Teen Girl Murder 2-7-14

UNTITLED TEEN GIRL MURDER SHOW

Episode #101

"PILOT"

Written byMorgan Evans

Ampercat ProductionsICM Partners 2/7/14

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

INT. LARGE APARTMENT - DAY

STAN (30s), a large Peter Lorre-type, paces back and forth in a decadent apartment. Hes muttering to himself and in a real panic.

He goes to the fridge and tries to pour some water from the brita but his hands are too shaky.

STANFUCK!

He throws the glass. It shatters across the room.

His doorbell rings. DING.

STAN (CONTD)Oh thank Christ.

Stan opens the door with a troubled flourish.

Enter Ella (15), a 15 year-old girl a hundred years older.

Dressed in thrift store clothes and hand-me-downs, Ella has a style she didnt ask for but makes work. Shes young, but we can already see the beautiful woman shes going to turn out to be. Theres a self-assuredness you can feel in your bones as she just stands there.

ELLAWhere is she?

STANThe bedroom.

She walks brusquely. Stan follows her.

STAN (CONTD)Thanks for coming on such short notice.

Ella rolls her eyes. She stops in front of the door.

ELLAHere?

Stan nods.

Ella swings the door open revealing a DEAD PROSTITUTE sprawled out on the bed. Blood. Lots of blood.

ELLA (CONTD)Where are the drugs?

STANI flushed em. You guys told me not to sell anymore stuff so I stopped. I stopped.

Long beat.

STAN (CONTD)I stopped!

ELLA(not buying it)

Where are the drugs?

STANI flushed em, I swear it!

Ella reaches under a small table near the door, adorned with Stans family photos. She pulls out a large bag of cocaine.

ELLAWhere are the fucking drugs Stan?

Stan looks confused.

STANIn the vents.

ELLAGet them. All of them. Flush this.

Stan sighs.

INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Ella approaches the corpse and stands over the bed. She pulls out her phone and holds it to her ear.

INT. APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

Stan goes around the apartment with a step stool, pulling bags of cocaine out of the air vents. His arms are getting full.


ELLAMark. Need you here ten minutes ago. Yeah. Uppers. Hes a friend of Leo. Thanks.

TEEN MURDER SHOW "Episode 101" 2/7/14 2.

(MORE)

(beat)And bring a mop.

INT. BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

Stan is flushing massive amounts of cocaine down the toilet. Trying to do a few bumps as he works.

STAN(yelling)

Can I get you a water or beer or something?

Ella appears in the doorway. Stan has coke all over his black polo.

ELLABoth.

INT. KITCHEN - LATER

Ella sits at a bar stool. In front of her is a nice glass of water and a cool Peroni. Stan stands behind the counter.

She drinks the whole glass of water in one sip, then starts on the beer.

ELLAStan. What the fuck?

STANIts not what it looks like, I promise.

ELLAWhat it looks like is you brought yet another prostitute back to your apartment, an apartment Leo owns mind you, and got her killed. Again. Twice. This happened twice. Two times.

STANWell it wont happen again. That I can tell you. Ive learned my lesson. This time I definitely learned my lesson. Prostitute-wise.

Ella stares at him.

ELLALearned your lesson. Just like the drugs?


ELLA (CONT'D)

STANWell, er, see the problem was in the mix. So as long as they stick to the powders theyre OK.

(grave)Are you gonna tell Leo?

ELLALeo already knows.

Stan gulps.

STANWhats he gonna do?

ELLADont worry about it.

STANHow much of this is gonna be like last time?

ELLAAll of it.

STANPlease. I beg you. Not here. Not again. I really cant handle it. I cant take baths anymore!

(leaning in)Ive started to think my apartment is haunted.

The doorbell rings. Ella walks over.

ELLAStan you know how this works. You do what I say and everything gets clean.

Ella answers the door. Two guys in garbage truck jumpers walk in. They are MARK and DOUG, think Tim and Eric. They both hold big canvas bags.

ELLA (CONTD)Bedroom. Follow me.

The guys shoot a look at Stan. Again?


The guys and Ella stare at the corpse.


Mark and Doug open their bags on the bed and pull out plastic suits. As they put them on-

MARKElla maybe you can settle this bet for us.

DOUGWhich one of us looks more like Brad Pitt?

MARKKeep vibes in mind too.

DOUGRight. Vibe is really important.

Ella stares at them. They get the hint and get to work.

MARKSame place as before?

Ella nods.

Mark and Doug pick up the corpse. They move through the house.

INT. APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

In the living room, Stan stops them.

STANNo.

ELLAWhat are you doing Stan?

STANNo! You cant use the bathroom again. I draw the line there.

ELLAStan get the trash bags.

STANPlease. I just got it clean!

