The Things We Protect FADE IN: INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT A flashlight shines across shipping containers. The light illuminates reflects off each one. DONOVAN PAULSEN, (30) walks through a dim warehouse. He has an AR slung around the front of him. He wears a pair of jeans. A tan plate carrier sits over a white button up shirt. On his shoulder sits a Sentinel Securities ID. The bags on Don's eyes show through the dim light. He wears an earpiece. The radio comes to life as MARCUS MATTHEWS, (34) keys his microphone. MARCUS (earpiece) All teams, radio check. MICHAEL CHAVEZ, (24) keys his radio. CHAVEZ Alpha one, check. PAUL CARTER, (25) keys his microphone. CARTER Alpha two, check. Marcus lets off a sigh into the radio. Don fumbles with his microphone. DON Alpha three, check. CONRAD MILLER, (28) keys his microphone. CONRAD Alpha four, check. Don yawns. He meets back up with Conrad. CONRAD (CONT’D) How you liking the job so far? DON About what I expected. Another narrow conex hallway in front of them. CONRAD You want to switch? Don gives a chuckle. DON It's the same damn thing here, dude! Conrad gives a shrug. DON (CONT’D) Fuck it. The two switch sides. The same setup sits in front of Don. DON (CONT’D) (muttering) Told him. Don walks forward, light forward. A thud. MARCUS (earpiece) All units, report. CHAVEZ Alpha one, all clear here. CARTER Alpha two, nothin' to note here. Don takes out his ear piece and listens again. A louder and more noticeable thud. Don puts his earpiece back in. MARCUS (earpiece) Paulsen, report, damn it. DON (into mic) Alpha three reporting, I got something. Don slings his rifle forward. DON (CONT’D) WHO'S THERE?! Don pushes forward and flicks the safety off his rifle. DON (CONT’D) Fuck is that? Louder bangs- Something metallic. His heart races as he moves forward. Don slows down and begins to control his breaths. More bangs come from next to him. DON (CONT’D) Who the fuck is in the container? He looks to both sides of him. Nothing. Don puts his earpiece back in. DON (CONT’D) (into earpiece) Be advised, found the source of the sound. MARCUS Copy that, don't open that till we- DON Fuck that. Don takes out a pair of bolt cutters and cuts the locks off the shipping container. He keeps his hand on his rifle, turns on its light, and keeps it trained at the door. Don swings the door open. INT. SHIPPING CONTAINER - NIGHT His once tired eyes change to those of shock. DON Oh, fuck. Children lay on cots inside the container. One bucket sits on each end of the container. Don covers his mouth and tries to mask the stench of the container. At the very front, a child stands there. CHILD Mama? Это ты? DON What?! Don looks past him and shines his light on the others. DON (CONT’D) English? The child's eyes give Don a blank stare. CHILD Это ты? DON I don't... Marcus walks into the container. MARCUS Hey, buddy... Don lowers his weapon. DON Hey man, we gotta go to the feds about this- Behind Don, Chavez and Carter appear behind him. Marcus gets closer and holds something sharp in his hand. DON (CONT’D) Hey what the fuck are you- Marcus stabs the child in the shoulder with the syringe and takes it out. DON (CONT’D) Motherfucker! Don raises his handgun only for one to put him in a head lock. The other pulls the gun out of his hand. The child falls in front of him. Don struggles to get out of their grasp as one kicks the back of his leg and brings him to his knees. He falls forward and lets off a cry of pain as he falls forward. Marcus picks the child up and sets him down in an empty cot. Marcus walks over to Don. His demeanor is calm, casual. MARCUS Donovan Paulsen. (smiles) You live with your daughter, formerly Ashley Wren Jackson, now Ashley Paulsen at 4333 West Bell Road, apartment 2043 in Phoenix. Don looks up at him with anger. DON These are god damn kids! MARCUS Donny, Donny, Donny. Don tries to struggle only to get held back as he looks up at Marcus. MARCUS (CONT’D) Always the pessimist, aren't you? Don's eyes widen as he looks behind Marcus at the children on cots. DON They're in fucking shipping containers... MARCUS You are standing in front of a moving train, Don. I'm just protecting our bottom line. Now. You get in our way. He reaches into a holster and pulls out a suppressed Ruger Mark 2 and chuckles. MARCUS (CONT’D) Otherwise, I'm going to kill your daughter and make you watch. He reaches into Don's vest pocket and takes out a picture of Ash. MARCUS (CONT’D) I've known you awhile buddy. Don just watches this. MARCUS (CONT’D) Honestly, capping four of your guys isn't a very heroic thin- Don's eyes widen and light up with anger. DON FUCK YOU! Marcus just laughs. MARCUS Can you believe this fucking guy? A "hero". At least the chicks I'm with don't cheat. Don lunges forward but gets pulled