INT. SECURITY CHECKPOINT - NIGHT Ellis looks down at his phone, then at the empty hallway in front of him. He holds a depressed look in his eyes. He scrolls through his contacts. "Mica" appears as one of the names. He looks away. ELLIS (V.O.) I don't want to be lonely... He skips the name and stops on a contact that reads "Cait". Ellis eyes the contact, then looks back down at the hallway in front of him. He texts her. ELLIS (TEXT) Hey, how've you been? Ellis puts the phone back on the table. He puts his head in his hands and takes a deep breath. Ellis opens his laptop once more and continues to write a project titled "The Things We Protect". He checks his phone, then the time. It reads "10:00AM". Ellis gets up, then puts his backpack on. He goes to INT. LOCKER ROOM - DAY Ellis changes out into jeans, a T-shirt, and a button up shirt. He puts his baseball cap on, then puts his Glock 19 into his inner waistband holster. His phone vibrates on the bench next to him. Ellis checks it. CAIT (TEXT) Hey Ellis, I've been good. Yourself? Ellis closes the locker and grabs his phone. ELLIS (TEXT) I'm great, yeah. I've been really busy though. He puts his backpack on and steps out. INT. OFFICE HALLWAY - DAY Ellis walks down the hallway. Other scientists and security guards walk by him. CAIT (TEXT) That's good. It's been awhile, hasn't it? ELLIS (TEXT) It has. You want to call me tonight? CAIT (TEXT) Yeah, that sounds good. He walks over to an elevator and pushes the call button. The elevator opens. Matthews makes out with a secretary, MICHAELA, (early-20s) in an elevator. Aster stands in the corner and holds a mop in discomfort. Ellis looks around him. ELLIS Fuck it, I want to go home. Ellis steps in the elevator and reaches his hand between the making out couple. Ellis clears his throat. The couple covers up the buttons. ELLIS (CONT’D) Fuck sake. Ellis slams his hand above the elevator buttons. ELLIS (CONT’D) Mind letting me get to my damn floor? Matthews looks over at Ellis. MATTHEWS Well, fuck you, you kill joy. ELLIS Jesus christ. No wonder Cait left your ass. MATTHEWS You better watch the next words you say. ELLIS Okay, retard. Ellis backs up next to Aster. The two eye each other down while Matthews holds his woman. MATTHEWS You only wish you had this. ELLIS Cait would beg to differ. Matthews's eyes wide, his face goes red. Ellis stares down Matthews. The elevator doors open. Aster steps out. The two continue to eye each other. MATTHEWS You're just jealous that you can't hold a relationship, Ellis. ELLIS Five chicks in five months isn't exactly stability there, Bill Clinton. MATTHEWS Unlike you, I got family that gives to shits about me. Ellis's eye twitches. The elevator door opens. Ellis steps out. MATTHEWS (CONT’D) Stay here. INT. PARKING GARAGE - DAY Ellis walks out, his head down and his hands in his pockets. MATTHEWS So you think you can talk shit to me and walk away from it? Is that it?! Ellis raises one middle finger as he walks off. Ellis looks at the ground below him. He walks up to his car, opens it, and gets in. INT. ELLIS'S CAR - DAY Ellis starts his car and gets out of the parking space. He looks in the rear view mirror and sees Matthews flip him off. EXT. ELLIS'S CAR - DAY Ellis's car pulls up to "James's". INT. ELLIS'S CAR - DAY Ellis bursts out into tears. ELLIS I'm such a fuck up, I'm such a fuck up, I'm such a fuck up... Ellis cries into the steering wheel of his car, then takes a deep breath. ELLIS (CONT’D) Fuck, fuck, fuck! He slams his hand into the steering wheel and holds his head in his hand. IND VOICE You're not doing good enough. Helena left you for being fucked up person and now everyone's giving you shit for it. Tears run down Ellis's eyes. He looks down. Ellis gets his composure back. His phone vibrates. Ellis checks it. CAIT (TEXT) My ex was talking about a fight he got into at work. You okay? ELLIS (TEXT) Been worse. Sometimes I wish I had a range accident with that guy. CAIT (TEXT) Did he hit you? ELLIS (TEXT) I wish. Might actually have an excuse to waste him. CAIT (TEXT) Well, come see me before you do that. ELLIS (TEXT) Wait, what? CAIT (TEXT) ;) Ellis looks back up from his phone. ELLIS What the fuck, man? Ellis gets out of his car and goes into INT. JAMES'S - DAY Ellis walks in, the dried tears still in his eyes. He wipes his face with his sleeve. Other people look around at the guns on the walls, JAMES O'REILLY, (26) looks at Ellis with concern. James wears a Hawaiian shirt with jeans. JAMES Jesus, Ellis. You okay? ELLIS Yeah, been worse. Rough day at work, don't worry about it. JAMES I can fucking tell, dude. You just spent 10 minutes crying in your