ELLAIf you want your bathroom clean, maybe you should try NOT killing hookers. Stan. Trash bags. Now.

Stan sighs and walks off.


INT. BATHROOM - LATER

The sickening sound of a bone saw against flesh. Mark and Doug are getting splattered with blood as they chop up the body.

Ella leans against the sink and smokes a cigarette.

Stan enters.

STANI got the bags.

He looks at the tub.

STAN (CONTD)Oh Jesus.

Stan runs to the toilet and pukes. Mark and Doug stop working.

MARKDisgusting!

DOUGStan thats horrible.

They ad lib so gross! ew etc, while holding body parts and bloody saws.

Mark pats Stan on the back with a severed hand.

With an eyeroll, Ella exits the bathroom.

INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Ella sips her beer as her phone rings. She answers it.

ELLAMom, Im coming home.

(beat)Out! I went out.

(faking it)Youre... up... breaking... not... working... chhhhhkkkk.

Ella hangs the phone up. She downs the beer, walks back to the bathroom.

INT. BATHROOM - DAY

Ella stands in the doorway. Stan is washing his hands in the sink. Mark and Doug are finished cutting up the body and are now putting her into trash bags.


ELLAIm taking off. The boss wants you guys to clean up the other body too.

Stan turns to Ella.

STANWhat other bo-

Ella pops a clean round square in his forehead. Stan drops.

Ella puts her gun in her purse.

ELLAYou guys got this?

Mark and Doug are obviously nervous.

MARKYeah. Sure, Ella.

Beat.

ELLAIm starting High School tomorrow. Any advice?

Mark and Stan look at each other.

MARKHang in there?

ELLA(thinks it over)

Hang in there. Hm.

CUT TO:

MAIN TITLE.

EXT. A WAREHOUSE IN PENNSYLVANIA - NIGHT

We open on a quiet warehouse in a small town in Pennsylvania. Suddenly, its lit by the headlights of a buzzing Volvo and the muffled sounds of Sam Cooke playing from inside a car.

The lights are nixed and the car turns off revealing a much more sinister sound. The sounds of a man screaming echo throughout the small parking lot.


Off camera, the doors open and we hear a shuffling. A TALL MAN pleads for his life as he is pushed into frame with a bag over his head. He is followed by a SHORT MAN who ushers him inside the warehouse.

The short man pushes the guy onto the ground- out of frame, as he stands in the doorway. He pulls a large .44 Magnum out of his back and steadies the gun at the unseen victim.

The tall man screams one last time before POP! The warehouse is lit by a single gunshot. Hes dead. Just like that.

The Short Man walks out of the building and we get a clear look at his face. He looks kind, about thirty. He could be your neighbor. He pulls out a cellphone and hits a button.

SMASH CUT TO:

INT. ELLAS KITCHEN - MORNING

A bowl of Fruity Pebbles sit crackling on a small breakfast table in the kitchen of a middle-class home not too far away. The same Sam Cooke song plays on the radio.

Ella sits staring at the pebbles, her mind elsewhere.

Her phone rings and she jumps up. She wasnt expecting this call but she moves through the house with purpose, grabbing a backpack and stuffing it with papers. She tries to zip it up but it sticks. She finally gets it to close and then grabs the keys to a minivan.

SLAM! Shes stopped at the door by a formidable opponent:

REBECCA LLOYD (30), her mother. The kind of mom with a life. She grabs the keys in one swift motion.

REBECCANo way. Not today missy.

ELLAI forgot.

REBECCAYou forgot you were grounded? I dont think so.

ELLAOK. So sue me, I wanted to take a car to my first day of High School.


REBECCAYou should of considered that before you went came home reeking of cigarettes.

ELLADanny smokes!

REBECCAAnd Im sure if Danny jumped off a bridge

ELLAId do it better?

Rebecca stares her down.

ELLA (CONTD)OK. Ill take the bike. Bye mom.

Ella kisses her mom on the cheek.

REBECCAHey!

Ella turns around.

REBECCA (CONTD)Keys!

Ella tosses her mom the keys.

EXT. BACKYARD - MORNING

Ella fumbles with her bicycle. It has a flat. She pumps it up as her phone rings again. She answers it.

ELLAWhat?

VOICE (O.S.)Turn around.

Everything goes dark. Slow. Ella slowly turns.

Danger so soon? The music ramps up, the tension builds!

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT ONE


ACT TWO

FADE IN:

EXT. BACKYARD - MORNING

Same as previous page. Ella stands in her backyard with her phone in her hand. Shes slowly turning around.

VOICE (O.S.)GOTCHA!

Its her best friend DANNY, a year older, handsome, holding a water gun and a cell phone. POP! He shoots a stream of water at her face...

But before he can even react, Ella has dodged the stream and towers over his limp body on the ground. THWAP!

