Targets (2013)

TARGETS

Story and Screenplay
by
Matthew Miller

T A R G E T S

EXT. DOWNTOWN BRIDGE - DAY

Daniel leans on the edge of the bridge and looks out at the stream running through the town.

Daniel looks down at his watch and looks over as a man he does not know approaches while talking on his cell phone. This man's name is Scott.

SCOTT

(To phone)

Yeah, I can hack into the software

but there is only one way to do it

and that is to get him to cooperate

without him knowing what's

happening.

Scott looks over at Daniel as he passes and Daniel turns to follow Scott from a distance.

Yes, I will keep you posted. Get

his attention fast though.

Scott hangs up his phone and turns down an alley. Daniel quickly moves to catch up and when he gets to the alley, Scott is nowhere to be found but a parking garage sits at the far end.

Daniel reaches into his pocket and pulls out a phone and answers it.

DANIEL

(To phone)

Talk to me Michael. Do I go on the

target or not?

MICHAEL (V.O.)

Daniel, we have a bigger problem. I

went over to your place earlier.

Someone broke in.

DANIEL

The box, is it

MICHAEL (V.O.)

Gone.

Daniel lowers the phone a little and looks angry.

MICHAEL (V.O.)

Look Daniel, I followed the trace

on the box to a house on the

outskirts of town. The house has

security too advanced for my

skills. I don't know how, but if

you want to try, I've got a setup

at the safe house.

DANIEL

You know, I think I have just the

thing.

FLASHBACK TO:

SCOTT

Yeah, I can hack into the software

BACK TO PRESENT

Daniel hangs up the phone and walks to the parking garage. Daniel walks up the stairs calmly, exits on the Second Floor, stands against the wall, pulls out his sidearm, looks at the magazine, and aims along the wall towards where the exit is.

Daniel looks up at the ceiling, opposite where his gun is pointed.

DANIEL

(Whispering to self)

Five. Four. Three.

Daniel looks down at his fingers.

Two. One.

Scott comes out on the Second Floor where Daniel just came out, turns and ends up staring down the barrel of Daniels gun.

Daniel is busy looking at his nails on his other hand.

DANIEL

Hello Scott.

Scott stands in silence, for a moment of fear has taken over. Daniel looks up at Scott.

Scott Merlin, age 26, lives at home

and picked a very inconvenient

person to piss off. You are Scott

Merlin are you not?

Daniel waits for a moment.

Speak boy!

SCOTT

(Gasps)

Yes! Yes, I am.

Daniel pulls the gun back and points it straight up before putting it away.

Scott breathes finally.

DANIEL

You know much about computers

Scott?

SCOTT

Um...yeah. Yeah I know a thing or

two.

DANIEL

Could you hack high security

cameras and alarms?

SCOTT

Yeah, probably.

Daniel sticks out his hand.

DANIEL

Name's Daniel. Come with me, I

think I have something that might

be of interest to you.

Scott nervously shakes Daniels hand and we...

CUT TO:

EXT. SAFE HOUSE - DAY

Daniel and Scott walk up to a door and enter the house.

SCOTT

Do you live here?

DANIEL

Only when I have to. Come inside, I

have something to show you.

INT. SAFE HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Scott walks inside and sees a large setup of computers. Scott pauses for a moment and looks at Daniel.

DANIEL

Well, take a look.

Scott moves over to the computers and sits down. Scott looks at the screens for a moment and looks up at Daniel.

SCOTT

So this guy, whoever he is,

obviously has something he feels is

worth protecting.

DANIEL

I know, it's something of mine.

SCOTT

And just what exactly are you

wanting me to do?

DANIEL

I want you to shut down the

security of this house. Not

completely, just long enough for me

to get in and out, unseen. Can you

do that?

SCOTT

Yeah, I mean other than the fact

that there has to be guards at a

place like this. Even without the

cameras and alarms, this place

won't be easy to enter.

DANIEL

You worry about shutting down his

security. I will worry about

getting inside.

Scott looks back at the computer screens.

SCOTT

I'll do what I can do, but this guy

has security for his security. Let

me see what it is I'm dealing with

here and I'll get back to you.

Daniel nods and heads to the door.

DANIEL

There's a phone in the top right

drawer.

SCOTT

You won't stay?

DANIEL

I have other business to attend to,

the number is programed in, call it

when you're finished.

Daniel exits and we...

CUT TO:

INT. CLARK'S HOUSE - DUSK

A figure stands in the shadows and whispers on the phone. This man's name is Clark.

CLARK

(To Phone)

How does everything look?

(Pause)

Yes, the security up and running.

(Pause)

I will do my best. When can you get

here? I may need your help.

(Pause)

Hurry, I don't know how much longer

I can stay here. I have a feeling

something bad is about to happen.

Clark hangs up the phone and we...

CUT TO:

INT. DANIEL'S APPARTMENT - DUSK

Scott types quickly. He stops for a second, clicks a couple times and then he sits in patience for a moment then sits back in excitement.

Scott reaches into the drawer and pulls out Daniels phone and pushes call.

SCOTT

(To Phone)

Yeah, I finished. You have a 5 hour

window so I suggest you get there

quick.