car. Ellis looks upset by this comment. ELLIS Yeah, I fucking know. James's eyes widen. JAMES You want to talk about it? ELLIS No. JAMES Alright, well in that case. James reaches behind the desk and takes out an M16A1. He takes the magazine out, checks it, then beckons Ellis over. JAMES (CONT’D) Come on, look at this thing. We just got it in. One of the old boomers fucking croaked and he happened to have a pre-86 MG. ELLIS No shit? James passes the rifle to Ellis. Ellis looks at the fire selector. ELLIS (CONT’D) No fucking shit. It has a full auto switch on it. JAMES I'm gonna put the sign up today. I'll let you shoot it, half off. ELLIS How much? JAMES Ten for two mags. Actually... James reaches for a 100 drum. ELLIS You had that thing full the entire time? JAMES Yeah, but you want to do the honors? 30 for this or 10 for the two mags. ELLIS Sure. Ellis takes some cash out and passes it to him. JAMES Get yourself set up. James passes Ellis some electronic ear protection. Ellis adjusts his glasses and puts on the ear pro. ELLIS Thanks man. JAMES No problem. Get yourself setup on two. James passes him the rifle, then the magazine. He walks to the range. JAMES (CONT’D) And Ellis? Ellis looks back. ELLIS Yeah? JAMES Feel better, man. INT. SHOOTING RANGE - DAY A paper target sits there. Ellis loads the 100 round drum, then chambers the round. He flicks the safety selector to semi. Ellis shoulders the rifle into his left shoulder, then fires a few rounds into a target at 50 meters. The holes appear on the silhouette target. Ellis grins, then flicks the switch to full auto. He braces the rifle and fires into the target in bursts. The target looks progressively more and more shot up. ELLIS YOU WANT TO PLAY ROUGH?! OKAY, I'M RELOADED! Ellis pulls the trigger. Rounds exit the barrel, the muzzle flash shines as he does so. The magazine empties. Ellis carries a look of accomplishment in his eyes, then looks at the target again. Most of the shots are raised about the torso, but still scatter themselves across the target. Ellis reaches over to the target mechanism and moves it back to himself. He takes the a close look at the target. ELLIS (CONT’D) It's alright. Ellis takes the target down, then throws it in the trash. Ellis takes the magazine out of the rifle. He clears the rifle, inspects it, then flicks the safety on. INT. JAMES'S - DAY Ellis sets the rifle and the magazine on the table. JAMES How'd it feel? James checks the rifle and clears it. ELLIS Good man, it was good. Thanks. JAMES Glad you enjoyed it. Come by next time, hopefully I'll have something new. Ellis walks out to INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT Ellis sits in his chair and continues to write The Things We Protect. A /k/ tab sits open next to his Writer Duet tab. His phone vibrates. CAIT (TEXT) Hey, you want to call? Ellis looks at the phone, then takes a sigh. ELLIS (TEXT) Yeah, sure. Ellis calls her. CAIT (O.S.) (phone) Hey Ellis. ELLIS (phone) Hey uh- Hope I wasn't bothering you or anything. CAIT (O.S.) (phone) No, nothing like that at all. Heard Ronnie tried to pick a fight with you. Ellis looks down. ELLIS (phone) Yeah, something like that. CAIT (O.S.) (phone) Don't let him get to you, Ellis. ELLIS (phone) Yeah. I know. The two continue to talk. Ellis face changes to that of happiness in the call. FADE TO BLACK. CAIT (O.S.) (phone) ...Anyway, Ellis- I'm gonna head off to bed. ELLIS (phone) Alright, yeah- Hang on. Hey, Cait? CAIT (O.S.) (phone) Yeah? ELLIS (phone) Well, now that Ronnie ain't in the picture anymore, and that I don't have to worry about some dipshit with more bullets in his gun than brains in his skull... Ellis struggles to put together next few words. ELLIS (CONT’D) (phone) I think that- I want you to know- CAIT (O.S.) (phone) Come on, be blunt about it. You can say anything to me. ELLIS (phone) Well you're hot and I've always wanted to fuck you. Ellis's eyes widen. He realizes in this moment what he's said. Cait giggles on the other end. CAIT (O.S.) (phone) I said be blunt, but... Jesus, Ellis. ELLIS (phone) Hey, if that's creepy- I know that was a lot more forward than- CAIT (O.S.) (phone) No, no- (Cait giggles) I didn't know you could be that forward with women. Anyway, I got work in the morning. I'll send you something you might like. Ellis chuckles and scratches the back of his head. ELLIS Wait, what? CAIT (O.S.) (phone) Good night, Ellis Parsons. Cait hangs up. Ellis's eyes are wide. He puts his phone upside down on the table next to his laptop. ELLIS What the fuck just happened? His phone vibrates once more. A picture of Cait in a bikini. ELLIS (CONT’D) Holy shit. FADE TO BLACK.