ELLASorry. Reflexes.

Danny looks up at her. Inklings of a Scully/Mulder romance for many seasons to come...

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET - MORNING

Danny and Ella walk to school. She walks the bike next to her. Danny is rubbing his neck.

DANNYTake it youre still working for the good guys?

ELLAWhat gave me away?

DANNYYoure ripped.

ELLAAm not.

DANNYYou are! You got ripped. I go to one pre college course at NYU and I come back to find my best friend is an MMF fighter.

ELLAMMA. MMF is porn with two guys and a girl.


DANNYGross.

Ella picks at her handlebars.

ELLAAnd they are the good guys. I wish you wouldnt be so condescending about it.

DANNYMurder? Drugs?

ELLAThey bailed on the drugs. I put that in the suggestion box.

DANNYThe mafia has a suggestion box?

ELLA(on an eye roll)

The point is, Leos crew has ethics.

DANNYRight. So this mafia is good. This other mafia is bad. Roger that.

ELLARyans guys wont let anything stand in their way. Anything. Thats dangerous.

DANNYYoure dangerous, Ella.

ELLAI know. Thats why they pay me so much.

Ella smiles knowingly.

DANNYWait, they give you a raise?

ELLAYeah. After... you know.

DANNYSpeaking of, did that gaping cesspool on your stomach ever heal?


ELLAYou tell me.

She lifts her shirt up, revealing a HUGE scar down the side of her stomach. Like someone cut her deep with a knife.

DANNYHoly crap! Thats bad ass. It looks like a big vagina.

ELLAGross!

(an idea)Try what he did.

DANNYWhat do you mean?

ELLACome at me. Like this

Ella shows Danny how she got the scar. She drops the bike to the ground and moves towards him with a mimed knife. She plays with it in front of his face and then swiftly drags it down the side of his gut.

DANNYWhat? Why?

ELLAJust try it.

Danny comes at her really slowly.

ELLA (CONTD)Faster!

Danny comes at her a little faster.

ELLA (CONTD)Faster you pussy!

Danny comes at her fast.

Ella pops her foot up, kicking the knife out of his hand and landing a swift kick into his throat.

DANNY(heavy gasping)

ELLAAnd thats why this year is going to be much better than last year.


Ella starts to walk away. Danny still on the ground.

DANNY(coughs)

Maybe for one of us!

Ella comes back and helps him up. She brushes off his shoulders and they walk together.

EXT. HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

A huge bustling High School. Students mill about all over.

Ella and Danny stare at it reluctantly.

ELLAIts uh... bigger than I thought itd be.

DANNY...Its bigger than NYU.

ELLAAre you going to bring up NYU all the time now?

DANNYProbably.

We see THREE POPULAR GIRLS (all 16), SAMANTHA, CRISSY, and FRANCIS.

Danny perks up.

DANNY (CONTD)Oh look its Sam!

Danny waves his hand.

DANNY (CONTD)Hey Sam!

Ella waves too.

The three girls look at our main characters and laugh.

SAMDont even try to talk to us.

They walk away.

DANNYI guess Sam doesnt like you anymore.


ELLASeems like she doesnt like you either.

DANNYOh really? I couldnt tell.

They laugh.

DANNY (CONTD)Still feeling good about this year?

Ella playfully punches him in his arm.

DANNY (CONTD)Ow. Holy shit.

ELLASorry. My bad.

DANNYYou really need to be less physical.

Ella and Danny walk towards the school.

BLAKE DENNIS (17), arguably the most popular guy in school, bumps directly into Ella.

BLAKE Oh excuse me...

Blake steps back and takes a look at Ella. She is in shock- loves this guy.

BLAKE (CONTD)Ella. Hows it going?

ELLAIm very sweaty.

Ella looks like why the fuck did I just say that?.

BLAKENo uh, physical harm or anything? Didnt do too much damage I hope.

Danny looks at Blake. Then back to Ella. Then back to Blake. Back to Ella. He cannot contain how monumental he perceives this interaction to be.

Obviously, Danny loves Ella and is slightly hurt by this, but his friend-card prevails.


ELLANope. All good. Heh.

Ellas nervousness increases.

BLAKEWell... Id love to make it up to you. Lunch or something?

ELLAWhat?

BLAKEToday?

ELLALunch?

BLAKEYeah.

ELLA(verbal diarreah)

Shut the fuck up.

BLAKEOK. Nevermind.

ELLAWait! No. Thatd be... great. Im in.

BLAKEAwesome. See you then.

Blake skips off.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Ella and Danny walk into the school and are greeted by a line of students. They get into the line.

DANNYHOLY SHIT ELLA!

ELLAI know.

DANNYBlake!

ELLAI know.


DANNYI know Im straight and all, but Id blow him if I were you.

