Us Lucky Few by Eli FADE IN: EXT. CONVENIENCE STORE - NIGHT An empty stretch of highway. A lone police cruiser sits in front of a convenience store, the lights flash. OFFICER DAVID PARKS, (25) steps out of his cruiser then presses the mic to his radio. He's Asian, 5"8 and wears a Phoenix Police Department uniform PARKS (into radio) 1532, dispatch we're 97, code two. DISPATCH (O.S.) 10-4, 1532. OFFICER LANCE HAWKINS, (21) is next to him. Parks turns to Hawkins and points at him. PARKS Watch. Let me do the talking. Anything looks weird, call it. HAWKINS 10-4 sir. INT. CONVENIENCE STORE - NIGHT The two walk in and immediately see two people. The older one, JOHN STEVENS, (late-40s) wears a confederate flag hat with a jacket and jeans. JOHN Look pal, see- He pulls out a Triple-A card. JOHN (CONT’D) I just gotta get me a tow truck so I can bring my truck to the shop. Please, I gotta just borrow your phone. The STOREKEEPER, (late-50s) points toward the door. STOREKEEPER No, you leave! The younger one, JACK STEVENS, (early-20s) wears a jacket and jeans and has long hair. JACK Dad, let's just go outside, we'll- The two officers watch this for a moment. The door closes behind them and a "DING" can be heard. Hawkins points at the door. HAWKINS That sensor's a little late. He chuckles and grins. Parks glares at him, then looks at the two. The storekeeper looks at Hawkins and points. STOREKEEPER These men, right here sir! I do not allow racists in my store! JOHN Look pal, we were just looking to borrow a phone. No trouble here. John's hands are in his pockets. PARKS Step back from the counter sir, keep your hands out your pockets. Parks looks over at John and motions toward him. John takes his hand out of his pockets then cocks his head in confusion at Parks. PARKS (CONT’D) John, was it? JOHN Yeah. PARKS How about you and your son step outside and talk with me? Hawkins, check the security footage. Hawkins nods. EXT. CONVENIENCE STORE - NIGHT John takes a sigh. PARKS You alright? John massages his eyes. JOHN Just needed to borrow a phone man, phone's dead and the battery in my truck died. He just went on spouting about how I was racist. Christ, people these days gettin' butthurt over lil' symbols like these. He takes off his hat. JOHN (CONT’D) Long night. We were trying to make it to New Mexico when the truck broke down. PARKS I see. Sorry to even ask, but you guys got weapons on you? John motions over to the shotgun mounted on the truck. JOHN And then mine and my son's carry pieces. PARKS Alright, thanks. Let's just get you guys outta here as soon as we can. Hawkins steps back out. HAWKINS Yeah, he apparently called the cops and freaked out seeing the hat. With a sigh, he massages his eyes, then thumbs his radio. PARKS (into radio) 1532, dispatch. DISPATCH (from radio) Go ahead 1532. PARKS (into radio) Requesting a tow truck at the Chevron on Dillon and third. We're gonna be code four here. He glances at Hawkins and motions for him to follow him. PARKS (CONT’D) Alright sir, we're gonna be across the street doing traffic if you need us, just wait out here for the truck. Anything happens, just give us a holler or call. JACK Thanks, officer. Parks and Hawkins get back into their cruiser. INT. POLICE CRUISER - NIGHT The two wait across the street from the gas station and clock traffic. HAWKINS So, how'd I do? Parks jots something down on a paper and stares at the passing vehicles. PARKS That's a three. HAWKINS Come on, just a three? PARKS You should've handled that faster. HAWKINS Why didn't you? Parks shoots him a grin. PARKS Wanted to see what you'd do. HAWKINS Right. Well it's not another two which is good. Hawkins clocks traffic with a radar gun. HAWKINS (CONT’D) You were military though? A few of the guys at the station said you were in Afghanistan a few years. David glances over at the radar gun. He takes a deep breath. PARKS Yeah, still kind of am. HAWKINS That's really cool! You know I was gonna join, but then they wouldn't take me because- Parks takes a sigh, then massages his eyes. PARKS Fuck, kid- You gave 'em a reason not to. Parks takes out his phone, checks it, then puts it back in his pocket. HAWKINS (voice trails off) ...Of a surgery when I was nine. David continues to watch cars pass. He massages his eyes as Hawkins continues to take radar. HAWKINS (CONT’D) Pretty quiet today, huh? Parks slowly moves his head and glares at Hawkins. PARKS I'm gonna make you eat those fucking words. A car screams past the two- HAWKINS Holy shit! Did you see that?! Parks picks up the car's radio. PARKS You called it, not me. Light 'em up. Hawkins floors the accelerator and speeds up behind the other car. Hawkins turns on the siren and Parks grabs the radio. The siren blares as the car begins to pull over. PARKS (CONT’D) 1532, dispatch, be advised performing TC on reckless driver- Interstate 10, past Marker 13. DISPATCH (over radio) 10-4. Hawkins and Parks prepare to exit the car. HAWKINS Cover. PARKS Contact. EXT. DESERT HIGHWAY - NIGHT The two get out and approach. Hawkins crosses toward the passenger's side. Parks crosses toward the driver's. Both place their fingertips on the tail lights of the car. The passenger's side door opens before they can even reach the car. Two gunshots ring out by the time Hawkins gets his as the man in front of him drops dead. Parks draws his weapon and makes his way back. PARKS Hawkins, behind the cruiser! Parks fires into the driver's side door and is met with multiple muzzle flashes. Hawkins turns his back and hides behind the passenger side door of the cruiser, gun out, muzzle up. Parks continues to fire and with his free hand keys his radio. PARKS (CONT’D) (into radio) 1532, DISPATCH! SHOTS FIRED AT OUR LOCATION! ROLL BODYCAM! The rounds fly past Hawkins as he sits there and shakes, his gun still out. Parks looks over. His eyes widen. PARKS (CONT’D) GRAB THE RIFLE NOW, HAWKINS! Hawkins shakes as he reaches into the car and pulls out the patrol rifle. Hawkins now crouches next against the door of the cruiser. He fires at the muzzle flashes in the car. DISPATCH (from radio) 10-4, 1532, any available units 1532 is requesting assistance on Highway 10 past marker 13. Parks watches a figure run out and fires two rounds before his handgun goes dry. PARKS Hawkins, cover fire! Hawkins continues to fire at the car in front of him. Parks takes a knee behind the door of his cruiser and reloads his handgun. A concussion grenade from the other car lands on the cruiser's windshield, in between both of their firing positions behind the squad car doors. PARKS (CONT’D) Hawkins get back! Parks tries to reach for it, then- Silence. Parks is in a daze, but opens his eyes. Hawkins's rifle sits on the ground. With his eyes open, he fumbles to reach for it. A silhouette pops up. Parks sees it, then looks back at Hawkins. Hawkins drops to the ground next to the cruiser, a spatter of blood exiting the other side of his skull. Parks reaches into the car and takes his Mossberg 590A1 out. Rounds fly through the windshield. Parks ducks under the dashboard as he fumbles with his 12 gauge. Parks thumbs his radio again. PARKS (CONT’D) (into radio) OFFICER DOWN, WE HAVE AN OFFICER DOWN! SUSPECT JUST THREW A FUCKING GRENADE! IND VOICE 1 (O.S.) FUCK YOU WEY! The fire continues as Parks watches one charge him with a knife. Parks fires a round into his chest and just watches him come at him. He places his hand on the forend of the shotgun as the man starts to swing his knife at him. Parks kicks him back, chambers a round, and fires as the man's intestines hang out. PARKS What the fuck?! IND VOICE 1 (O.S.) You just fucked homie. He trains his weapon once more and tries to chamber the next round. Click. The man stabs Parks in the shoulder. IND VOICE 1 (CONT’D) FUCK...! Parks cries out in pain as the man pulls the knife out and takes another swing. Parks shoves him with his shotgun and backs up and in a frantic rush tries to pull another shell of of his sling, only to drop it. Parks only falls as another bullet flies out the back of his shoulder. His shoulder bleeds. Another bullet flies out the back of the same shoulder. Parks falls down, stiff. IND VOICE 1 (CONT’D) Oh shit! The man looks up. Gunshots ring out as the rounds land in the back of their car. IND VOICE 2 Let's go, let's go man! Parks looks looks over his side. John is with his son and holds a shotgun. His son grabs Parks's shotgun, loads it and fires into the back of the assailants' car. Parks holds his shoulder as he feels himself fade in and out of consciousness. He grabs the tourniquet off his belt and tries to wrap the wounds on Parks's shoulders. John has a still look of fear in his eyes as he applies the tourniquet. JOHN Shit, shit shit! PARKS (fading) ...I'm gonna die... John reaches into Parks's pocket and pulls out his phone. JOHN Hey, Parks stay with me now man! Don't you go dying on me! You're gonna be fine! The police lights begin to show themselves on John's face. JOHN (CONT’D) They're just right here, they're right here officer! HEY! The lights flash across his face as John waves first responders over. Parks blacks out. INT. EMERGENCY ROOM - NIGHT Parks is wakes up as he's taken into the emergency room. IND NURSE 1 Subject is David Parks, 28-years old, male, blood pressure... Parks blacks out again.. INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY Parks sits on a hospital bed and clutches his arm. His face carries a pained expression. ELENA SAINTCLAIRE, (26) places her hand on Parks's shoulder. PARKS I need to find Lance. ELENA Dave, I know this is a lot to take in- Parks chuckles. PARKS You're a lot to take in. The room goes silent. JACK NELSON (mid-40s) holds a briefcase and walks through the door. PARKS (CONT’D) You know, sweetheart. I'm not really in the mood for pranks, you get that right? Nelson reaches for the TV remote next to Parks and turns it on. JONATHAN STANTON, (mid-50s) approaches a podium. LIEUTENANT STANTON Thank you all for coming out this morning. I am Lieutenant Jonathan Stanton with the Phoenix Police Department. IND REPORTER 1 (O.S.) Is this an act of terrorism? IND REPORTER 2 (O.S.) Were these two officers specifically targeted? IND REPORTER 3 (O.S.) Do we have any idea at this time who did this? LIEUTENANT STANTON (on TV) At this time I will not be taking questions. The reporters hush. Stanton takes out a paper and glances down at it with an anxious sigh. LIEUTENANT STANTON (CONT’D) It is with a heavy heart that I announce that we lost one of our own tonight. Officer Lance Hawkins was pronounced dead on scene... His field training officer, Officer Parks had been struck by four rounds, two hitting his vest. Parks buries his head in his hands. Tears run down his eyes. LIEUTENANT STANTON (CONT’D) (on tv) ...It is thanks to two armed bystanders that Officer Parks can live to fight another day- PARKS He- He's joking. That's bullshit. He's gotta be joking, this is a sick god damn joke and everyone's laughing at me! A moment of silence between all three. NELSON Officer Parks, I'm sorry to tell you. Elena has a look of concern as she places her hand on Parks's back. PARKS Did he... Feel any of it? Nelson shakes his head. PARKS (CONT’D) What about his wife? Who- Who's gonna take care of her? His kid... They don't have that anymore... NELSON His daughter will receive a pension, however it will be up to you whether you'd like to speak to his wife. He wipes off another tear and tries to mouth something, thKimen stops and takes a deep breath. PARKS He's dead because of me, I