BLACK:
BLOOP—A notification sounds from the device.
DEVICE (O.S.)
Recording complete.
CUT TO:
INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
Ace turns around, expressionless. The calm is eerie. He silently stands up. Zeke breaks into a sweat and throws up his hands.
ZEKE
No! I didn’t sell you out, I swear! The thing just went off on its own—I’ll delete it!
A cruel grin spreads across Ace’s face.
ACE
Let me tell you tomorrow’s headlines.
He stomps toward Zeke, who’s frozen in fear.
ACE (CONT’D)
“Tragic Revenge! Top Enforcer Ace Avenges Fallen Officer Nigel!”
He raises the gun toward Zeke.
But suddenly, Ace’s knee is kicked from behind.
ACE (CONT’D)
—!
He drops to one knee. A gun presses against the back of his head—it’s Nigel. From who knows where, Nigel holds a small gun glowing dull green.
NIGEL
Wow. Didn’t know you were so obsessed with me.
Both Ace and Zeke are visibly rattled. Then—a thunderous swarm of drones barrels in, their mounted guns aimed squarely at the gang members.
WOMAN’S VOICE (FROM DRONE)
Give it up, Ace. HQ’s heard every word.
Nigel holds Ace down, smirking with satisfaction.
NIGEL
Good boy.
LATER:
Handcuffed, Ace and the gang boss sit sullenly in the background. Drones hover above them, their guns still trained on the two.
Nigel crouches, tucking away the small pistol beneath his coat. He speaks to one drone—distinctively pink.
NIGEL
Jeez, Trinaaa~, took your sweet time, huh? You playing dress-up or something? My outfit’s ruined—now I gotta change.
He tugs at his red-stained shirt.
ZEKE
(monologue)
When did he swap the ammo...?
Zeke, standing next to Nigel, stares down at his own gun, confused.
A woman’s image is projected midair from the pink drone—it’s Trina, cool and composed.
TRINA (FROM DRONE)
You’re asking a lot, Nigel. Hacking gang drones is tough, y’know. And I am your only subordinate.
CUT TO:
Trina in a dark cyber room. She wears a headset, dressed down, but unmistakably the same woman from the bar.
TRINA (CONT’D)
(to Zeke)
So you’re the guy who said “my girl,” huh?
Gone is the flirtatious charm. Her beauty now glows coldly under the monitor’s light.
BACK TO:
INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
Zeke mentally compares Trina with the bar beauty. He glares daggers at Nigel, who’s casually lighting a cigarette beside him.
ZEKE (V.O.)
Damn you...
NIGEL
(suddenly)
I wanna go home...
NIGEL (CONT’D)
Zeke, take care of the puppies, would ya? And the paperwork, too.
ZEKE
Me!?
NIGEL
Well, you were a top-secret ORDER officer undercover in a gang, right? Right? Right?
Zeke, sweating bullets, imagines himself behind bars in a prison jumpsuit.
ACE
(from the background)
Like hell you can just walk away!
Nigel puffs smoke and strolls toward Ace.
NIGEL
I could’ve broadcast your corruption across every screen in the city. But instead, I offered to settle this quietly. Even the Queen wouldn’t complain—can’t have headlines about her watchdog biting back.
ACE
You're more of a puppy than I am.
Nigel’s shadow looms over the seated Ace.
NIGEL
If you wanna bite, play the loyal mutt and sneak up to the throat first.
Nigel leans in close to ACE’s face.
NIGEL (CONT’D)
Chomp.
Ace glares with pure hatred. Nigel spins around, tosses his cigarette.
NIGEL (CONT’D)
Welp...
He zips toward the exit.
NIGEL (CONT’D)
I’ll leave the rest to yooouuu! Got somewhere important to beee~
Zeke, Ace, and Trina’s drone all go dead silent.
TRINA (FROM DRONE)
Oh, by the way—he said it’s his anniversary today.
ZEKE
Wh-Who?
TRINA (FROM DRONE)
Nigel.
Eye wide, Zeke stares in disbelief.
EXT. NIGEL’S HOUSE - NIGHT
A quiet residential area. Nigel hops out of a parked car, brisk and cheery.
TRINA (V.O., from drone, CONT’D)
Told ya. They’re actually super in love.
He bounds up the front steps of a modest townhouse, clutching a bouquet.
ZEKE (V.O.)
R-really...?
He presses the door buzzer. The door cracks open slightly. A shadowy figure appears inside. Nigel beams, cheeks flushed. Then he leaps inside.
NIGEL
I’m ho~me, snugglebutt!
CUT TO:
In the backseat of his car, a blanket has been pulled back, revealing a pile of gift-wrapped presents.
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