ELLAHell. Id blow him if I were me.

A slight pang of distress in Dannys face. A bit too far.

ELLA (CONTD)(noticing)

Whats everyone in line for?

DANNYI cant see.

ELLALift me up!

Danny lifts Ella up. Noticing his hands on her hips. Ellas head pokes out of a line of kids.

Her face goes white. We see why:

Two security guards stand next to two big METAL DETECTORS.

Danny drops her down.

ELLA (CONTD)(under her breath)

Fuck.

DANNYWhat?

ELLAOh nothing. Its just metal detectors.

DANNYHigh School is very weird.

ELLA...yeah.

Ella nervously looks towards her backpack.

For a moment the audience can see THROUGH the backpack a glimpse of her gun.

ELLA (CONTD)Very weird.


INT. LINE - MOMENTS LATER

Ella and Danny are closer to the front of the line. Shes visibly contemplating what to do.

ELLAIm not feeling very well.

Ella turns to leave. She starts to run out. But-

SECURITY GUARD Hey! You!

Caught. Ella turns around. Shit.

The students all oooooh. Danny gives her a weird look.

SECURITY GUARD (CONTD)Here. Now.

Ella gulps. She walks towards the metal detector with a look of dread in her eyes. Shes fucked.

Suddenly, we see a patent leather shoe stick out just enough to trip her. On purpose? Whos to say.

Ella spills to the ground, her backpack falling down in front of her. It slides right into the waiting hands of someone in a grey suit. A hand reaches down to help.

PRINCIPAL EARLY (O.S.)Sorry about that.

Ella looks up. Shes face to face with the school principal. Principal Early, who is none other than the short man from the warehouse.

PRINCIPAL EARLY (CONTD)Im principal Early. Lets get you to the nurse.

Ella stands up. Somethings off about this guy.

Ella leans reluctantly on the principal as they make their way around the metal detector.

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT TWO


ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. NURSES OFFICE - DAY

A typical school nurses office.

Ella sits on a cot and is bleeding out of her palm.

NURSE (O.S.)Youve got blood on your hands.

ELLAWhat?

A kindly female NURSE (40s) enters frame.

NURSEI said youve got blood on your hands. Here.

The nurse applies a hydrogen peroxide soaked cotton ball to Ellas hands.

We see the principal is sitting in a chair messing with a capri-sun.

PRINCIPAL EARLYIm really sorry about that Ella. Im kind of a klutz.

This sparks Ellas attention. She shoots a look.

ELLAHow do you know my name?

Without missing a beat-

PRINCIPAL EARLYYou got a perfect PSAT score, right?

ELLAYeah.

PRINCIPAL EARLYEveryone knows your name around here.

(getting up)Head of your middle school class, homecoming queen


ELLAI didnt attend.

PRINCIPAL EARLYRight. A disagreement with pageantry. Have a good first day.

The principal smiles and leaves.

Ella follows him with her eyes.

INT. ENGLISH CLASS - DAY

Ella sits in a large English class next to a huge window. Blake sits in front of her. A heavyset female teacher, MRS. DANIELS (40s) is droning on about Plato.

MRS. DANIELSSo, Plato divided crimes into the voluntary and the involuntary as well as differentiating crimes that were done from passion. Murder, for example...

Blake pulls out his phone and shoots Ella a text.

BLAKE SUPER: Ella, its Blake.

ELLA SUPER: Hey Blake.

BLAKE SUPER: Im thinking hoagies?

ELLA SUPER: Hoagies sound good.

Ella gets a text from MIKE.

MIKE SUPER: WE NEED TO TALK.

Ella is texting back.

ELLA SUPER: in class...

BLAKE SUPER: or do you call them Grinders?

MIKE SUPER: IMPORTANT.

The teacher notices Ella texting.

MRS. DANIELS (CONTD)Hey. No phones.

She walks over and takes Ellas phone.


ELLASorry! It was urgent. Can I get that back?

MRS. DANIELSYou can come get it from me after school in detention.

Ella slumps down in her chair. The teacher continues talking as Ella picks at her binder.

BLAKEUh. Mrs. Daniels.

MRS. DANIELSYes?

BLAKEI was the one texting Ella. Its my fault.

Daniels walks to Blake, already sticking his phone out for her to take.

MRS. DANIELSThen you can join us too.

Ella smiles, then glances out the window to see-

A large Italian man with a mustache leaning against a car in the parking lot. This is MIKE (40s).

Ella sinks further down into her chair.

ELLA(under her breath)

Shit.

She looks out the window again. Mike is lighting a cigarette.

Ella raises her hand.

TEACHERYes?

ELLABathroom!

EXT. SCHOOL PARKING LOT - LATER

Ella is storming up to Mike in a fury.

ELLAWhat are you doing here?!