should've been the contact- He knocks over the table next to him and begins to sob. PARKS (CONT’D) FUCK! NELSON There's nothing you could've done about it, the reason you're alive is because two people happened to see what was going on and stopped it. Parks reaches for the trash can next to him and vomits into it. PARKS God damn it. I could've done more. I could've done more. I should've done more. He stops for a moment as a group of shadows form behind the covered observation room. The door opens as SERGEANT STEELE, (mid-30s) comes in. He wears an "Internal Affairs" badge. Parks spits into the trash can. STEELE Run me through it, Parks. Piece by piece. Steele throws a file folder at his feet. Parks stands up. PARKS Fu- Nelson stands up and almost blocks Steele. He looks back at Parks. NELSON Not a word. Get it together. He glares at Steele. NELSON (CONT’D) Sergeant, you make another move like that again, I will make your life hell. Parks nods. PARKS I want to go home. He reaches for the change of clothes with his badge and gun still on them. FADE OUT. INT. WAITING ROOM - DAY JAMES O'REILLY, (28) argues with two police officers. JAMES He knows me. Look, I served with him. Can I have a reason for being kicked out? IND POLICE OFFICER 1 Security reasons, never said anything about you. JAMES Look, ask him yoursel- Parks bursts out the door, a cast in his left arm. Next to him is Elena. ELENA David, you've just been shot, let's just go home first... Parks just looks at the scene in front of him. PARKS James? Both of the officers take a step back and look at James. JAMES Dave? PARKS Should've probably told them you were coming. Sorry 'bout that. Dave just looks at the officers and waves them off. They nod. JAMES Grab a drink then? Do some catching up? Dave nods. PARKS Haven't seen you since... JAMES ...Convoy. PARKS Time flies, fuck. James's eyes widen as he takes a sigh. JAMES Yeah, it does. You okay man? Parks takes a sigh and looks at James. He opens his mouth to something, but nothing manages to come out. His phone vibrates. A text appears. The contact reads, "Interested Party". A photo of him with James and Elena coming through the doors with James talking to the police. INTERESTED PARTY (TEXT) Officer Parks, we have a proposition for you. Please meet us on the third floor of the parking garage. Come alone. Parks glances at Elena. PARKS Hey sweetheart, this is James. You guys get to know each other, I'm gonna go for a walk- ELENA Didn't you say you wanted to go home? PARKS Lemme get some air first. James cocks an eyebrow at this. Parks walks off to INT. ELEVATOR - DAY Parks checks takes his Glock 19 out of his right hand inner waistband holster and does a one handed press check using his belt to check for a round. A round is chambered. He takes a deep breath as he looks at the floors. "1" "2" He takes a breath. "3" The doors open as Parks inches out, gun in his hand. EXT. GARAGE - DAY He checks the outside. Nothing. The ramp going to the third floor materializes as he peers over. He makes his way over. A group of black suburbans are parked there. In the middle of it, a group of men in suits. The one in the middle JASON WHITE, (43) rolls his eyes. WHITE Come on now Officer, there were other ways we could've dealt with you. At least listen to us before you start shooting. Those around him reach for their weapons. WHITE (CONT’D) Gentlemen, he has one arm and there's six of you. It wouldn't be a fair fight now would it? Parks lowers his weapon. PARKS What? The fuck you want? You feds? He's clearly nervous. WHITE Officer- Or do you want it to be Detective, Parks? PARKS Cut the shit. He looks behind him at another individual in a suit. He beckons over ANTHONY, (mid-20s) WHITE Anthony, get my case please. ANTHONY Yes sir. Anthony walks to the back of a suburban and comes back. He carries a briefcase. WHITE Price of admission is ignorance. That man was on bath salts and some modified form of PCP. White opens the briefcase. WHITE (CONT’D) He's being healed up in a known Sinaloa Cartel safehouse. Do we have a deal? Parks just slowly nods. He closes the briefcase and passes it to Parks. PARKS Deal. White's side packs up and leaves Parks alone with a metallic briefcase. Parks stands there, briefcase in hand. FADE TO BLACK. EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY Parks walks back with a briefcase. James cocks an eyebrow. JAMES The fuck is that? Parks shrugs. JAMES (CONT’D) The feds give you that? Parks shrugs. PARKS It's information for a case. That's all I know. JAMES If it's on me, I don't have any god damn dogs. Parks rolls his eyes. PARKS If it was on you, I'd have thrown you in cuffs. JAMES Not if there was already an IED planted on your car. PARKS James... James smiles, though it looks nervous. JAMES I'm just joking. I swear. Parks nods. PARKS (CONT’D) Right... Follow us, we're headed home. I got a small cabinet there. INT. PARKS'S HOUSE - AFTERNOON The briefcase sits on Parks's wooden kitchen table. James pokes the case with a screwdriver. Elena crouches behind a couch. ELENA Why did you want me back here again? And why didn't you call the bomb squad? PARKS So if it goes off, there's not pieces of me inside of you. Plus, they're not gonna come out here because someone gave me a briefcase. ELENA But I already get pieces of you inside me. PARKS Fuck, walked int- James slams his hand against the top of the case. PARKS (CONT’D) ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL US ALL?! JAMES Well we know it's not pressure activated if it is a bomb. PARKS YOU FUCKING IDIOT! ELENA You just gave me a fucking heart attack! James just shrugs. Parks and Elena takes a deep breath. PARKS (CONT’D) You were EOD right? JAMES I was half the reason EOD came to talk to us back then, yeah. Parks unlatches the case and takes out a flashlight. PARKS How'd they set these things up? JAMES Damn things were rigged for a few inches, you pulled up and boom. Just look under it for wires. Parks glances under it, opening the case just a crack. He shines the light around inside of it. JAMES (CONT’D) Anything? PARKS Negative, any clear string would've made a shadow too. Fuck it, I'm going for it. He opens the case all the way. The files are stacked neatly. Elena emerges from behind Parks's couch. ELENA What is it? Anything solid on Lance? Parks takes the case, turns it upside down, and dumps its contents on the table. He starts to spread its contents, across the table. PARKS Help me out with this you two. Elena makes her way over and the three start placing folders right side up. David opens a file, on its cover reads, "DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY". PARKS (CONT’D) Holy fuck. He flips through it. A few clusters of mugshots here and there, a few assorted file- PARKS (CONT’D) I found him. The fucker who stabbed me. He pulls a file out. The top of the dossier reads "Enrique Torrez". Gang Affiliation: "The Sentinel Cartel". Parks's expression changes to that of anger. PARKS (CONT’D) I have to make some phone calls. EXT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT Four police cruisers and a SWAT van pull up to a warehouse. The streetlights illuminate the grungy graffiti covered area. Gang logos cover some houses, a few dumpsters are knocked over, some of the trash flying around. Outside, the small amount passerbys, whisper to each other as the cruisers pull up with the team. Two cruisers peel off and start cordoning off the area from the front of the warehouse. A perimeter is set up, the area is cleared of any passerbys. INT. POLICE CRUISER - NIGHT Parks sits there and watches all of this. Stanton drives. LIEUTENANT STANTON Four days. Someone tipped us off too when you put the pieces together. Parks just looks out the window. He's got a leather jacket on. Stanton looks over at Parks. LIEUTENANT STANTON (CONT’D) Should feel good though if you are right. Even if you're not it's a dent in the fuck up that was the ATF's schtick. Parks continues to watch as police MRAP stops. PARKS Won't do anything for Lance. LIEUTENANT STANTON We're gonna get these guys, kid. He steps out of the cruiser. Parks opens the door and watches as SWAT stacks on the door. EXT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT One of the cruisers pulls behind the building, two others set up a perimeter and block the street. From inside the cruiser, Parks turns the police radio up. Stanton lights up a cigarette. The radio comes to life. IND SWAT OFFICER 1 (O.S.) Team one, team two, prepare to breach. IND SWAT OFFICER 2 (O.S.) Team one, ready. IND SWAT OFFICER 1 (O.S.) Team two, ready. On my mark. Parks watches this. IND SWAT OFFICER 1 (O.S.) (CONT’D) Mark. The SWAT team busts the door down. An officer throws in a flashbang. Parks places his hand on his holster. More gunfire rings out from the inside of the warehouse. PARKS That doesn't sound good. IND SWAT OFFICER 2 (O.S.) Team two, one suspect down. IND OFFICER 2 (O.S.) Team two has an officer down! Fucker used a table leg! The radio goes silent for a moment. IND SWAT OFFICER 2 Stay the fuck down! Stanton takes a sigh, throws his cigarette on the ground, and gets on his radio. STANTON 1015, requesting additional units and a bus to the warehouse on 19th and McDowell, code three, one officer down. DISPATCHER (O.S.) 10-4, 1015. Any available units, 1015 requesting assistance at 19th and McDowell, multiple officers down. The sound of sirens in the distance. More gunfire breaks out. IND SWAT OFFICER 2 Multiple assailants with ARs, requesting additional! Fuck! IND SWAT OFFICER 1 Hey we got a suspect- EXT. STREET - NIGHT ENRIQUE TORRES, (30) jumps out of a window, rolls, and runs toward Stanton and Parks. He's covered in gang tattoos. Torres just keeps moving, his arms are covered in tempered glass. He charges forward toward Stanton. PARKS Holy fuck. Stanton draws his tazer and fires into Torres. The barbs connect and Torres is unfazed as he charges forward and pushes Stanton aside. Parks tries to draw down, only get pushed aside by a sprinting Torres. STANTON Parks! Parks keeps his weapon pointed downward as he runs after Torres. He struggles to keep up. Torres glances back, sees Parks, and makes a turn. Parks runs forward and tries to turn the corner. Two bullets pass his face. PARKS Fucker! Parks peers out of cover and takes two shots into Torres's back. He just keeps running. PARKS (CONT’D) WHAT THE FUCK?! Parks continues to run forward, chasing him into an intersection. Torres stops to assess the area and glances back seeing Parks. Before anything else, a hatchback runs over Torres, knocking him to the ground. Parks sees this and clutches his arm. He keeps his gun out and sprints to the scene. James gets out of the car. PARKS (CONT’D) What the fuck... Torres isn't getting back up, but he's still breathing. James is pointing wildly at Torres. TORRES Fuck... JAMES He knows where they are! Parks holsters his weapon and takes out his hand cuffs. He presses his knee against his ass. PARKS Grab his other arm. James helps him out and he manages to get them on him. TORRES You... JAMES WHERE ARE THEY?! He flips Torres on his back. PARKS You fucking recognize me? TORRES Yeah, you should be dead. JAMES You'll be fucking dead if you don't tell me where they keep the cat girls! Parks watches a cruiser a few blocks away close in. PARKS Back off, James! Parks glares at him. PARKS (CONT’D) I want answers. Where's your partner? He takes out his badge and keeps it in the direction of the approaching cruiser. TORRES Fuck you cabron, I