(Pauses)

Hey! I didn't sign up to risk my

life! I'm just going to sit back

here and monitor these cameras.

(Pause)

To make sure they don't suddenly

decide to change back to normal!

Just calm down, I can handle this

here.

Scott hangs up and kicks back and we...

CUT TO:

EXT. CLARK'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Daniel walks up to the entrance of Clark's house and loads his pistol. Daniel looks up at a security camera and touches his ear.

DANIEL

I'm at the front of the house, can

you see me?

INT. DANIEL'S APPARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

Scott jumps up to look at the monitors.

SCOTT

Sure can't. You're a ghost out

there.

EXT. CLARK'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Daniel goes to the door and crouches down.

DANIEL

Unlocking this door isn't going to

trip an alarm is it?

SCOTT (V.O.)

Nope, you're good to go.

Daniel puts a clip into the door, wiggles it and *click* the door unlocks.

INT. CLARK'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

DANIEL

Alright, I'm in.

SCOTT (V.O.)

That's what she said.

Daniel stops and goes against a wall.

DANIEL

Damn-it, this isn't the time for

games!

A voice comes from further inside the house.

VOICE

Huh? What was that?

CLARK

Probably just the wind, don't worry

about it.

DANIEL

You almost blew my cover.

SCOTT

Sorry boss, so what is it we're

after?

Daniel moves further into the house, stealthy.

DANIEL

A box kid, one with more value

inside it than in all the

computers you've ever touched.

Clark appears above Daniel.

CLARK

Which is exactly why you're not

getting it back.

Daniel jumps up and swings his gun towards Clark.

Clark grabs Daniel's arm, twists his wrist, the gun flies, and Clark puts another gun in Daniel's side.

CLARK

Nice to see you again Dan.

DANIEL

Clark...

CLARK

Funny how things work out with us.

One day we're business associates

and the next day I'm on that fancy

little list of targets that you

have.

DANIEL

How do you know about the list?

CLARK

Look Daniel, we worked for several

years on bank jobs. You had to have

known that I'd find out sooner or

later. Plus, when you suddenly

vanish and my men start getting

picked off, one begins to wonder.

Clark gets closer to Daniel.

You know, for a hit man, you're not

too difficult to find.

DANIEL

You won't kill me Clark.

CLARK

We both know that. Good thing for

me, I don't have to.

A figure comes out behind Daniel and knocks him out and we...

CUT TO:

INT. SAFE HOUSE - NIGHT

Daniel starts to come to.

SCOTT

Daniel, Daniel can you hear me?

DANIEL

Where...where am I?

SCOTT

You're home Daniel, I came and got

you when you stopped replying.

DANIEL

And what about Clark?

CLARK

Yes, he brought me back too Daniel.

Scott steps aside and reveals Clark tied to a chair.

Daniel staggers up and begins to lung at Clark.

DANIEL

You son of a...

Daniel pushes forward and collapses.

CLARK

I wouldn't do that if I were you.

Clark stands up from the chair, his ropes drop to the floor.

With the drugs we gave you, rest is

the best thing you can have now.

DANIEL

Drugs? You gave me drugs?

SCOTT

I did actually.

DANIEL

Scott. What did you do to me?

Scott kneels down to Daniel.

SCOTT

It was always like this.

Scott looks away and then back to Daniel.

At the bridge.

FLASHBACK TO:

SCOTT

(To Phone)

Yeah, I can hack into the software

but there is only one way to do it

and that is to get him to cooperate

without him knowing what's

happening.

CLARK (V.O.)

Daniel is a very sly individual so

be cautious and keep me posted.

SCOTT

Yes, I will keep you posted. Get

his attention fast though.

CLARK (V.O.)

Already done, his partner is just

about to discover the break-in.

BACK TO PRESENT

DANIEL

So, you're the one who stole my

box?

SCOTT

No, Clark stole it, but stealing

that was not the point. You see

Daniel, we've been working together

for quite some time, you just

didn't realize that I am who I am.

Scott gets up.

I've been your boss for years now

until you betrayed me and my men.

Scott turns a monitor.

On the monitor shows a bank account with a withdrawal of $200,000 that was direct deposited to Scott G.

DANIEL

You...you took it all...

SCOTT

Yes, it's all gone. And soon you

will be gone too.

Scott sets a vial next to Daniel that says 'Aconite'

SCOTT

Do you know what aconitine does to

the body? You see, first your mouth

will start to burn. That's the easy

part. After that, your body will

start to reject the poison. You'll

get stomach pain and you'll start

to vomit. You don't remember, but

you've already completed these

stages.

Scott stands up

Now you're body is going through a

phase of shock, your muscles are

(CONTINUOUS)

shutting down along with your

respiratory system. Normally after

the dose we gave you, a person will

die within four hours. You've only

got two left.

DANIEL

You're just going to leave me here

to die?

SCOTT

Good-bye Daniel.

Scott walks to the door.

DANIEL

You can't! You can't do this!

Scott stands in the doorway.

SCOTT

Maybe Daniel, you should

research your targets.

Scott shuts the door.

The End.

Credits.