MIKENice to see you too, Ella!

ELLASeriously. What the hell are you doing here? This is my school. This is off limits.

Beat.

MIKEI have a message from Leo.

ELLAWell fuck, what is it?

MIKEWhats what?

ELLAThe message.

MIKEOh yeah.

Mike goes through his pockets. He pulls out a piece of paper.

MIKE (CONTD)Ryans back. Do you remember Ryan?

ELLAThe guy who gave me a scar the size of a buick? Yeah, I think I recall him. Whats this got to do with me?

MIKELeo wants him gone. He thinks you might have a vested interest in following through with that process.

ELLAI dont kill.

MIKEStan?

ELLAStan killed two women.

MIKEFrenchy?


ELLASex trafficker.

MIKEDale?

ELLA(got her there)

Someone asked me to. (beat)

I dont kill if I dont have to.

MIKEYou can do this. Youve learned. It wont end up like last time. Youre a prodigy Ella.

ELLAWhy couldnt I have been a prodigy at something like piano, or, hell, English, which is where Im supposed to be right now!

MIKEI dont know. Why couldnt I be a prodigy at NOT wanting cake? Who the hell knows. I love cake, though. So. Yeah.

ELLAYou told me I was safe.

MIKEWe didnt expect him to go rogue.

ELLAYou think?

(beat)Get one of your other 16 year-old girls to do it.

MIKEYou know as well as I do that murders a male dominated field.

ELLA(sighs)

Whys he back?

MIKEHes wiping out everyone who was involved in Project Jaguar. We think hes panicking, covering his tracks.


(MORE)

Hes got four of our guys already. Someone must be on his tail.

ELLAJesus.

MIKE...and I dont need to tell you this, but...

ELLAI was involved in Project Jaguar.

MIKEYeah.

Ella thinks about it. She bites her thumbnail nervously.

Suddenly MARIA (17), an attractive blonde comes up to them.

MARIAHeyyyyy you guys. Make sure to vote for Samantha for class president. You guys want stickers?

Mike and Ella stare at her with daggers. She backs away.

MARIA (CONTD)OK. So, no, then?

Maria hustles away.

ELLAI cant even do it tonight. I have detention.

Mike laughs.

MIKELook, personally, I dont care who does it. Leos the one who asked for you.

ELLATell Leo no.

MIKEI will. But youre gonna owe him one.

ELLAI know.


MIKE (CONT'D)

MIKEAlright then.

ELLAAlright then.

Ella starts to walk away.

MIKEMaybe its a good thing youve got detention.

ELLAOh yeah, whys that?

MIKESchools probably the safest place for you right now.

Ella shrugs.

Mike holds up a picture of RYAN (40s). A severe Russian looking guy with a big black beard.

MIKE (CONTD)Hes got a beard now.

ELLAI see that.

Mike is trying to connect.

MIKEJust... be... careful.

(beat)Hows it going?

ELLASchool?

MIKEYeah.

ELLANot well Mike!

Ella walks towards the front entrance of the school. Mike gets into his car, sighs, and drives away.

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT THREE


ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

INT. CAFETERIA - DAY

Ella and Danny sit at a table during lunch. Kids mill about.

DANNYIm sure he didnt forget.

ELLAAnd Im sure this was all some sort of Shes All That style prank.

DANNYImpossible. Prom isnt for another three years. Four if you count this one.

Ellas eyes go wide with distress.

ELLAHow am I going to spend four years here? UGH.

DANNYWho knows, maybe you wont have to.

(beat)Maybe youll get murdered.

ELLAThats not funny.

DANNYI know. In your line of work its an actual possibility.

ELLACan you keep it down?

DANNYLike anyone would believe it anyway. Here, watch-

Danny grabs a small Indian kid walking by, GUPTA (15).

DANNY (CONTD)Hey Gupta, Ella is an assassin for the mafia.

Gupta looks thrilled.


GUPTAWait really!? What?!

Danny sighs.

DANNYNo. Jesus, of course she isnt.

GUPTAHmmm.

Gupta backs away, looking suspicious.

ELLAGreat. Glad Gupta knows now.

DANNYHell forget anyway.

We see Gupta trip in the middle of the cafeteria. No one notices but Danny and Ella.

DANNY (CONTD)See?

Ella looks at the door, looking for Blake.

Danny notices. He tries to cheer her up.

DANNY (CONTD)Are you going to eat your pudding?

It probably didnt help. Danny looks like hes kicking himself.

ELLAYou can have it.

Danny reaches across the table and grabs it, his recent pudding acquisition brightening his mood slightly.

While he eats it-

Blake walks in. Ella smiles and waves at him.

He makes his way to her table.

BLAKEHey! Sorry Im late. Principal trouble.