don't need to tell you shit. Besides, my ride's on its way here. A cruiser pulls up with two officers. They get out of their cruiser. One runs over to James. IND OFFICER 3 Sir, step back. James goes to his car and watches this. JAMES He knows where the cat girls are, don't let him get away with that knowledge! IND OFFICER 1 We won't sir, just stand back. A small army of cruisers shows up behind them. TORRES Don't leave me down here, I can fucking stand, if I didn't have these cuffs I could probably beat the shit out of you, wey! Parks just watches this. PARKS You never answered my question. TORRES My answer is, "Fuck you." Parks rolls his eyes. His hands shake in anger. Another cruiser rolls up with Stanton in it. STANTON You good, Parks? He gives an "okay" hand symbol. STANTON (CONT’D) The hell happened? Parks points at James. JAMES Army buddy happened to be driving through- Retard ran into traffic, got hit. Stanton nods. STANTON Better hope he doesn't sue. James just stands there with the officer. Stanton thumbs his radio. STANTON (CONT’D) (into radio) Dispatch, requesting an additional ambulance to 23rd and McDowell. Parks watches as three suburbans with lights and sirens start advancing on their location. PARKS Who the hell are these guys? Stanton steps in front of Parks and watches all of this. The three suburbans stop and surround the officers. One man in particular, SMITH, (late-30s) steps out holding out a badge. Their uniforms read, "DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY". STANTON Who might you folks be? You weren't on our channels. SMITH Just call me Smith. This individual is of importance to national security, you see. Stanton adjusts his glasses. STANTON He shot one of my men. SMITH I'm sorry to hear that- STANTON I'm sorry ain't exactly going to cut it. Smith glances at Parks. SMITH How's the arm doing? My associate White was asking earlier. Two of the agents walk over to where Torres is detained. Stanton takes out his phone. Smith just patiently waits for him. STANTON (into phone) Colin? Yeah, waiting out here with one of your guys- Agent Smith? Stanton eyes's widen. He motions toward the officer to move away from Torres. SMITH Thank you for your cooperation, Lieutenant. We'll take it from here. Two agents pick up Torres. He spits in the direction of Parks and glares at Stanton. PARKS I'LL FUCK YOU UP! Stanton grabs Parks. STANTON Don't do this, not here. Smith looks back at him. SMITH These feelings are normal, officer. Anger is a normal emotion in the grieving process. Parks watches as the agents get into their vehicles and drive off. A few tears roll down his eyes. PARKS I was so close, I was this close and the feds fucked it up, like they do everything fucking else! Fuck! Parks kicks a can next to him in anger. STANTON PARKS! He pulls Parks aside. STANTON (CONT’D) Look, I get it. This ain't easy by any stretch, but you gotta keep your shit together. At least until that arm of yours heals. I'm recommending you for a promotion. Parks puts his head down. STANTON (CONT’D) Just keep it together until you get put on desk duty for that. A tear rolls down his eye. James sees this and looks down. Another car pulls up. Someone jumps out of the driver's seat. NELSON WHAT THE FUCK, PARKS?! PARKS My arm's feeling better! His eyes widened. NELSON Are you looking for IA to fire you? Hell, worse they get you for faking your injuries. PARKS But- Nelson massages his eyes. NELSON Please get better Parks. Go home. PARKS Fine. INT. CAR - NIGHT The two sit in James's car. PARKS James. James watches the road in silence. PARKS (CONT’D) What the fuck is wrong with you? Parks looks at the police scanner in the backseat of his car. JAMES I need to know, Dave. PARKS About shit that exists in Japanese cartoons? If it's fucking real? JAMES You don't get it, but these guys, they're fucking connected! Parks glares at James. PARKS You stupid fuck! My partner's dead and you're looking for fantasy characters?! Tell me when you find elves with thick fookin' oirish accents, boyo. JAMES I have some proof that they're real, Dave! You just have to believe- PARKS (mockingly) Believe me Dave, they're real! Parks rolls his eyes. James slicks his hair back. JAMES It sounds fucking nuts, okay? Just stick with it. I'll tell you if I'm wrong. PARKS IT DOES. Parks pats his shoulder and his face grows to that of discomfort. PARKS (CONT’D) Shit. Hey James... He starts to feel light headed. His vision goes in and out. JAMES Dave?! Parks's eyes widen as a massive pain enters his shoulder. PARKS TAKE THE FUCKING CAST OFF ME! JAMES Oh shit. James pulls over and turns on his hazard lights. He takes off his seatbelt and takes out his knife. Parks begins to scream in agony as he tries to take his cast off with one hand. James is hesitant as he stares at Parks, completely unsure of what to do. JAMES (CONT’D) I don't need you bleeding to death in my- PARKS GET IT OFF! JAMES Shit! You coked up- He cuts Parks's cast. PARKS DAMN IT! James freezes up out of sheer confusion. PARKS (CONT’D) KEEP GOING! Parks starts to try and get the cast off of himself by prying at it with his hand. James takes his knife and starts to cut his cast out. Parks takes his jacket off. The cast comes free. Parks's takes off his shirt. PARKS (CONT’D) So fucking hot in here, jesus christ. Bandages are wrapped around where he was shot. JAMES You think I should call Doc? Parks shakes his head and starts to take the bandages off of his shoulder, finding it... ...As if it were unscathed by the round that had struck him. All that's left is a scar. Parks takes a deep breath. PARKS What the fuck was that man? James just shrugs, his eyes widened. Parks puts his shirt back on. PARKS (CONT’D) Get me home. EXT. PARKS'S HOUSE - NIGHT Parks holds his kevlar vest and jacket in his arms as he steps out of James's car. JAMES You gonna be good man? Parks stretches out his left arm. A loud "pop" comes out of it as he straightens it out. PARKS Your guess is as good as mine. James just looks at this, completely astounded. JAMES You are one lucky son of a bitch, Davey. If only the guys back then had the luck you do. PARKS It doesn't change anything. INT. PARKS'S HOUSE - NIGHT The lights are still on when Parks comes back inside. PARKS Elena? ELENA I'm in the kitchen! PARKS ...I need to show you something. Elena walks through the kitchen. Parks turns on the light. Elena's jaw drops as she looks at his arm. ELENA Your arm... Parks stretches out his formerly damaged left arm. PARKS I don't know. She walks over to Parks and holds him. ELENA They said you weren't going to make it, Dave. Parks closes his eyes and holds her. He kisses her on the forehead and holds her tight. ELENA (CONT’D) Lance's funeral's tomorrow. I got your dress uniform dry cleaned. With a sigh, Parks's hands hold her tighter as he leans into her neck. He sits there in silence as he holds her. PARKS You know I gotta talk to his wife... It should have been me, Elena. ELENA Dave. You made it. Parks sobs as he holds her. FADE TO BLACK. INT. PARKS'S HOUSE - DAY Parks puts on his dress uniform. His face looks weary as the world around him seems to move at a different pace than he is. He sits and eats his breakfast. His eyes look haggard. Elena appears behind him and kisses him on the cheek. ELENA I'll drive. Parks swallows his food. PARKS Sure, I guess. INT. CHURCH - DAY PASTOR HILL, (mid-50s) stands behind a podium. HILL On behalf of the family, I would like to thank you... Parks sits there in his dress uniform. He's spaced out. The words from the pastor drift away. The world seems to go away as he looks out a window next to him. ELENA Dave? Parks takes a deep breath and snaps out of his trance. ELENA (CONT’D) They want you to say a few words. Parks nods. PARKS Yeah, uh... Yeah, I'll do that. Sorry. The eyes of the congregation fix themselves onto Parks. Parks makes his way up to the podium. He takes out a set of notecards. His hands shake as he looks up at the crowd. PARKS (CONT’D) (into mic) You guys can hear me alright? He looks at the front row of pews which give him a thumbs up and a smile. PARKS (CONT’D) Roger that... He starts to rearrange his notecards. PARKS (CONT’D) Lance Hawkins was 21 when he taken away from us. To me, he seemed a lot older than that. He tries to force a smile as he looks back down at his cards, then back at the audience. Parks sighs. PARKS (CONT’D) He was however, young, inexperienced, and struggled. He was stupid. A gasp from the audience as they begin to murmur amongst themselves. Sergeant Steele and Nelson are in the audience. Nelson's eyes widen and he massages his eyes. Steele jots down some more notes. PARKS (CONT’D) He'd made mistakes. I was hard on him and so were all the others who worked with him during his field training period. Parks takes another breath. His hands almost freeze up and he has to move the cards that he just spoke aside. PARKS (CONT’D) However, and Mrs. Hawkins please correct me if I'm wrong- He was often times trying to correct himself in his mistakes. He'd go through notepads, and I noticed that at the end of them he'd have a set of goals. The audience goes silent. PARKS (CONT’D) He'd ask me what he missed out on. How he could do his job better, how he could keep both of us safe. Parks chuckles. PARKS (CONT’D) He was obsessive with his notes and trying to better himself as an officer. Even in his final moments, he was listening to me, using everything he learned... Parks looks down and sets his notecards aside. PARKS (CONT’D) In all, we lost him. He was good. He steps off the podium and walks back to his seat. He spots MARK DIAZ, (late-20s) sitting in the back of the room. PARKS (CONT’D) Reporter? Parks sits back down. HILL At this time, I will be speaking with Mrs. Hawkins. Refreshments will be served in the room to my right. People around Parks begin to stand up and converse amongst themselves. Parks makes his way over to Mark. He continues to move over to where Mark is. Mark jots something down "unaware" in his phone next to Parks's name. PARKS You better have a good reason to be here. Mark stands up and smiles at Parks. MARK Step outside with me, I need a few words with you. PARKS Like hell you do! People glance over at him. PARKS (CONT’D) (hushed) Like hell you do. MARK See what I mean? Mark puts his phone in his pocket. He stands up and walks with Parks. Mark looks forward. MARK (CONT’D) (whispering) Look, more people who have no idea what you've actually just uncovered. LAYLA HAWKINS, (22) suddenly holds Parks, sobbing. LAYLA He's never coming back! He's never coming back. Parks's eyes widen as he holds her. A look of shock in Parks's eyes. Mark walks up behind her and taps her on the shoulder. She turns around. He pulls out a handkerchief and passes it to her. MARK Mrs. Hawkins, your husband was a hero who handled the situation as best he could. Layla takes the handkerchief and sobs into it. LAYLA He was going to be a dad, Officer Parks. PARKS Dave. Just, Dave. She sits in the pews and struggles to regain her composure. Layla struggles to say anything. Her phone rings. LAYLA Hold on, I have to take this. She sniffles. PARKS If you need anything, just ask. LAYLA Thank you, Dave. EXT. CHURCH - DAY The rain comes down. Mark leans against the wall with a cigarette in his mouth. MARK I'm surprised, newly promoted detective. You don't realize the shit you've just stepped in, do you? PARKS Cut the shit, what do you know? MARK Well Torres is dead. Someone did you a favor, my man. Seems like the responding