back by the two that hold his arms. MARCUS (CONT’D) You're so cute when you get like that. Now, what's it gonna be? Don goes silent as the anger on his face subsides. His face changes to that of disgust. DON I won't talk. Marcus reaches into another vest pocket. He takes Don's wallet. Marcus takes out Don's license snaps a photo of it. He puts it all back and throws his wallet down. MARCUS Pick your shit up and get back to it. The two agents let him go. DON Yeah... Sure. The three walk out. Don still looks at the container, shock in his eyes. The kids in cots line the shipping container as Don stands back up and walks out. The light inside the crate goes away as Don closes it. CUT TO: INT. CORPORATE OFFICE - DAY SENTINEL SECURITIES, is visible against a wall. DON I can't believe they actually took me. Don walks through a corridor. He wears a suit, the jacket open. DAWN "MICHELLE" PAULSEN, (34) walks beside him. MICHELLE Well, a lot of things tend to when you're the "Hero of Houston". Big damn hero you are. Don shrugs. DON If it's just that, then I don't really deserve it now, do I? Michelle rolls her eyes then stops. MICHELLE Honestly? You don't, Mikey. DON Excuse me? Michelle pulls out a security card and opens a door for him. MICHELLE First door to the right. Make sure not to kill anyone along the way. Don raises his arms as anger registers on his face. DON You weren't there, sis! She motions for him to enter. Don walks inside. The door closes behind him. He takes a deep breath. DON (CONT’D) Motherfucker. Don walks forward and enters MEETING ROOM - DAY MARCUS MATTHEWS, (30) gives Don a warm smile. MARCUS Just wanted to congratulate you, Mr. Paulsen. You're going to great on our team. Don shakes his hand and shoots a nervous grin. DON So, what am I going to be doing exactly? I wasn't really clued in on that. MARCUS Just security on high value cargo from the Ukraine. Don nods. DON Anything I'll need? MARCUS Just everything you used during the course, no real preference. It's all you. Marcus shoots a warm smile to him. DON Sounds good then. Marcus puts his hand out and offers a handshake. The two shake hands. MARCUS How's tomorrow sound for your first day? DON I don't see an issue. Marcus shoots him a grin. MARCUS See you tomorrow then. INT. HALLWAY - DAY Don steps out of the room and closes the door behind him. He closes his eyes then takes a sigh. DON Fuck. Don walks down as Michelle approaches him. MICHELLE How'd it go, Mikee? Don shrugs and walks with her. DON Okay, given the circumstances. MICHELLE He seems to like you. DON Yeah, well a lot of people seem to like me- Never seems to do me any god damn favors. Michelle shrugs. MICHELLE Why can't you be positive Don? Don just shoots a look of confusion at her. DON Why can't you see things for how they are? It's always the same with you- Gunshots ring out as people start to run away through the hall. An alarm rings out. LOUDSPEAKER (over building) Code silver, all personnel evacuate immediately. The world slows. Michelle starts to tug on Don's shoulder, with a frantic look on her face. The world comes back. MICHELLE WE NEED TO GO, NOW! Don's face changes to anger as screams grow louder. DON Get outta here! MICHELLE Fine, be that way then! Don pushes her away as he moves down the hall way. He makes a turn as the gun shots continue to ring out. DON I'm gonna die, I'm gonna fucking die, I'm gonna fucking die... Don stops and looks at an armed security guard. The guard holds his leg as his blood pools around him. In the other, he holds a Beretta and trains it in the direction people run from. He slumps over and drops his gun. Don makes his way over to him and looks at his belt. A tourniquet sits on it. He takes it out and cuts off the bleeding gunshot wound. DON (CONT’D) This guy's gonna make it. I'm not. Just shoot me, dude. Be done with it. Don takes the gun and chamber checks it. Sweat runs down Don's brow. DON (CONT’D) Oh, I'm so fucking dead. Gunshots ring out behind him. People flee behind him. DON (CONT’D) Oh fucking christ. Don takes a deep breath and charges in. INT. OFFICE - DAY Everyone in the room is gone. Dead bodies lie around. Some in front of the door as if they'd tried to escape. Two men stand in the room. CRAIG, (mid-40s) holds a gun to the other one's chest. BILL, (mid-30s) has his hands up. Blood stains his shirt. His nose bleeds. CRAIG You were banging my wife you son of a bitch. BILL Craig, it wasn't like that, she was throwing herself on- CRAIG DON'T tell me that, I know you slimey son of a bitch, I know how you- Don gets into position and trains his Beretta on him. DON Hey! Craig turns the gun on Don. Don fires two shots at him, the deafening sound of gunfire echoing through the halls office The office window behind Don breaks as he crawls forward. DON (CONT’D) (muttering) Well, fuck. CRAIG You got no part in this, get the fuck out of here! Craig's gun dry clicks as Don stands up. Craig loads a magazine and rides it forward. The two take aim at each other. Don squeezes the trigger, firing one shot into Craig's throat. Craig manages to get a shot off, hitting Don in the shoulder. Silence. Don bleeds from his shoulder as two officers, Parks and Hawkins walk in. He throws the gun on the ground, his hands up. He looks down at his shoulder and falls over as he blacks out. FADE TO BLACK. Don is wheeled out on a stretcher. JACQUELINE "JACKIE" PAULSEN, (28) places her hand on his cheek. She wears a JACKIE (O.S.) I love you Donovan Paulsen. She holds his hand.Jackie appears as she holds his hand. DON (mouthing) ...Jackie, don't leave... Blood runs down the side of his arm. Blood runs down the side of his stomach. Don looks up at his sister. Michelle stabs something into his arm. Don lets out a scream of pain as he sucks in air. His pulse begins to race as she shouts something. Don's breathing begins to normalize as he looks at his arm, covered in blood. His hearing returns. MICHELLE GET UP! Don stands up, his pulse guns it once more. He feels his arm. DON I thought I was shot here... For a second he laughs, then drops and passes out. INT. BEDROOM - DAY Jackie feels the side of Don's face. She leans in to give him a kiss. JACKIE I don't want this to ever go away, baby. Don pulls her close and kisses her back. He pulls back. DON Me neither, baby girl. He kisses her back, gets on top of her, then- CUT TO: INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY Don wakes up in a hospital bed. He blinks a couple times, a ceiling fan above him. He has an IV in his left arm. ASHLEY "Ash" PAULSEN, (18) sits next to him. Don rolls over. DON Jackie? Fuck... Don sits up and holds his head. He wears a patient's gown as he sits up and holds his shoulder. DON (CONT’D) I should be dead. Ash sits there, her arms crossed. ASH Well, as it turns out you're not. DON Thought I was back there again. ASH You're always back there. DON No- With your mom, Ash. Ash just sighs as Michelle walks in. DON (CONT’D) Hey Michelle. MICHELLE Oh thank god, it worked. Don gives her a look of annoyance. DON That's good I guess. Doesn't do much. MICHELLE The hell's wrong with you? You're alive, aren't you? Don just shrugs at this. DON I'm feeling better, let's get home. Don stands up, then clutches his left arm. MICHELLE Hey, easy. Don gives her a look of anger. DON I've been through worse you know. What the hell's in it for you helping me anyway? MICHELLE You're my brother. Michelle places her hand on his shoulder. MICHELLE (CONT’D) Because I care. DON Yeah, sure Dawn. Maybe we should go back so I can prove you wrong. He looks over at Ash. ASH Come on, Ash. He gives a look to Michelle. DON Now if you don't mind? I got security I gotta attend to. Don takes Ash along. INT. FORD MUSTANG - NIGHT Don drives. Ash sits there on her phone. She looks up. ASH Dad, why'd you do it? Don looks over and cocks an eyebrow. DON "Do it"? ASH Y'know? Stopping the guy. It's been on the news. They've been showing the video around in class. They didn't say who it was but- DON Hey. He looks at her. DON (CONT’D) I'm fine, that's what matters, alright? ASH And another thing. You never mentioned having a sister. Don shrugs at this. DON I'd rather you not hang around her. ASH I mean other than being a prissy rich asshole, she doesn't seem that bad. DON That's the problem. She's a prissy rich asshole who thinks she grew up in fucking Beverly Hills. ASH You normally this resentful talking about family? Don just looks forward. DON Let's just go home, alright? We'll talk about this later. I got a job to get to and you got class in the morning. ASH Stop fucking treating me like a kid, dad! Don rolls his eyes. DON Maybe you should act like a damn adult then. EXT. APARTMENT PARKING LOT - NIGHT The Mustang pulls up to the apartment. INT. FORD MUSTANG - NIGHT DON Make sure you do the dishes, alright? I gotta get to work. ASH Yeah, yeah, sure dad. Don shakes his head and drives to work into the night. INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT The door to the conex box closes behind him. Don stands there. MATTHEWS Now that we're all on the same page... Matthews shoots a look to Don and motions to Conrad. MATTHEWS (CONT’D) Keep an eye on Mr. Paulsen. Don looks back at Conrad and gives him a scowl. Conrad nods at Matthews. CONRAD Yes, sir. MATTHEWS Good work tonight gents, we'll be back it tomorrow. Hooah? Don still carries a look of confusion and fear in his eyes. CONRAD Hooah. CHAVEZ Hooah. DON Hooah. CARTER Hooah. Don walks out into EXT. WAREHOUSE PARKING LOT - NIGHT The rain pours down. Don steps out, walks to his car, and starts undoing his