to look, runs on in a spray of bullets.

Bullets chip away at the plant holder. Allie ducks as shards fly.

Crowe looks at the blood covering the young woman's midsection. The woman is barely conscious now.

Crowe pulls her up as the sound of gunfire grows more distant and less constant.

CROWE
I'm getting her out.

Crowe runs with the woman. A wooden storefront goes up in a whoosh of flame. They stagger into the nearby corridor. 

An armed group in red bandanas arrive, spray bullets. When they pass, Stant turns to Allie.  
STANT
Come on.
They run. Duck behind the rubble and an overturned kiosk.

Stant grins at Allie.

STANT
How many lives you burn through tonight, Allie-cat?

Blood spatters Allie. Sound of gunshot. Stant falls backward, his face obliterated.  

INT. MAIN HALLWAY BY FOOD COURT STAIRS - NIGHT

Chicago, sweating and gasping, leans against a wall near a corridor.  

Knifeman enters the corridor.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY DOWNSTAIRS - NIGHT

Allie stares in horror at Stant's remains. Flinches as bullets ricochet off the kiosk. Chips bury themselves in her arm.  

Allie sees a sniper reloading on the second floor. Pulls the gun from her waistband. Looks at it. Looks at the distracted sniper.

Allie drops the gun and limps toward the corridor, blood streaming from her arm. Slips on water and pools of blood. Passes merchandise with bright price tags. Legs sticking out of a pile of rubble.  A rush of flame as Allie starts to enter the corridor. She turns and stumbles toward the Food Court.

INT. FOOD COURT - NIGHT

As SWAT kills or rounds up the combatants, Sebastian fights his way free and leaps over the railing to the stair landing.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY DOWNSTAIRS UNDER FOOD COURT - NIGHT

Allie limps through the smoke and rubble. She sees Chicago. Veers toward him.  

ALLIE
You. You did this.

CHICAGO
I'm sorry.

                      ALLIE
          What! What did you say? 
          I could kill you. Wouldn't be hard.                                        
Don't even need a gun.

CHICAGO
I'm sorry.

He closes his eyes. Opens them again.

CHICAGO
Are you?

Knifeman comes out of the corridor.

ALLIE
Yeah--

KNIFEMAN
He's bringing the car...

Knifeman sees Allie as Allie turns and sees him.

Knifeman closes with her. They grapple. Allie hits him in the ribs. He cries out and she runs into the corridor.

INT. DOWNSTAIRS CORRIDOR UNDER FOOD COURT - NIGHT

Allie slips and falls and crawls toward the door.

Knifeman hauls her up, shoves her against the side of the corridor. Puts his knife to her throat.

KNIFEMAN
Where's your boyfriend, Allie Rat?

Allie, breathing ragged, thumps her head against the wall, shrinking from the knife.

KNIFEMAN
All alone again?  

ALLIE
I'm used to it. I always thought I was alone. 

Allie grabs his thumb. Pries his hand from her throat. 
Twists his wrist backward. Shoves. Knifeman goes down.

ALLIE 
He didn’t teach me not to kill.  

Allie takes a step back.

ALLIE
There’s still time to get out.

INT. DOWNSTAIRS UNDER FOOD COURT - NIGHT

Sebastian comes down the stairs. Sees Chicago.

Hurries to him.  Kneels. Shines a pen flashlight over the blood soaking Chicago's chest. Searches for the source of the bleeding. A gun to Sebastian's temple. Chicago's eyes open.

CHICAGO
Who the fuck are you?

SEBASTIAN
Tryin to help you.

CHICAGO
Who are you with?

SEBASTIAN
No one.

CHICAGO
Lying mother fucker. Get away from me. Now. Or I'll kill you.

Chicago coughs. Groans.

CHICAGO
I don't want to die.

SEBASTIAN
You won't. If you let me help you.

Allie staggers out of the corridor. Sees the gun jammed against Sebastian's head.

ALLIE
Sebastian!

Chicago sees Allie. Sees Knifeman behind her.

Before Sebastian can react, Chicago turns the gun on Knifeman. Fires.

The gun slides from Chicago's fingers. His eyes close.

Knifeman falls, blood on his chest. 

Allie limps over to Sebastian and Chicago. Chicago's eyes open.

CHICAGO
Why am I still alive?

SEBASTIAN
I don't know.

CHICAGO
I shouldn't...I did this.

Chicago looks desperately at them.

CHICAGO
Why do I get to live?

SEBASTIAN
Some night, when you're lying there, remembering every bad thing you've ever done. Ask. 
(pulls Chicago up)
You'll hear the answer.

SEBASTIAN
                (to Allie)
Can you walk?

Allie nods. Leads the way into the corridor.

EXT. DOWNSTAIRS UNDER FOOD COURT BAY - NIGHT

The driver relieves Sebastian of Chicago's weight.

                     CHICAGO
          It's over for these two. 
          No one bothers them. 

Allie glances up as a helicopter searchlight shines briefly over the Service Bay. 

                      SEBASTIAN
(to Driver)
Get him to a hospital, or he'll die.

The helicopter moves off. The driver gets Chicago in the car.

EXT.  MAIN LOT - NIGHT

Allie and Sebastian limp up to Sanchez, Felter, and Carter. Allie gives Barbie's phone to AGENT SANCHEZ.

AGENT SANCHEZ
Nice job.

He surveys the burning mall.

AGENT SANCHEZ
Late, but nice job.

CARTER
(to Allie)
Stant?

Allie shakes her head.

AGENT FELTER passes an envelope to Sebastian.

AGENT FELTER
Might find this helpful. 

                      AGENT SANCHEZ
          Chicago?

ALLIE
He had a gun on us, inside. We had to take him out.

AGENT SANCHEZ
Might have a job opening.

ALLIE
It was Lynn's dream to be a cop.

                      CARTER
Lost your nerve for stirring up the bad guys?

ALLIE
Call me when you get to the bad guys with their own lobbyists.

Helicopter rotors fainter as Allie and Sebastian walk.

AGENT FELTER
Allie! 

Allie looks at him over her shoulder.

AGENT FELTER
What about all the dealers?

ALLIE
Let them sell drugs in the rubble.

SEBASTIAN
Let's get to the hospital. Find Greta while we're there.

ALLIE
No way.

SEBASTIAN
Change your mind about getting married?

ALLIE
Nope. Just not gonna limp around on my honeymoon all beat up and shot. And I guess I can trust you to stick around.

                      SEBASTIAN
Just so you know. You're stuck with me for life.

                      ALLIE
          Just so you know, I'm driving.

Sound of helicopter, fading.

FADE OUT