officers can't seem to get their radios working, so they had to use their personal phones to call up the coroner. Better meet 'em there. Parks's eyes widen. PARKS The feds got him last night. MARK (mocking) But the feds! He laughs at this. MARK (CONT’D) Oh, the guys in suits! Right! Parks's eyes widen in anger as he walks over to Mark. PARKS What the fuck are you not telling me or anyone on this investigation? There's a dead cop and you want to play Frank fucking West? MARK I actually look up to the guy myself, but- Parks gives him a death glare and gets ready to raise his arm as if to strangle him. MARK (CONT’D) Okay, okay, look. I'm just on the side looking to tell the truth, the facts of the matter, you don't see that shit anymore. Parks motions for him to go on. MARK (CONT’D) The truth is, there's some kind of war breaking out. You happened to be a roadblock in the middle of it. The dead guy? Guy who got his brains blown out and caused you guys to go light up that car? Step away while you can, Dave. He shows a scar on his neck. MARK (CONT’D) Because I ain't built for the world you are. Parks nods. PARKS That's all I need. INT. CHURCH - DAY Parks walks over to Elena. PARKS I need to go. ELENA Dave, his wife... Layla is in line to look into Lance's grave. Parks takes a moment to glance at her, then glances at his phone. He turns away and walks out of the church. EXT. CHURCH - DAY Nelson walks up next to Parks as he steps out. NELSON Parks, I advise you be careful when you do things like that. IA's been up and down your case all day, there's a chance they found something. PARKS There's always a chance. Parks stretches out his arm and walks over to his car. NELSON What happened to your cast? PARKS I was just lucky, I guess. Nelson just shrugs. NELSON Alright then. He walks out and gets into his car. INT. MORGUE - DAY Stanton waits for him in there. Parks reads off the case file then looks down at the body. Two gunshots to the chest and one to the head. STANTON You weren't wrong. PARKS About what? STANTON Whatever these guys are, they got something going with 'em. Parks looks down at the body. PARKS What do we got here, Vincent from Collateral coming to take what's his? STANTON Something like that. He points to the glass. Three rounds sit in the clear sample glass. Parks takes a pair of forceps and looks at them. PARKS That's not a handgun round. STANTON Not at all, we're gonna send it up to the ME, but from the looks of it, it's probably .308. THOMAS SCOTT, (mid-50s) runs his scalpel down the man's chest. The three watch as the incision sows itself back up slowly. SCOTT As you can see here, Mr. Torres has some kind of regenerative healing ability. STANTON The hell kind of freaks are we dealing with? Parks watches as the incision closes itself. SCOTT It's nothing I've ever seen before. PARKS Christ. SCOTT (CONT’D) The skull is interesting however. He takes out an autopsy saw. Stanton taps him on the shoulder and makes a motion for him to put on his glasses. He turns on his saw and sparks begin to fly out. PARKS (over saw) IS THAT NORMAL?! Scott turns off the saw and sets it down next to his other tools. SCOTT That's some kind of metal. I sent a sample up to forensics for examination, but other than tha- The door opens and slams shut behind them. A man MARCUS, (late-20s) and a woman, DAWN PAULSEN (early- 30s) walk into the room. PARKS Who the hell are you? Marcus has an obvious grin on his face. MARCUS Agents Marcus Matthews and Dawn Paulsen, Department of Homeland Security, about to secure this body. PARKS This body's in our custody actually. He bites his lip and looks over at Dawn. MARCUS Oooohhh, well- Stanton watches this in confusion. Dawn passes a paper to Stanton. Stanton watches this puzzled. He takes a look at her for a moment and just continues to watch her as he takes the paper. STANTON (reading) By order of the Department of Homeland security, you are to give any details of the murder of Officer Lance Hawkins... His expression changes to that of anger. Stanton looks up and passes the paper back to Dawn. Parks's eyes widen. STANTON (CONT’D) All yours then. PARKS Wait, what? Parks stands in front of the body. PARKS (CONT’D) Abso fucking lutely not. MARCUS You're really going to impede a federal investigation, Officer? STANTON It's detective now, actually. MARCUS Well, detective! Marcus glances at Parks. MARCUS (CONT’D) I'm ordered to secure any and all evidence by any means necessary. Even if it means Miss Dawn here knocking you out and dumping you in the desert. PARKS Fuck you. MARCUS That's no way to speak to a federal officer, detective. Parks glares at Marcus, then walks out of the door in anger. EXT. MORGUE - DAY Parks bursts out of the morgue with a pack of cigarettes. PARKS FUCK! He lights one and puffs on it in anger. Diaz appears behind him. He steps on a leaf. The sound causes Parks to reach for his weapon. With a glare, he looks at Diaz. PARKS (CONT’D) I take you had something to do with evidence being removed from our jurisdiction? Diaz goes wide eyed. DIAZ Wait. Who? PARKS Homeland came in with some familiar name... He drops his cigarette. PARKS (CONT’D) Dawn... Don... Paulsen. DIAZ Doc had something to do with this? PARKS That's where I've heard that fucking name. Parks takes out his phone and thumbs through the contacts. DIAZ Hey, whatever you're doing, I want in on too. PARKS No, you don't. DIAZ Even if I have information relating to his death that you may very well need? Parks stops his thumb on James's contact. DIAZ (CONT’D) This goes both ways you know. Parks just looks at Diaz dead in the eyes. DIAZ (CONT’D) Give me your contact card. Parks puts his phone in his pocket. He takes out his wallet and passes him his contact card. PARKS Email me everything you have. Until then, I have to make a phone call to a friend. Diaz nods. A van pulls out of a gate at the morgue. Marcus sits in the driver's seat, Dawn right next to him. Parks goes back inside INT. MORGUE - DAY Stanton stands there and massages his eyes. STANTON Go home Parks, we'll figure this out next week. Rest up, get someone to take a look at you, because you're not looking too good. Parks just nods. PARKS Yes, sir. Parks takes another sigh as he takes out his phone. He thumbs James's contact and calls him. PARKS (CONT’D) (into phone) Yo James. JAMES (O.S.) What's up? EXT. MORGUE PARKING LOT - DAY He walks out the doors of the morgue. PARKS (into phone) You still talking to Doc these days? He unlocks his car. JAMES (O.S.) Yeah, kind of broke contact after the whole convoy incident though. We talk here and there. PARKS (into phone) Did he ever talk about having a sister? JAMES (O.S.) Nah, he was a closed box when it came to family shit. Never even talked about LA. Parks gets into his car. INT. PARKS'S CAR - DAY Parks starts his car, his phone still up to his ear. PARKS (into phone) Just call him for me, please. I really need this info in particular. JAMES (O.S.) Look, I know I barely stand you when it comes to cops, but doc is a different animal entirely. Worked with him or not, he's not going to be thrilled you're calling him in that capacity. PARKS (into phone) Are you okay? JAMES (O.S.) What? PARKS (into phone) You actually said something sane, you're right. Fuck. JAMES (O.S.) I'm still looking for cat girls. PARKS (into phone) Alright then, talk to you later. JAMES (O.S.) Wait, Dave- Parks hangs up the phone, puts his car in gear and goes INT. PARKS'S HOUSE - DAY Layla and Elena sit in there. Layla sips some tea. Elena is in the kitchen. Elena looks back. ELENA Hey, Dave- What happened? PARKS I'm gonna rest. Parks walks to the couch and sits down. His eyes are ragged as he takes a throw pillow next to him and holds it tight. Elena scoots over and watches Parks. LAYLA It wasn't your fault, Dave. You're still looking for who got Lance, right? Parks nods. He opens his mouth to say something, but stops. PARKS I can't say anything about the investigation, sorry. Parks carries a troubled look. The events of the shootout play out in his mind. EXT. DESERT HIGHWAY - NIGHT The world is silent. He sees the concussion grenade roll in front of him and go off. Silence. The chaos of the world around him stops. Parks looks over at Hawkins. Hawkins turns his head with black, darkened eyes. HAWKINS You could've done something, why didn't you do anything Dave? THIS IS YOUR FAUL- ELENA (O.S.) Dave! INT. PARKS'S HOUSE - DAY Parks sits there and shakes. Elena holds him. Layla puts her hand on his shoulder. LAYLA Dave- PARKS I've just been trying to distract myself... I'm sorry... LAYLA For what? PARKS It's... His voice trails off. PARKS (CONT’D) I'm sorry, I don't know how to explain it. It's my fault Hawkins is dead, I should've been cover officer, maybe then- ELENA Nothing would've done anything, Dave. PARKS It doesn't feel that way. His phone vibrates. ELENA Work again? Parks nods. An e-mail appears: Mark.Diaz@gmail.com - Subject: You should be dead. Parks opens the e-mail, stands up, and walks away from the two. He goes into the hallway and sits down. LAYLA (O.S.) He doesn't seem like he wants to talk much. ELENA (O.S.) He's just processing it, give him some time. Parks goes into his bedroom where a desktop sits alongside a small home office. He boots up his high-end desktop and logs in. Parks then opens up his department e-mail and looks at Diaz's e-mail. A report attached to it, the file reads, "Medical report David Parks .pdf". Parks opens up the document and begins to read it. CC multistystems trauma/GSW. 27 y/o male, no prior hx. NKA. pt is police officer who was shot/stabbed in shootout @ 0115 with EMS arrival on scene @ 0127, sts EMS. -12 WHOLE MINUTES?! Squad arrives @ 0142. U/A pt presents as unconscious, responds to pain. GCS 8. Squad has x2 14 gauge in right AC and forearm; NS wide open, tourniquet on left arm superior to the elbow timed @ 0129. the PT is diaphoretic, radial pulses absent but present at the carotid. Head is unremarkable, PERRL -literally nothing Neck/cpsine unremarkable, Neg tracheal deviation/distention chest is negative for crepitus. significant ecchymosis to left anterior breast centered around the third and fourth intercostal space. Chest rise is equal without paradoxical motion abdomen is soft, unremarkable pelvise is intact, unremarkable --Nothing again, don't worry about this. genitals and perineum are intact, unremarkable. rectal tone present. -At least you can still have kids, right? right Shoulder has presence of two anterior and two corresponding posterior gunshot wounds. -Just keep following, you'll know why this is important in a moment. Significant laceration to anterior side of left arm, just superior to the AC, appearing five inches across -Your stab wound cut upward. legs intact bilaterally Back appears intact, neg for DCAPBTLS or sign of trauma to spine All bleeding is controlled 0145  80/30 144 40 0145 1 gram TXA infusion initiate 0147 3x units of blood via rapid infuser 0150 70/palp 156 50 0155 66/palp 150 50 0157 Fem art line established 0158 3 more units of blood administered. Dr Stublett confirms muffle heart tones, suspects cardiac tamponade, prepares for cardiocentesis. orders chest decompression after as precautionary measure. 0159 pt enters PEA. Stublett immediately performs cardiocentesis and trauma team begins resuscitation efforts. 0203, 0205, and 0207, 1mg 1:10,000 epinephrine administered. 