ELLAThats OK. Seriously, not a problem. I could eat again, actually.

BLAKEHaha. Tight.

ELLAWhat is?

BLAKEWhat?

ELLAYou just said tight.

BLAKEOh, it means cool.

Danny shakes his head.

ELLAOh... haha... cool.

Ella stands up.

ELLA (CONTD)Should we go?

Blake looks at Danny.

DANNY(quickly making up an excuse)

Dont worry about me. Ive got, uh, a bunch of homework.

Beat.

ELLAThanks Danny.

Ella walks off with Blake. We see Danny watch them go. He looks down and slowly eats a bite of pudding.

Isnt this stuff with Danny just breaking your heart already!?

INT. CAFETERIA - LATER

Ella and Blake are mid conversation. Most of the cafeteria has cleared out already.


BLAKESo yeah- it was technically a pre-college program but Cornell is really intense so it felt like a semester.

Ella looks a little bored with this guy.

ELLARight.

Long beat.

BLAKEAnyway. What are you into?

ELLAHa. I dunno. Stuff. Things. Etcetera.

BLAKEWell come on, like what stuff?

ELLAIts kind of lame... but I love action movies.

Blake gets excited.

BLAKEWhat?! No way! A chick who likes action movies?

Ella throws him some shade.

BLAKE (CONTD)Not that youre like... a chick. What ones do you like?

ELLAOh I dont know. Anything with Statham. Van Damme. Diesel. You know, the greats.

BLAKEThats so sick.

ELLAHeh, sure! I guess.

BLAKENo its totally sick. God I just want to like... take you to Homecoming or something!


ELLAWhat?! Thats in like... a month.

BLAKESo what?

ELLAAre you serious?

BLAKEYes! Im serious.

Ella sticks her hand out.

ELLADeal.

Blake sticks his out.

BLAKEDeal.

They shake.

BLAKE (CONTD)Damn girl, youre ripped.

ELLASo are you!

They both laugh.

Blake gets up.

BLAKEI gotta go. But... Ill see you in detention?

ELLAMy educational career depends on it.

Blake leaves. Ella smiles.

INT. HALLWAY - LATER

Danny is putting his stuff into a locker. Ella rushes up to him and gives him a huge hug.

DANNYWhatd I do!? What I do!?

Ella lets go.


ELLANothing you idiot! Blake just asked me to homecoming!

Ouch.

DANNYBut thats in a month.

ELLASo?

DANNYIts just weird, right? The guy doesnt talk to you... uh, ever, and now all of a sudden hes asking you to homecoming?

Ellas face drops- not the reaction she was hoping for.

ELLAYoure the one who said I wasnt getting all Shes All That-ed.

Danny sighs.

DANNYI just think its weird, is all.

ELLAYeah well maybe YOURE weird. Couldnt you just be happy for me?

Ella turns around.

DANNYElla, wait!

ELLAI dont want to talk to you!

She storms off.

Danny stands alone at his locker and we now see its decorated with pictures of him and Ella through the years.

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT FOUR


ACT FIVE

FADE IN:

INT. DETENTION ROOM - EVENING

Ella opens the door to the detention room. Its empty except for MR. THACKERY (50s), a potato of a man. Hes sleeping at the desk.

Ella plops down in a desk and sighs. She takes out a book and looks at the clock. Its 4:05.

ELLACome on. Come on.

Suddenly, the loud squeak of the school intercom. Feedback reverberates throughout the halls, waking Mr. Thackery.

VOICE (O.S.)Mr. Thackery to the office please. Mr. Thackery to the office.

Thackery gets up.

MR. THACKERY(to Ella)

I guess they want me in the office.

Mr. Thackery leaves.

The room is silent. Its eerie. Suddenly Ella can hear the clock start to tick. Everything slows down. Somethings up. Something isnt right.

The door creaks open. Principal Early enters. They stare each other down. He leans up against the desk.

PRINCIPAL EARLYElla.

(beat, thinking)Ella. Ella. Ella. Riddle me this: What kind of freshman is on speaking terms with Mike Jelly Giordano?

Early throws down a picture of Ella and Mike talking outside the school.

ELLAI guess it depends. What kind of High School Principal carries a revolver?


Principal Early wasnt expecting that one.

ELLA (CONTD)Ankle holster. Noticed it when you tripped me.

PRINCIPAL EARLYThats pretty good, sweetheart. But hasnt anyone ever told you to hold your cards close to your chest?

Principal Early makes a dive for his gun. In a flash, Ella knocks her school desk over and uses it as a shield.

A bullet bounces off it. She grabs her backpack and tries to open it but the zipper is stuck.

ELLAFuck.

Early shoots another bullet. It knocks Ellas headband off. A close call. She sticks her hands up.

PRINCIPAL EARLYRyan wants you dead, sweetheart!