plate carrier. Conrad walks behind him. Don walks over to his car. CONRAD Paulsen. Don opens the trunk to his mustang and puts his plate carrier in it. CONRAD (CONT’D) PAULSEN! DON WHAT?! WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT?! Don raises his arms at him in anger. Conrad glares at him. CONRAD Keep your fucking voice down, you trying to get these guys on your ass Paulsen? Conrad puts his hands up. CONRAD (CONT’D) I'm trying not to do what he says you fucking idiot. Don gets into the driver's seat of his car. CONRAD (CONT’D) Let's talk. INT. FORD MUSTANG - NIGHT Don gets into his car and unlocks the door. Conrad gets in next to him. CONRAD You should've said no to that offer, Paulsen. DON Oh, now you tell me. What happened to you? Conrad looks down. CONRAD It's complicated- DON Kids in shipping containers? Complicated? Killing the dude who got your ass out of, oh I dunno... He starts counting on his fingers. DON (CONT’D) One, two, three, four- EIGHT FUCKING BINDS?! CONRAD The last guy was one of ours back in the day. Don leans back. DON And I'm supposed to care, why? CONRAD It was Cho. DON (muttering) Fuck. CONRAD I got a plan, but I need you with me, not against me. DON Okay, Dutch. Does this plan involve Tahiti? CONRAD Jesus, still a smart ass after all these fuckin' years ain't you? DON Not much has changed. Conrad opens the door. CONRAD Keep your head down. When the time comes, you'll know. Conrad gets out and closes the door behind him. Don sighs and sits back. DON Motherfucker. He starts his CUT TO: INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT Don comes into his apartment and turns the light on. He looks at the kitchen sink. There's still dirty dishes in it. DON Ah, damn it. He goes into her room. She's sleeping. DON (CONT’D) You actually asleep? No response. Don rolls his eyes. He goes into the kitchen and starts washing dishes. During this, Ash comes out. DON (CONT’D) Ash, I told you to clean these- Come on. She yawns. ASH Fuck, slipped my mind, sorry. I had homework. Don sighs. DON There's gonna be a time where I'm not gonna be here, you know that right? ASH Well, if it's any consolation, I found this. She takes out a Gameboy Advanced SP from her front pocket. Don's eyes widen. He stops cleaning the dishes and dries his hands on his jeans. He opens it up and looks at the cartridge in it. DON (softly) Sweetie, was there a charger with it? Don reaches out for it. ASH Five dollars. DON You fuckin' serious? ASH No. She smirks at him then passes it. Don takes out the cartridge. DON Pokemon Sapphire... His eyes look down. ASH Can I have it, dad? Don looks down. His gaze goes blank. IND PERSON 1 (O.S.) Can I have it? I'll give it back. He shakes his head. DON Yeah, sure Ash- Not a uh... Problem. You can have it. A knock at the door. The clock on the microwave reads, "12:00". Don reaches into the side of his waistband and takes out his Colt Defender. DON (CONT’D) Ash, get away from the door. ASH Dad? Don gets in front of her and keeps his gun trained at the door. DON Who's there?! IND PERSON 2 (O.S.) Delivery service. The footsteps move away from the door. Don keeps the gun against the door and looks through the peephole. He looks into it. A figure wearing jeans and a hoodie runs down the staircase. Don opens the door, his weapon aimed forward. A yellow envelope sits on the ground below. Don holsters his gun and takes it. DON Ash- Don stops. He opens the envelope. Pictures of Ash going into class appear. They all carry red Xes on them. More photos appear as he looks through them. ASH Dad, what is it? DON Fuck. Don's eyes widen. ASH Dad? Talk to me! Ash looks at him with concern. Don goes into his room and closes the door behind him. DON'S ROOM Don sits at his desk and dumps out the pictures in front of him. He places his hands on his head as he starts to look through all of them. DON Oh, no. No, no, no... He lays them all out. The photos are all time stamped with the Don and Ash's routine. Ash works on her car in one photo. In another, Don is out on a run. DON (CONT’D) Fuck. Don buries his head in his hands. DON (CONT’D) (whispering) I can't fucking help them- But I can get Ash out of this. I die, they have nothing and no one to leverage anymore... Don takes his gun out of his waistband and puts it to the side of his skull. Tears roll down his eyes. He takes a deep breath then- A knock at the door. ASH (O.S.) Dad? Don exhales and puts the gun back on the table. His eyes widen. DON (muttering) Oh god, I almost blew my head off. Don looks at the door. DON (CONT’D) Y-Yeah, sweetheart? ASH There's still food in the fridge if you were looking for it. DON I'll uh... I'll be out there in a sec. ASH You need me to call the cops? Don stops and takes a moment. DON I don't think they'll be able to help us, Ash.