3 additional units of blood started at 0204. no response during CPR to treatments. our hospital does not have the resources to perform thoracotomy cardiac massage. Termination of resuscitative efforts @ 0211. -You're dead! At least, should be now. By this time a large crowd of law enforcement officers and other police staff have gathered outside the trauma room and Dr Wilson and I attempt to find out who is in charge and who should be talked to regarding pt's death. -I would know, I was one of the reporters there! Well, outside at least. @ 0227 nurse Addison hears BP alarm from Fem art line and goes to shut off both art monitoring and the blood infuser which had been left on. The nurse discovers that the pt's BP is now 92/60 with a pulse of 137 and checks radial pulses confirming ROSC. Team is immediately called back to room and begins post-arrest. care. -Someone left your equipment on. I wonder why. post arrest labs reveal troponin of only 0.07. PaCO2 is elevated to 101 mmHG prior to ventilation, but blood pH remains at 7.36. I cannot explain these findings. -But I can. Right below, a video file is attached below the report. "Security footage .mp4". Parks opens the file and a video plays. It's Dawn in a set of scrubs. PARKS What the fuck... She looks to her left and right. Dawn approaches Parks's body. She takes a blue syringe out of her jacket and looks on at the IV line hooked up to him. Dawn injects it into Parks's IV line, then looks up at the camera, wide eyed. The footage ends. PARKS (CONT’D) She's the one... Why? The investigation... Is she cartel? Parks looks down and shakes his head in confusion. Parks gets back to work after this and opens up a word document, and begins to take screenshots of the IV. Parks does all this and puts it in a draft. A moment later, Elena opens the door behind him. PARKS (CONT’D) What's up? ELENA Was wondering if you wanted to join us for dinner. Parks cracks a smile. PARKS Shit, already? He checks the time. It's 7PM. PARKS (CONT’D) Oh. Shit. Already. Elena carries a look of annoyance. ELENA Yeah. Already. PARKS Sure, I'll eat. He grabs his phone off the table and follows her. PARKS'S DINING ROOM Parks continues to look at his phone. A "sent" message appears to Jon.Stanton1983@PPD.gov LAYLA ...He took me to New York with the money he saved up. We walked through Central Park and it was the happiest I'd been. Parks continues to look at his phone for updates from Stanton. LAYLA (CONT’D) He wanted to be a cop after some guy tried to mug us. He stepped in after a guy walked up to me with a revolver... ELENA What did he do? Elena taps Parks on the leg. Parks looks up from his phone. Layla notices this. LAYLA He almost got shot trying to keep the gun away from me. Next thing I knew, two cops were breaking up a fight and I had to explain to them Lance wasn't the one who started anything. They let us go and enjoy the rest of our time in New York, but after he said he loved it. ELENA Loved it? LAYLA The danger. We've been together since freshman year of high school. Had the worst look on his face when the Army turned him down. Said he wanted to get shot at and save people kinda like your husband here. PARKS Didn't do much of that. LAYLA He said you were a dick, but that he respected you. PARKS I couldn't save him... LAYLA You were so good to him! One day, he came home and told me about an incident where they tried wrapping a cloth around his face and dumping whiskey- Parks chuckles at this. PARKS Beer boarding. Only they had whiskey. I'm aware. LAYLA Yeah, you were the one who put a stop to it. PARKS Yeah, sort of. He just shrugs at this as his phone vibrates. The contact reads, "Stanton". PARKS (CONT’D) Hang on, I gotta take this. Sorry. He steps outside. EXT. PARKS'S HOUSE - NIGHT Parks picks takes the call. PARKS Yeah? A different voice enters the speaker. STEELE (O.S.) Parks, we want you down at the station, your union rep is already waiting for you. PARKS (mouthing) Fuck... Parks rolls his eyes. PARKS (CONT’D) Yeah, I'll be on my way. He goes back inside. PARKS'S DINING ROOM Parks comes in with a sigh as he shuts the door behind him. He walks over to Elena and gives her a kiss on the cheek. PARKS They need me back at the station, probably nothing. Elena cocks an eyebrow at this. ELENA Alright love, just tell me what's going on when you get back. PARKS I will. Parks leaves as the door closes behind him. INT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT Parks walks inside. Steele waits for him alongside Stanton. Steele gives a grin to Parks. STEELE How you doing Dave? Your wound heal already? Parks gives a look of disgust. PARKS I'm great. The wound did heal. STEELE Pretty good looking for someone who got shot only days ago. Parks gives Stanton a look. Stanton nods at him. STEELE (CONT’D) And I was really moved by what you said about your partner. PARKS Th-Thanks... Parks carries a look of suspicion. STEELE Relax, Dave- PARKS Cut the shit, why am I here? STEELE Let's take a walk. The three walk together into the FORENSICS LAB Security footage of the video Parks sent to Stanton. STEELE You know that lady? You can be honest with me, relax. Parks shakes his head. PARKS Never seen her before. STEELE Me neither, but I had someone run some facial recognition. Steele gets on the computer and pulls up a facebook profile that reads, "Dawn Michelle Paulsen". PARKS That's... STEELE As it turns out, she was at the hospital- STANTON -And posing as a federal agent. STEELE So you got anything to say about that? You were one of the what? Lucky 28? Parks takes a deep breath and then gives a glare to Steele. PARKS I don't like talking about what happened over there. STEELE Funnily, she's related to a combat medic with the same name with the same name. Different spellings though. PARKS What are you saying? STEELE If you're on someone's payroll, you can always come clean. Nothing bad will happe- PARKS I'm not. Then tell me about this. He pulls up another security tape. Parks stands in an elevator, his gun out. PARKS (CONT’D) I had a credible lead! STEELE And you didn't tell us. We get it, man. PARKS I had to make sure! Parks carries a look of realization. STEELE We also have a sworn statement that says you took a bribe- PARKS That's outlandish, the hell?! STEELE Yup. Come on Parks, we're on your side here. PARKS Where the hell is my union rep? I ain't saying shit now. STEELE Well you're already too far in now. Let's get this figured out. INTERROGATION ROOM Parks sits there. The door in front of him opens. Nelson walks through. NELSON You're lucky to still have a job. You're free to go, all their evidence was circumstantial. Nelson moves his mouth next to Parks's ear. NELSON (CONT’D) (whispering) Whatever you're chasing, it better be good. These guys are fixing to bury you now. Parks gives a stunned look. PARKS Thanks... NELSON Best of luck. Your friend's outside waiting. Parks nods at this. He walks outside to EXT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT James sits in Parks's car and smokes a cigarette. He looks at Parks and motions for him. JAMES Come on, I'm taking you home. PARKS I'm driving, my car. JAMES That wasn't part of the deal. PARKS Deal? James rolls his eyes. JAMES Don't fucking worry 'bout it. Parks opens his car door and gets in. INT. PARKS'S CAR - NIGHT PARKS Can you not fucking smoke in my car? Jesus, you haven't changed. He looks at the box of Lucky Strikes in the cupholder. JAMES You have. Parks shakes his head. PARKS Whatever, that doesn't fucking matter dude. What deal? What did they pay you for? JAMES I'm just supposed to drive you home. Parks cocks an eyebrow. PARKS What? That's it? Nelson pai- JAMES Money got wired into my account. They said they'd pay for an Uber once I got you to your place. James merges onto a highway that reads "I-17 North, Black Canyon/Flagstaff". His eyes constantly scan the road in front and around him. JAMES (CONT’D) What I don't know is why this group has a vested interest in you, a cop. PARKS Mind if I take a look? James takes his phone out of his pocket and holds his free hand out for Parks. JAMES Knock yourself out. Parks takes his phone. The glow illuminates James's face as Parks looks at the text. TEXT 5,000 dollars to get your friend home. Sincerely, an interested party. Parks screenshots the text and tabs out to James's home screen that shows a harem of cat girls. His phone vibrates as he sends the screenshot to himself. PARKS What made you want to help me? JAMES Well, disregarding the 5k supposedly being transferred into my account, and disregarding the fact that your position as a cop violates the non aggression principle- I really want to find out whether cat girls are rea- PARKS Oh my fucking god. JAMES You'll know. One day, you'll see them and question everything you know. I would know, I did. PARKS Look, the day cat girls are real is the day I eat my 9mm. Police lights flash behind them. JAMES God fucking damn it. PARKS (CONT’D) ...Eat my gun... Damn it. James pulls the car onto the right shoulder of the freeway. Parks looks at the mirror. The cars are unmarked Crown Vics. PARKS (CONT’D) Wait a fucking second... JAMES Problem? Parks reaches for his Glock. The officer on Parks's side steps closer and reveals himself full of face tattoos. James looks at Parks with wide eyes as he looks to his side. The officer's arm is covered with tats. PARKS DRIVE! James puts the car in gear and slams his foot on the gas. PARKS (CONT’D) GO GO GO! The one approaching runs back to his car as the other two cars pursue. James watches the rear view mirror and pulls out his phone, then turns the volume knob all the way up. A grin materializes on James's face. Running in the 90s by Dave Rodgers plays on the radio. JAMES Let's do this... The highway in front of them stands empty as two of the cruisers try to catch up. James turns the car to the right and takes an exit. Parks watches behind him as the cruisers follow the two. James looks down at the transmission. JAMES (CONT’D) Fuckin' automatic... PIECE OF SHIT! The cruisers behind follow even closer. James slows the car down and hangs a right turn right before traffic starts. The cruisers behind the two screech to halt. One makes it through and continues to tail the two. Parks gets his phone out and dials 911. He puts the phone to his ear. He looks at his phone. PARKS I got no reception! JAMES Got it! The cruiser continues to follow. James looks at the road around him as it tails them. Parks raises his handgun and raises it toward the cruiser. PARKS I don't think I can do this James! JAMES I DON'T THINK THEY AGREE, DAVE! The cruiser pulls further away from the two and then comes back to ram them. Parks takes a breath as he watches the other guy pull out his gun. Parks's eyes widen. James slams the brakes and watches the other car crash into a wall. The two watch as both of them get out of the car dressed in Phoenix Police uniforms. PARKS Christ... James guns the engine and continues to drive forward. JAMES Who did you piss off Dave? Parks looks behind him and holsters his handgun. PARKS I don't know. I don't. JAMES Christ. I might be fucking nuts for chasing cat girls, but at least people have the common decency not to shoot me over them! Then again, if they do, they probably are real and someone's covering it up. Parks sits back in his seat and takes a deep breath. James turns off the music. PARKS Do you hear yourself right now? Are you this self-aware? James just shrugs and makes a right turn into Parks's neighborhood. JAMES Whoever is chasing you, you and I both need them dead. PARKS Wait, wait, wait. You're gonna fucking kill them? JAMES I mean, yeah, why