Early shoots another bullet. It goes clean through the desk, just missing her.

ELLAWait! Wait! I surrender.

Early starts to walk over.

PRINCIPAL EARLYThat doesnt matter Ella.

Early holds his gun at his side. Ella notices. She gulps.

PRINCIPAL EARLY (CONTD)Weve all got bosses. Weve all got our orders.

INT. DANNYS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Danny sits at home with his DAD (40s), overweight and depressing. Theyre watching something on TV.

Dannys house is sad and dark, the opposite of him.

PRINCIPAL EARLY (V.O.)We dont get to choose what were good at. We dont get to choose who we hurt.


Danny checks his phone to see if he has any texts from Ella. He doesnt.

PRINCIPAL EARLY (V.O.)We just get to choose what side were on. Everyone else is just... collateral damage.

Danny closes his phone and puts it away. His dad has fallen asleep.

INT. DETENTION ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Early is standing over Ella now. She looks up at him.

His gun right in the center of her forehead.

PRINCIPAL EARLYYou were pretty good I hear.

Before he can even THINK about raising his gun, Ella sideswipes his leg with a kick, bringing him to the ground and his gun spilling.

ELLAStill am.

Ella makes a run for the gun, but Early catches her leg. She falls. He pulls at her. She struggles but hes got her.

Suddenly THE DOOR OPENS. Its BLAKE.

ELLA (CONTD)Blake! Help!

But Blake just enters the classroom. Slowly.

He reaches down and picks up the gun.

ELLA (CONTD)What are you doing!? Shoot him!

Principal Early stops struggling with Ella.

Blake walks towards Early and-

Instead of shooting him... he offers him a hand.

Ella watches completely stunned. What the fuck is happening?

Early is now on his feet.

ELLA (CONTD)What the hell Blake?!


Blake stares at her coldly. A different person.

BLAKE(in a completely different voice)

The names actually Thomas.

ELLAYou two are working together?!

Blake looks at Early.

BLAKEI thought so. Until he got a little trigger happy.

PRINCIPAL EARLYSorry. She was onto me.

BLAKEYeah no shit, John.

Ella is backing away towards the door.

BLAKE (CONTD)Ella, why dont you come join us over here.

ELLANo thanks, Im good.

Blake points the gun at her.

BLAKE(screaming)

SIT DOWN NOW!

Blake points at a chair with the gun. Ella obliges.

Early opens a desk drawer and pulls out some rope. He begins to tie her to the chair.

BLAKE (CONTD)Now Ella, Im quite sorry for my friend here. He was supposed to wait until Ryan got here and keep you distracted.

Early rolls his eyes.

BLAKE (CONTD)Youre probably wondering how long Ive been up to this.


ELLANah, I dont really care.

BLAKEWell Im going to tell you anyway. That semester at Cornell?

ELLAA pre-college program isnt a semester, douche bag.

BLAKE(resetting)

-that... pre-college pro-

ELLASecret terrorist training camp?

BLAKERyans not a terrorist.

ELLASure. Tell that to the hundreds of innocent people he slaughtered.

Suddenly RYAN appears in the doorway. Incredibly menacing.

RYANRelax, Thomas. I dont mind the name calling.

Ella gulps.

RYAN (CONTD)Hows it going baby?

ELLAYou know, Im starting to get a little annoyed with all the condescension in this room.

RYANSorry. You wont have to tolerate it much longer.

Ryan pulls out a knife. He steps towards Ella, now bound.

Ryan pulls up Ellas shirt slightly revealing her large scar. He traces it with his knife.

RYAN (CONTD)Im just here to clean up some messes.


Ella looks at Ryan square in the eye.

ELLAThats my job.

BAM! ELLA falls backwards in the chair, shattering the cheap wood and freeing her hands.

Blake ducks out of the way.

Ryan LUNGES at her with the knife, which sticks into the floor. Ella rolls his body OVER HERS just as Early fires his remaining THREE SHOTS at her.

POP! POP! POP! The shots go into Ryans back.

Ella throws Ryans body off her. She pulls the knife out of the floor and THROWS IT, stabbing Early RIGHT IN THE FUCKING THROAT!

Blood spatters all over Blake and gets in his eyes. He falls to the ground, slipping on the blood spilling out of Earlys neck.

Ella walks towards him. She pulls the knife out of Earlys throat. She hovers it over a helpless Blake.

BLAKERyans got a boss too, you know! They wont stop coming for you. They wont stop!

Ella is now standing right on top of Blake. Ignoring his words.

ELLAYoure bluffing. Ryan went rogue.

BLAKEPeople followed.

ELLAI dont believe you.

Ella kicks him.

BLAKEStop! Please!

Ella cocks her head.

ELLAIts a shame.


BLAKEWhat is?