not? PARKS We need them alive- JAMES You saw what happens when you spring them in jail, some fucking fed bails them out. This is how I'm doing this. If it weren't for me, those guys would've blown your fuckin' brains out! Parks sits there and sighs. PARKS If those were real cops... JAMES They weren't. You made the right call Dave. James makes another turn. PARKS I don't think I'm very good at that. JAMES You were better than any MP stateside or in country. I mean, choice wise. You were shit at your job. PARKS I didn't care. Those guys were fucking retards. JAMES Thanks for giving me my pressure cooker back. We're even now and I get five grand. PARKS Whatever works for you dude. The car makes another turn into EXT. PARKS'S HOUSE - NIGHT James's hatchback sits outside the house. The lights are on inside. INT. PARKS'S GARAGE - NIGHT The car pulls into the garage. James sighs. JAMES Dave. Rest. Just do that. I get paid, you solve your case. I go find my cat girls. Parks just chuckles. PARKS Fuck, dude. The two get out. James tosses Parks his keys. JAMES Fucking rest dude. They'll still be out there trust me. The bad guys always are. PARKS You are something else, you know that? James shrugs. JAMES We're all the main characters in our own stories, Dave. Parks just shoots a confused look. PARKS What?! James lights up a cigarette and gets into his car. INT. PARKS'S HOUSE - NIGHT Parks comes home. PARKS Hey, sweetheart. He passes out on the couch. Elena walks over with a blanket. She holds Parks and pulls the blanket up. PARKS (CONT’D) (exhausted) I need to fucking rest. INT. POLICE STATION - DAY SUPERIMPOSE: THREE DAYS LATER Parks has the metal briefcase on his desk and scans different documents onto it. He looks refreshed, his eyes look rested. Parks has a lollipop in his mouth. Nelson walks over to Parks's desk and watches him. NELSON How was your break Parks? PARKS Can't complain. It was good, yeah. NELSON No trouble? PARKS None at all. Parks gives Nelson a grin. NELSON Any leads? PARKS I got one. Looks like someone I think I might know. I have to make sure though. Nelson gives him a nod. NELSON Keep at it then. Parks looks at a file folder. "Dawn Michelle Paulsen", Knight Pharmaceuticals Employee #4382 PARKS Doc? Parks opens up the file. A headshot of Dawn falls out of the file. Parks goes back to his computer. With one hand, he pulls the security footage up on his computer. He sets the file down next to the keyboard and picks the photo of Dawn up. Parks shakes his head. PARKS (CONT’D) Got nothing to fucking link them with... His eyes widen. Parks takes out his phone. He looks through his contacts. "Doc, contact in case of emergency" sits as one of the contacts there. PARKS (CONT’D) Fuck, man... Worst I can be is wrong, right? He looks at the contact for a moment. Parks looks down in discomfort as he looks at the phone. He puts it down and gets on his computer. PARKS (CONT’D) Maybe I can just... He gets on his computer and searches up her name on Facebook. "Dawn Michelle Paulsen" appears in the search bar. He sifts through the results. "Dawn Paulsen, Doctor at Knight Pharmaceuticals - Corporate" shows up as one of the results. He clicks it and finds her profile is public. Parks scrolls through it and stops on a post. Dawn stands among a group of other doctors in a corporate photo. Parks saves this photo and prints it out, then places it on top of a scanner. With a deep breath, he looks up the address. He gets it, stands up, puts his gun on, and makes his way out. He gets in his car and drives across a highway to EXT. CORPORATE BUILDING - DAY The building bustles with activity. Delivery trucks enter as people head home. Others head inside to start their day, as others sit outside as they smoke cigarettes. One sits with his lunch out and watches the cars pass. Parks pulls up in an unmarked Crown Victoria. He lowers the window and flashes his badge at the security guard at the door. PARKS Howdy there, Detective Parks, Phoenix Police Department. I need to speak with a Dawn Paulsen. The security guard looks up this name. SECURITY GUARD 1 Paulsen, Paulsen... PARKS You're looking for Doctor Paulsen, right? Parks nods. SECURITY GUARD Got it. See the receptionist when you get inside. The guard lifts the gate. IND SECURITY GUARD 1 Go on in. Parks pulls inside CUT TO: INT. KNIGHT PHARMACEUTICALS ENTRANCE - DAY Parks flashes his badge at two security guards. PARKS Detective Parks, Phoenix Police. They let him through. Parks walks over to the receptionist. PARKS (CONT’D) Looking for a Dawn- DAWN Detective! DAWN PAULSEN, (32) walks over, a clipboard in hand. She sets it down. PARKS Miss Paulsen? Let's just cut to the chase here. She stands there, attentive. PARKS (CONT’D) Where were you four nights ago? Dawn looks down. Her eyes widen. DAWN Look, I had no other choice, I was roped in with him. PARKS That's good to hear. Turn around, hands on the back of your head. She does what Parks says. PARKS (CONT’D) Interlace your fingers. Anything on you I should worry about? DAWN No, but they're gonna kill me. Don't you realize that? Parks searches her. PARKS Maybe you should think about these things before you get into 'em, huh? He places the cuffs on her. DAWN This is the safest place for me to be, Parks. You're making a mistake. The two move towards the exit. PARKS You know what was a mistake? Not bothering to let me or anyone know what the hell is going on. I don't know what's going on. DAWN And that's for the best! PARKS Who killed Officer Hawkins? Where's Torres's body? Work with me here. She goes quiet. Dawn opens her mouth. The two move outside. EXT. CORPORATE BUILDING - DAY Parks puts her in the backseat of the cruiser. DAWN You're going to get me killed, Parks. You don't know what you're up against here. This is bigger than you and my brother. Parks gets into the driver's seat. INT. UNMARKED POLICE CRUISER - DAY Parks chuckles. PARKS Really? And who is this brother of yours? He turns the ignition. DAWN Donovan Paulsen? "The Hero of Houston". If you ask me, he's more of a war criminal for supporting the American imperialist regime- Parks closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. PARKS Shut up. He goes silent. His hands clutch the steering wheel. PARKS (CONT’D) Fuck. Parks massages his eyes. DAWN Surprised you couldn't have put two and two together there, detective. PARKS Son of a bitch... He looks back at her and takes a deep breath. PARKS (CONT’D) Miss Paulsen, at this time you have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law, you have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford one, one will be appointed to you, do you understand these rights as they've been read? DAWN Yeah. Fine. You'll be talking to my lawyers soon. She sits back in silence. Parks drives forward. PARKS 1532, dispatch, show us en route to station, one suspect in custody. DAWN You're gonna get me killed! Parks rolls his eyes and continues to drive forward. EXT. CITY - DAY The cruiser drives through the city streets. The city around them moves around, the car stops in traffic, and people go on about their lives. The car stops at an intersection. INT. POLICE CRUISER - DAY The car pulls forward. Dawn sits in the back. She looks out the side of the cruiser. Her eyes widen. DAWN DETECTIVE PARKS- The car gets rammed on the driver's side. Parks's airbag deploys as his head slams into the steering wheel. The windshield is busted. The cruiser goes into a spin. It stops in the middle of the intersection. Parks's head is in the airbag. Blood drips down from his head. IND MILITIA SOLDIER 1 (O.S.) Be advised, securing the package. An arm reaches over and the car unlocks. Parks tries to take off his seatbelt. IND MILITIA SOLDIER 2 HE'S MOVING! IND MILITIA SOLDIER 1 Cease fi- Parks opens his eyes, looks forward, and watches the muzzle blast of a shotgun go through the broken in windshield. Parks gets slammed against the seat and slumps over the center console. A scream comes from the back. DAWN (O.S.) PARKS! Dawn gets dragged out and a cloth sack gets put over her head. IND MILITIA SOLDIER 1 Jesus fuck I just shot a cop... Behind the cruiser, Dawn gets thrown into the back of a minivan. The door closes and the minivan drives off. EXT. CITY - DAY Parks opens the door and falls out of the cruiser. He groans in pain as he takes his gun out. A cut sits on his head. The minivan is long gone, what remains is Parks's smashed cruiser which sits in ruin next to the pickup truck. Glass and metal from both cars line the street. Parks tries to stand up and looks around that cityscape around him. He coughs up once again and falls over. Parks unbuttons his shirt and opens it. He looks at the hole made by the 12 gauge shell. Sirens in the distance. Parks crawls back into his cruiser and takes out his radio's handset. PARKS 1532, (cough) shots fired, officer down at Scottsdale and third... Multiple armed assailants travelling north in a Ford Windstar minivan. He coughs into the handset. He lets go of the microphone. DISPATCH (radio) 10-4 1532, all units be advised officer down at Scottsdale and third. Suspects last seen fleeing north in a Ford Windstar. Parks lays back as the lights and sirens approach. CUT TO: Parks is wheeled into an ambulance on a stretcher. INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY Parks lays down in bed and looks at the ceiling. The fan above him spins. Parks looks to his side. A cane sits there. The door opens, Steele walks in, a file in hand. STEELE Parks... He sighs and massages his eyes. STEELE (CONT’D) We talked to that reporter. Steele shakes his head. STEELE (CONT’D) The investigation against you has been dropped. The search for Dawn Paulsen has for all intents and purposes gone cold. Parks cocks an eyebrow. PARKS Weren't you fixing to bury me? Steele shakes his head. STEELE I needed to scratch out all the possibilities. PARKS Yeah? Steele reaches into the file then passes him two stapled pieces of paper. STEELE Keep your friend James out of trouble. Steele steps out. Parks lays in bed and watches the ceiling fan. He gets out of bed and takes his IV off. CUT TO: INT. POLICE STATION - DAY Parks massages his eyes. He gets on his work computer and looks up "Dawn Paulsen" in a Google search. "Renowned Doctor Speaks out Against her Brother's Military Service" "People also searched for: MSR Houston Incident" PARKS The hell's this gotta do with anything? Parks shakes his head and scratches his chin. He jots a note down in his notepad: "MSR Houston incident, Doctor Dawn Paulsen related?" He opens up another tab, her Facebook page. "Researcher at Knight Pharmaceuticals" He puts another search in. "Doctor Dawn Paulsen research" No results. OFFICER BAYLEY TURNER, (28) comes up behind him. TURNER Detective Parks? Parks turns around. PARKS Yeah? TURNER I'm being assigned with you, Detective. It takes Parks a second to process this. Parks turns around in his chair. PARKS You're kidding me right? You're patrol. Turner nods. TURNER They made a new task force, and they wanted us on it as partners. Parks motions for him to continue. PARKS Go on. TURNER They're going to be meeting in a few minutes, they told me to come get you. Parks looks at his notes, then his Google search. PARKS Yeah, let's do it. Parks brings his notepad with him. He flips through the pages. He stops on one page. "Who kidnapped Dawn Paulsen?" A set of leads sits in there. -"Matthews"? -"Disgruntled Pharma employee"? TURNER What you looking at there? PARKS Case on that chick that was in the back of my cruiser. Turner nods. TURNER I think you'll like the task force, Detective. Parks stops and raises his hand. He looks burnt out. Turner turns around. PARKS Just Dave. TURNER Huh? PARKS It's either Dave, or Parks- Not Detective. TURNER Oh- Okay. The two walk down the hallway to INT. MEETING ROOM - DAY A group stands around a meeting room table. JACQUELINE "JACKIE" MILLER, (29) stands there. She's 6"0, average build, and has a decent sized rack. She wears an open brown leather jacket with a blue shirt inside with a pair of jeans. On her left she wears a Hartford Police badge, on her right she wears a Glock 17. She has her notes spread across the meeting table. Behind her, a map of the United States with red pins in it. She reads from a manila file folder. TRAVIS RODGERS, (30) looks at this map. He's 6"1 with medium length hair and brown eyes. He has a beard and wears a beanie. He keeps a P320 on his right hip and an LAPD badge on his left. Parks puts up his hand. PARKS Howdy. The two look up. JACKIE You must be the Phoenix detective. MATTHEWS (O.S.) That he very much is. The door closes behind Parks and Turner. Matthews materializes behind Turner. The door closes behind him. Parks drops his notepad, then turns around. Matthews stands behind him. He wears a Homeland Security badge on a lanyard with a blue shirt, jeans, and a clip on tie. A messenger bag sits next to him, JACKIE Looks like he's decently put together. Parks just looks at Jackie and winces. MATTHEWS He is, wouldn't have him here otherwise. Jackie looks up at Parks. JACKIE Been awhile, hasn't it Dave? Last time we spoke, me and Elena were sitting at your dinner table and Donny and I were contemplating the future. Parks glances behind him at Matthews. PARKS And what do you got going on here Matthews? Matthews shoots him a grin. MATTHEWS Inter-agency cooperation. Welcome to Task Force Liberty, Detective Parks. You'll be helping the federal government arrest a trafficking ring that spans over two states. Parks nods. PARKS Right. He goes to pick his notepad up and watches Matthews. MATTHEWS And, guess what? Parks grabs his notepad and looks up at him. MATTHEWS (CONT’D) You get to ride in the same car as the wonderful, Miss Miller. He motions to Jackie. MATTHEWS (CONT’D) Detective Miller, could you clue the Phoenix Police Department into the operation we've got running here? Jackie nods and picks a remote up from the table. She turns on the projector. A map layout sits on screen. Two arrows lead through downtown Phoenix. Arrows block off the surrounding street, as a red arrow goes through a main road. It's a perimeter. MILLER We've received a tip from an inside man, a driver of a truck carrying over 40 children in it. It comes through at 1800 hours. Parks opens up a new page in his notepad and sketches the map. He flips to another page and continues to jot down notes. Miller takes a laser pointer and points at the screen. MILLER (CONT’D) The truck should be coming through here. She makes circles the red arrow going up the street. MILLER (CONT’D) We have two Phoenix Police Department teams that Agent Matthews and Detective Rodgers will be coordinating. Park, you and I are going to be trailing behind the truck, we're gonna see if we can get them to pull over in a marked SUV. Any questions? Parks raises his hand. PARKS You know I just got shot, right? MILLER Don't worry about it, it'll be a quick one. We get the kids, you become a hero, what's the worst that could happen? Parks's eyes widen. PARKS A lot, actually Detective. I'm sure you know that in this line of work. MILLER We have all our bases covered here, Parks. PARKS Sure we do. Parks stands up. PARKS (CONT’D) If that's everything, I'm gonna get ready. EXT. POLICE STATION - DAY Parks steps out. He wears a pair of jeans with black boots, a long sleeved flannel shirt, and a black plate carrier that reads "POLICE" on the front of it. Miller pulls up in a marked Phoenix Police SUV. Parks walks over to an unmarked cruiser and takes an AR with a red dot out of it. Miller rolls down the window to the SUV. MILLER You're not gonna need that! Parks starts putting magazines in his plate carrier pouches. PARKS You ever watch Black Hawk Down? Parks holds his AR in one hand. The same rifle Hawkins held. He holds it tighter and walks to the front of the SUV. EXT. POLICE SUV - NIGHT A police SUV sits in a dark alley. The windows are tinted. INT. POLICE SUV - NIGHT The rifle sits between his legs. The two are positioned at the end of an alley. Parks takes a deep breath. PARKS I feel alright. JACKIE If you want to stay at the end of the street and take the perimeter, that's fine you know. Parks shakes his head. PARKS I got this shit. He takes his rifle then checks his watch. The truck drives by. TURNER (O.S.) (radio) Eyes on the truck. Moving at a slower rate of speed. Jackie grabs the handset. JACKIE (radio) Copy, keep eyes on him, we're pulling out of the alley now. Parks keeps his rifle tucked between his legs. The SUV pulls out of the alley. EXT. STREET - NIGHT From up above, the SUV tails the truck. INT. POLICE SUV - NIGHT JACKIE Light 'em up. Parks hits the sound and light bar. The truck pulls to the side and stops. EXT. STREET - NIGHT Parks gets out of the SUV, rifle pointed at the truck. Jackie gets on the loudspeaker and holds it with her left hand. In her right, she holds a Glock. JACKIE Occupants of the big rig truck, this is the police! Come out of the truck with your hands u- A gunshot rings out. Turner looks up from the front of his cruiser. He takes a pump action shotgun out of the back of his cruiser. TURNER They're in the offices! Parks takes his AR and starts scanning the rooftops. A rifle sticks out of an open window. Parks lines his red dot up with it and pulls the trigger. Muzzle flashes line the rooftops as more rounds land on the cruiser. PARKS Get down! The two take cover. Jackie drops the handset. More gun shots ring out. The light to the car goes out as rounds ping off the door, then stop. JACKIE Motherfucker, it's an ambush! Parks peaks over as smoke clouds appear in front of him. Rounds begin to bounce off the metal of the cruiser as Parks tries to peek out. The driver's side of the truck opens. Two figures in fatigues disappear through the smoke. PARKS What the hell? The rounds pass Parks's head. JACKIE Parks, they're moving! PARKS I got it! Parks runs forward into the smoke. He fires back at the flashes through the smoke as he does so. JACKIE PARKS YOU FUCKING IDIOT! Parks charges through the smoke. His rifle points forward. He turns the light on it and spots two as they run into a building. His light flashes in the darkness. PARKS Motherfucker! He continues his charge. Bullets fire past him, then stop. JACKIE (O.S.) (earpiece) Parks, give me your 20! PARKS (radio) Parking garage in pursuit of suspects! Parks runs inside and follows the two. INT. PARKING GARAGE - NIGHT The garage is almost empty. A few cars line the garage, but other than that there's nothing to note. The two run up the ramp as Parks continues to tail them. Parks makes it up the ramp as a white van starts and screams past Parks. Parks takes cover behind a parking lot pillar. IND MILITIA SOLDIER 1 We need the two Army guys dead! Parks watches three of them get out of the van. The van drives away and down the ramp. PARKS (radio) You got a van on its way down there, stop it! White Ford van! Parks crouches down and peers out with his rifle. He moves to cover while he does so. The militia soldiers wear all black with black pants, balaclavas, and boots. One goes down as Parks takes aim and a round goes through his skull. The other two begin to fire at Parks. One charges at him while the other keeps him pinned behind the car. Parks waits for an opening. He peers out as the guy who was charging him starts to change his magazine. Parks peeks out, fires two into his chest and one in his skull. He falls down, dead. Parks listens for a moment. The sound of boots echoes through the garage. Parks peeks out and watches the man's back turn. He pulls the trigger as blood spatter exits his neck. Parks pushes up and watches his right side. He checks his left and enters Parks goes into the office. INT. OFFICE - NIGHT More gunfire rings out PARKS (CONT’D) Shit, shit, shit- Parks follows the sound and continues to push. The office is dimly lit. The two in fatigues look around as one tries a door. Another militia soldier lays down, his rifle away from him. Parks trains his rifle on the two. PARKS (CONT’D) POLICE, STOP! The two make a run toward the other end of the office and cut through cubicles in the process. Parks moves towards the other side. He keeps his rifle forward as he does so. More gunshots ring out nearby. The sound of a door opening. A voice lets out a groan of pain. A thud echoes through the office. Parks stops and makes his way over. NICHOLAS "NICK" FLETCHER, (mid-30s) has someone pinned to the ground. NICK Stupid cunt! Imagine the pain she's going through! One of the other fatigues appears behind him with a fire extinguisher and hits him in the back of the head with it. CONRAD COME ON, LET'S GO DOC! The voice makes Parks's eye widen in disbelief. PARKS No fucking way... The two begin to run down the stairs. Parks sees the one knocked out next to him. He gets on his earpiece. PARKS (CONT’D) Be advised, two suspects wearing military fatigues running down the east stairwell of the Lifeline Insurance Agency. JACKIE 10-4, on our way. The radio squawks once again. MATTHEWS (O.S.) (radio) Detective Parks and Miller, I will be taking control of this situation with Homeland Security, I am requesting you two follow the suspects, DHS will intercept. Parks takes the unconscious Nick's hands and cuffs them. Parks continues to drag Nick behind cover. PARKS (radio) NOT NOW, MATTHEWS! Parks reloads his rifle and keeps it trained at the door. More gunshots ring out. Sirens sound in the distance. TURNER (radio) Parks I got eyes on the second suspect coming down the insurance staircase, OH SHIT! The radio goes silent as a thud echoes through the stairwell. PARKS Oh, fuck. Parks looks at Nick and carries him on his shoulder. PARKS (CONT’D) Come on, big guy. Parks's rifle is slung in front of him. His handgun raised forward, he makes his way down the staircase and makes his way down. An open window sits at the bottom of the stairwell. Next to it, a lone shotgun with the shells scattered around it. Parks looks out the window and keys his radio. PARKS (CONT’D) Turner, copy? A groan comes from the other end. TURNER (O.S.) (radio) Bastard shoved me out of a window and grabbed my gun. JACKIE (O.S.) (radio) Stay there then, we'll come down and get you. More shots ring out. JACKIE (O.S.) (CONT’D) (radio) Backup and SWAT arriving on scene, watch your fire gentlemen. Parks continues to carry Nick down the staircase as the gunfire continues. INT. RECEPTION ROOM - NIGHT A SWAT team stands and exchanges fire with a building across the street. Their rifles aim toward the second floor of another building. PARKS Phoenix PD coming through! Parks comes down the staircase and holsters his handgun. He sets Nick down behind the reception counter. Parks goes over to JAMESON, (mid-30s). Jameson talks into a radio. JAMESON Negative, send units behind the building across from us and have them go around! He looks over at Parks. PARKS You see a guy in camo running away? ! He nods. JAMESON Yeah, went down the alleyway! Parks peeks his head out for a moment, only to have rounds nearly strike him in the