ELLAI was looking forward to that dance.

With that, Ella plunges the knife into Ryans chest, killing him almost instantly.

Shes covered in blood.

Long, long, long beat.

Ella walks over to the teachers desk. Wedges a drawer open with a knife and pulls out her cell phone.

She turns it on and hits a button.

ELLA (CONTD)Hey. Need you here ten minutes ago.

Ella hangs up the phone and all the power she once exuded has now completely fled her body. Barely holding it together- she collapses against the wall and begins to sob uncontrollably.

We see Ella, covered in blood, sobbing alone, in a classroom covered in blood. Lots of blood.

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT FIVE


ACT SIX

FADE IN:

INT. CLASS ROOM - NIGHT

Ella sits on the edge of the desk watching Mark and Dog mop up. Everythings much cleaner- including Ella.

Shes smoking a cigarette and her face has more than a few blotches of blood on it.

MARKSo we both get a call from him, and hes like-

DOUG-am I your best friend?

MARKSeriously. The guy is calling people trying to find out whose best friend he is.

DOUGAnd Im like, Marks my best friend.

Mark is touched.

MARKAw, really? You said that?

DOUGHell yeah I said that. Whod you say?

MARKYou!

DOUGSweet.

They high five.

MARKBut so then he goes- why dont you ever call me?

DOUGSaid the same thing to me!

MARKSo I said-


DOUGThis is the best.

MARKI said... look, Frank, if I want to know something about Albany night life twelve years ago- Ill give you a ring.

Mark, Doug and Ella all crack up. Much higher spirits now.

Long beat. Mark and Doug continue to mop up.

MARK (CONTD)So, did you figure out which one of us looks more like Brad Pitt?

DOUGIncluding vibes, remember?

MARKRight. Vibes are really important.

Ella inhales a drag.

ELLA(non committal)

Mark.

MARKYes!

Mark does a fist pump.

MARK (CONTD)(to Doug)

In your FACE!

Doug sucks it up.

DOUGOK. You handle the bags.

Doug walks out. Mark looks at three body bags.

He starts out of the room as well.

MARKDoug. Come back here, Doug!

Ella laughs to herself, then surveys the now clean room.

Suddenly DANNY ENTERS. He looks tired, like he rolled out of bed and came straight here, because he did.


DANNYHey Ella.

ELLAHey Danny.

DANNYI got a call from you. Said you needed me here.

Danny walks up to Ella.

Ella wraps her arms around him, taking solace in his embrace. She begins to cry again.

ELLAYou were right. You were right.

DANNYShhh. Dont cry. What happened?

ELLAIm so sorry.

DANNYIts OK, Ella. Its OK. Tell me what happened. Please.

Ella takes a deep breath.

ELLABlake was working for... Ryan.

Just like that, Danny explodes.

DANNYWhat?!

Danny breaks the embrace, furious.

Danny moves around the room letting his anger reverberate through his limbs like some kind of untrained rag-doll.

In his huffing and puffing he notices the three body bags on the ground.

He points at one of them.

DANNY (CONTD)Is this him!?

Ella nods.

Danny kicks it.


DANNY (CONTD)Jerk! Fucking Jerk!

Ella smiles. This corpse-kicking is kind of sweet in a weird way.

ELLAAlright. Thats enough, Im sure.

Beat.

DANNYHey. I have an idea.

Danny smiles knowingly.

INT. CAFETERIA - NIGHT

Ella sits alone at a table like Danny did before.

We hear a THUMP, THUMP, THUMP before we see-

Danny wheeling out a HUGE drum of Ice Cream from the kitchen.

DANNYI hope vanilla is OK because they have chocolate but now Im too weak to carry it.

Ella laughs and stands up. She walks over to Danny and lifts up the vanilla effortlessly. She brings it over to her table.

ELLAWe should get both, to be safe.

DANNYGood call!

Danny runs back to the kitchen.

Beat.

We hear him straining to lift it off screen.

ELLAAlright, alright. Ill help you. You grab some spoons.

Ella heads towards the kitchen.

The image shakes a bit. Like its being played on a tape.


INT. SECURITY OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Somewhere else in the school a collage of monitors depict the empty building in CCTV black and white.

- We see Mark and Doug throwing the bodies into the back of a white truck.

- We see Ella and Danny in the kitchen getting Ice Cream.

We pull back from the monitors to reveal a man in a trench coat watching them all. His face is obscured Dr. Claw-style.

The man, in black leather gloves, hits a string of keys on the keyboard in front of him and each of the monitors begins to cut to black. One by one until-

Our whole frame is nothing but blackness.

CUT TO STATIC.

FADE OUT:

END OF EPISODE


Teen Girl Murder 2-7-14

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Transcript of Teen Girl Murder 2-7-14