face. He goes back to Jameson. PARKS Christ. I think I'm gonna try and head him off. JAMESON You going to be good? Parks nods. PARKS I can take care of myself. Parks makes a run toward the back of the reception office, the sound of gunfire goes off behind him. He goes to EXT. ALLEYWAY - DAY One of the guys in fatigues peeks inside the dumpster. PARKS STOP, POLICE! The man in fatigues gets spooked and breaks out into a sprint. PARKS (CONT’D) STOP! Parks chases after him and looks up at the window along the way. It's open. He looks back at the dumpster. PARKS (CONT’D) Turner- Parks looks back at the man at the end of the alley. A car pulls up. The man in fatigues gets in it. The driver looks over. Parks raises his sidearm- -Then lowers it. The gunfire behind him stops. PARKS (CONT’D) James? James looks over as the other man gets in and floors it. JACKIE (O.S.) (radio) We're code four here. Switch to dispatch frequency. Behind him, Turner jumps out of the dumpster. TURNER Owww... Fuck. Parks makes his way over to him. PARKS You okay bud, what happened? TURNER Guy spooked me, tried to grab my shotgun, and then pushed me out the window. Parks nods. PARKS Alright- Alright, you see him? Turner shakes his head. TURNER Yeah, he was wearing a green mask- Had brown eyes, black hair, Caucasian. Parks nods. PARKS Bodycam rolling? Turner nods. PARKS (CONT’D) Come on then, let's go get that truck open. See if the tip was legit. The two walk to EXT. STREET - NIGHT The two step out of the alley. A prisoner transport sits there as multiple ambulances take wounded away. The street is blocked off as Homeland Security agents and uniformed Phoenix officers take photos of the crime scene. Uniformed police officers herd Down the street, cameras flash as officers keep the media at a distance. Two agents in suits, a man and a woman stand there and guard the cargo of the truck. Parks looks over at Turner. PARKS Feeling okay? TURNER Yeah, I'm good man. The Phoenix SWAT team stands there PARKS You keep a set of bolt cutters in the back of your cruiser? Turner nods. PARKS (CONT’D) Get 'em for me. TURNER You got it, detective. Turner runs back to his cruiser. Jackie walks over. JACKIE Feds are taking over Parks, we've done our job. Turner takes the bolt cutters out of his car. He makes his way back. PARKS That's bullshit and we both know it, Detective Miller. The feds from what I've been fucking seeing always fucking take over. Our fucking turn. Turner comes back with the bolt cutters. Parks takes the bolt cutters from him. The two agents continue to guard the truck's cargo hold and watch Parks. Parks watches them. JACKIE We're here to do a job- PARKS AND THAT'S TO SEE IF THIS TIP WAS BULLSHIT, IS IT FUCKING NOT?! Isn't it our job to have some level of accountability with these- Parks points to the two agents that guard the truck. PARKS (CONT’D) ...Pretentious... Parks walks forward and readies the bolt cutters. PARKS (CONT’D) ...Lying.... He walks closer to the truck. PARKS (CONT’D) ...Shrewd... The two agents protect the back of the truck and stand backed up against it. PARKS (CONT’D) FUCKS! Parks reaches between the two agents with the bolt cutters and cut the lock off. The female punches him in the face and causes him to stagger back. The male agent tackles him to the ground. PARKS (CONT’D) OPEN THE TRUCK, OPEN THE FUCKING TRUCK GOD DAMN IT! Jameson looks over at Parks on the ground. JAMESON Get your fucking hands off him! Turner pulls the female back, only to take an elbow to the shoulder. The woman breaks free, only for Turner to tackle her down. Jackie pulls the male agent off of Parks, knocking him off balance. She locks his arms in a hold and throws him to the ground. Parks gets back on his feet, takes out his sidearm, then takes the lock off with his free hand. He gets the container open. Darkness. Parks takes a light out from his pocket and turns it on. His jaw drops. Kids line the shipping container. Parks takes his light and shines it up and down the crate. The children all carry terrified faces. Parks climbs up the crate and stands up. INT. SHIPPING CONTAINER - NIGHT PARKS You guys okay? Parks keeps the light on. PARKS (CONT’D) I'm a police officer. A small group has formed behind him, A few give terrified looks from where they are. IND CHILD 1 Police... Officer...? Parks reaches into his pocket for a wallet. He pulls out his badge and points to it. The kids recoil back in fear. Parks backs away and makes his way down. He looks over at Jameson. EXT. STREET - NIGHT PARKS Get the fucking Red Cross out here. The two agents that attacked Parks are pinned to the ground. Matthews walks over. MATTHEWS Officers, release my men. TURNER Screw you, they attacked one of ours, I got it on video! MATTHEWS You're right. You know what else is on video? Losing your firearm to a dangerous suspect, that's worthy of you losing your badge Officer Turner. TURNER Yeah, and you're a fed the hell you gotta do with that? MATTHEWS Consider yourself fired then, Officer Turner. Matthews turns over to Parks. MATTHEWS (CONT’D) As for you, Detective Parks. Matthews looks at him. MATTHEWS (CONT’D) Expect a suspension for striking one of my agents. PARKS Fuck you, Matthews. Anytime I find something, Homeland always seems to suddenly be interested in it. What's so interesting about these kids? MATTHEWS That's a bit above your paygrade, detective. PARKS Always fucking is. Parks walks off in anger but stops as he watches two Homeland security agents load Nick into a van. PARKS (CONT’D) Homeland... FLASHBACK EXT. STREET - NIGHT The black suburbans. "DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY" jackets flash through Parks's mind. MARK (O.S.) Well Torres is dead. Someone did you a favor, my man. Seems like the responding officers can't seem to get their radios working, so they had to use their personal phones to call up the coroner. Better meet 'em there. END FLASHBACK. PARKS Oh, no, no, no, no... He runs back into INT. RECEPTION ROOM - NIGHT He checks behind the reception desk. Nick isn't there. PARKS Oh, fuck. Parks runs out to EXT. STREET - NIGHT Jackie loads Conrad into the back of the police SUV. JACKIE Got anything else to say? CONRAD Lawyer. Parks's eyes widen. Nick gets loaded into the back of a black van. PARKS Oh, christ. Parks runs over to Jackie. PARKS (CONT’D) I need to talk to your suspect. Conrad's eyes widen in shock. JACKIE Sure, but- PARKS Fucking, nothing! Parks pushes her out of the way and looks at the black van with government plates. He closes the door JACKIE Hey, what the fuck Parks? Parks goes into INT. POLICE SUV - NIGHT Parks buckles Conrad's seatbelt. He throws his rifle into the seat next to him. Parks starts the SUV and drives forward. He watches the black van drive off and follows behind it. CONRAD The fucking Chink, bailing my ass out. What did I do to deserve this? PARKS I'm keeping you from getting your brains blown out. You still float with that reporter? Parks reaches over and takes the dashcam off the mount. PARKS (CONT’D) Hold that. Burn it when you get the chance. He continues to trail the black van. Parks passes the handcuff keys to Conrad. PARKS (CONT’D) There's a guy in that black van. Can you get him out? CONRAD That fucking limey? Parks moves the rear passenger's side mirror. PARKS Yes, that fucking limey. CONRAD I don't fucking know him. PARKS Can you cut the bullshit for once? It doesn't take a genius to figure out if you and him are there, that someone who got all of us out of hell got themselves into more trouble. As to be expected. Conrad looks down and sighs. CONRAD Fuck, fine. PARKS One more thing. CONRAD Yeah? PARKS The female Paulsen. Conrad shakes his head. CONRAD Fuck if I know. PARKS Damn it. Parks continues to follow the van. PARKS (CONT’D) Act handcuffed for a sec. He turns on the lights and sirens. The van makes a turn, then stops. PARKS (CONT’D) Act like you're handcuffed. Once I get them out of their car, grab him, grab the cruiser and go. CONRAD 10-4, copper. Parks unlocks the car doors. EXT. STREET - NIGHT Parks steps out of his cruiser. He makes his way over, his hand on his gun. He puts his fingers on the back of the tail light. The window to the van rolls down. PARKS Howdy there sir, how you doing tonight? The driver flashes his Homeland Security badge. IND AGENT 1 Not too good now that you've pulled us over. Parks clicks his tongue. PARKS Well damn, sorry to hear that. I'm gonna need you two to step out of the vehicle in either case. Your plates match the vehicle of a murder suspect my division's been tracking. IND AGENT 1 Excuse me? Parks sighs and gives a tired chuckle. PARKS Yeah, it's been a long night for me too man. The agent in the passenger's seat gives a look of confusion. PARKS (CONT’D) Please exit the vehicle. IND AGENT 1 What the hell are you talking about I just- Parks's expression changes to that of sheer annoyance. PARKS GET OUT OR I DRAG YOU OUT. The door next to him opens as the agent steps out of the van. IND AGENT 1 What's your name, detective? You've got no acceptable basis for this stop and we both know it! Now give me your badge number! PARKS Detective Parks, Human Trafficking Division, badge 91859, 24th Street Precinct. IND AGENT 1 You lousy brat- PARKS I'm just doing what I'm told sir. IND AGENT 1 What? You know what I can do to you- To your career son? The group are positioned in front of the van. Parks moves so they face away from it. The two begin to stand above Parks. Parks watches the back of the van open up as Conrad carries Nick outside the van. Conrad picks him up and carries him to the cruiser. PARKS Fucking take your best shot, bitch. The agent gets ready to swing- Only for the tires to the cruiser to screech as the SUV screams past the three. PARKS (CONT’D) Oh, fuck! He watches the SUV drive off. PARKS (CONT’D) Well- INT. OFFICE - DAY PARKS That was that. Stanton looks at Parks, jaw dropped. STANTON Did you eat paint as a child Parks? He put a gun to your head so instead of crashing the car you did what he said? PARKS I was scared, sir. STANTON Your badge and gun, Parks. Parks takes them out and passes them to him. STANTON (CONT’D) A month's suspension, you're lucky to still be getting paid while we investigate this. Starting a fight with two federal agents, leaving a scene before investigators can arrive, and then proceeding to pick another fight with Homeland? Stanton shakes his head. STANTON (CONT’D) You are a lucky man to still be allowed to have a job here. Parks nods. PARKS I'm sorry sir. Thank you, sir. STANTON Get the hell outta my office. Parks nods as he walks out to INT. POLICE STATION - DAY Jackie stands there and waits. Parks closes the door behind him. PARKS The hell do you want? JACKIE Interesting how two unknown suspects disappear on your watch. Nick Fletcher and Conrad Miller? Parks just shrugs. PARKS Never actually caught their names, actually. Jackie scratches her chin. JACKIE Mmhmm. Interesting. Strange how those names have come up after all these years, isn't it? It's like we were just having dinner as couples again. Parks walks over to his desk. He takes some of his notes with him. PARKS Turner gone? Jackie nods. JACKIE Poor guy. PARKS Real fuckin' shame. Parks starts to take notes out of his desk. He walks by Turner's desk. It sits empty. Parks takes a moment to look at it, the notes in his hand. He walks over to the exit. CUT TO: INT. PARKS'S HOUSE - DAY Elena sleeps on the couch as Parks comes in. PARKS Hi, Elena. Parks drops to the floor, passes out, and falls asleep.