“In a city on edge, every action echoes. A story of collision, chaos, and catharsis in post-Sept. 11 Los Angeles.”
Watch the original version of Crash
Prologue:
The City of Angels, now bruised and battered, stared blankly into the face of a sun scorned by the ashes of the twin towers. It was a city under a cloud: a cloud of fear, prejudice, and paranoia. The pulse of Los Angeles was tense, each throb echoing the echoes of Sept. 11. In this city, now a microcosm of a disturbed world, various lives moved, each with their rhythm, their cadence, their secrets. Unbeknownst to them, a strange cosmic dance was about to entwine them in a ballet of fate, as their paths were destined to converge in a blistering 36-hour saga.
Chapter 1: The Converging Worlds:
Every character in this play was oblivious to their role in the upcoming drama that would shake their very foundations. The first among them was the district attorney, Rick Flanagan. He was a man of status and influence, a man who played chess with power while sipping on its intoxicating brew. His wife, Jean, with her crystal-clear skin and luminous eyes, was a woman who painted a picture of serenity. But beneath her calm surface, there was a turbulent sea of insecurities and suppressed fears.
Jean looked out of her mansion’s window, watching the kaleidoscope of red and gold hues as the sun bid farewell to the day. The plush interiors of the Brentwood villa felt like a golden cage, locking her away from the pulsating life beyond the manicured lawns. Her mundane life felt suffocating amidst the scented candles and luxurious drapes. She yearned for a leap, an escape, not realizing that an encounter was brewing that would spin their world off its axis.
Meanwhile, a few miles away in downtown Los Angeles, Farhad, a Persian shopkeeper, was shutting up his shop for the day. His weary eyes were a mirror of the struggles he faced each day, trying to keep the flames of his dreams alive in the chilling winds of prejudice. He lived in a world which, since the fall of the towers, saw him as the enemy. He was a man caught between tradition and assimilation, his pride wrestling with survival. He wore his culture not like a badge, but like an armor, protecting him from the piercing stares and spiteful words. He was unaware, however, of the storm he was about to step into.
On the other side of the town, two police officers were patrolling the diverse neighborhoods. Officer Hansen, a young, idealist cop with eyes full of fire, sat in silent rebellion next to his partner, Officer Ryan – a battle-hardened cynic. His heart bore the scars of witnessing society’s worst, which over time, had shaped his perspective towards law enforcement.
As the city slept beneath a blanket of deceptive silence, two carjackers lurked in its shadows. Anthony and Peter, bound by circumstances and chased by desperation, were about to light the first spark of chaos. Behind their tough exterior, they were two young men grappling with the harsh realities of life, their fear masked by the thrill of the crime. Unbeknownst to them, their actions would ignite the fuse of a destructive chain of events.
A few blocks away, an elderly Korean couple, Kim and Park, were lost in their world of silence. Their struggle for expression was drowned in the unforgiving clamor of a foreign land. The language barrier was not just a wall between them and the world. It was also their sanctuary, their fortress against the strange, intimidating world outside. Little did they know that their silent world was about to be shattered by a crescendo of events.
Thus, the stage was set. And the lives of these characters were about to collide in a dramatic symphony that would echo through the intricate alleys of Los Angeles, marking the beginning of an epoch that would awaken them to a reality they had never anticipated.
Chapter 2: The Brentwood Couple
Rick and Jean Cabot occupied an enchanting Brentwood bungalow, nestled amidst lush greenery, masked from the maddening world. Rick, a charismatic district attorney, was often caught in the labyrinth of political correctness and systemic prejudices. Jean, a quintessential housewife, was a woman of refined tastes and unperturbed by the societal anomalies lurking beneath the sunny facades of LA. The comforting bubble of their world was about to shatter.
Rick navigated the political labyrinth skillfully, masking his apprehensions behind a façade of diplomacy. He was caught between his belief system and the demands of his politically challenging position. He often found himself defending his actions, walking a tightrope between justice and political convenience. Meanwhile, Jean decorated their home with extravagant artifacts, cocooning herself from the harsh realities lurking in shadows of their paradise.
Their lives took a dramatic turn when they were carjacked by a couple of petty thieves, right at their driveway. The cold steel against Rick’s temple and Jean’s terrified screams tore through their isolated existence. Forced out of his SUV, the night’s chilling dread creeping up his spine, Rick realized the extent of his vulnerability.
Post the traumatic incident, their polished world seemed grim and fearsome. Jean developed a paranoia, seeing every stranger as a potential threat. Rick, forced to acknowledge the racial tensions in LA, found himself entwined in a battle of morality and political ambition.
Their ordeal unveiled more than fear. It exposed the deeply ingrained prejudices they held. Confronted by her own biases, Jean’s paranoia became a mirror reflecting the racial disparities that she had comfortably ignored. She began questioning the very essence of her existence. The home that once echoed with laughter, now resonated with hushed whispers and long silences.
Rick, on the other hand, was caught between the Devil and the deep sea. His political ambitions tested his moral compass. Grappling with the aftermath of the carjacking, he was forced to confront his own internalized racial biases. Pushed into the public eye, he wrestled with the contradictory demands of his high-profile job and the stark reality of racial tension in the city.
As they grappled with their personal struggles, the local news erupted with stories of racial unrest, each incident adding to their sense of dread. They tried desperately to regain their lost sense of security, but their efforts seemed fruitless against the backdrop of a city on the boil.
Rick and Jean’s life in Brentwood, once adorned with tranquility, was now filled with restless nights and anxious days. The carjacking proved to be a catalyst, accelerating their descent into a world of fear, prejudice, and self-doubt. Their struggle to comprehend the new reality and their place in it was embroiled with the simmering racial tension, leading to a gripping climax.
The Brentwood couple’s journey is a testament to the unpredictable nature of life. Regardless of the protective bubbles we build, reality, with its sharp edges, finds a way to seep in. The ensuing transformation is often uncomfortable, eliciting reactions that we never anticipate. As Rick and Jean grapple with their newfound reality, they set off a chain of events that reverberate through the remaining chapters, colliding with the lives of those around them. Their story serves as a stark reminder of the inherent complexities of human nature and societal structures, evoking a sense of intense longing for change.
Chapter 3: The Persian Shopkeeper’s Dilemma
In the heart of Los Angeles, Farhad’s modest grocery store stood as a monument to his years of hard work. Nestled in the midst of the bustling city, it was more than a shop; it was a living testament of an immigrant’s dream. Farhad, a stern but kind-hearted man, originally from Iran, found himself navigating through the murky waters of xenophobia post Sept.11.
The morning was just breaking when Farhad opened his shop. As the sun rose in the city of angels, painting the sky with hues of orange and red, an undercurrent of palpable tension swept through the multicultured neighborhoods. Farhad was not naïve; he knew prejudice lay hidden beneath the pretense of civil courtesy. He felt this animosity, this misdirected anger, toward him and his family every day. Yet, he stood defiant, his loyalty to his roots stronger than the fear of discrimination.
His shop was frequented by a mixed bag of patrons. From hurried corporate employees to chatty housewives, each brought with them snippets of their lives, unknowingly weaving a cultural tapestry that radiated the essence of Los Angeles. Amidst the everyday clamor, Farhad found solace. His shop was not only a means of livelihood but a sanctuary where he could preserve his Persian heritage.
This particular day was like any other with its steady flow of customers. However, the atmosphere was increasingly tense, the air laden with an unspoken agitation. Farhad could sense the undercurrent of prejudice more potent than ever.
Evening fell, bringing with it an incident that would shatter Farhad’s accumulated tranquility. An unexpected visit by a local law enforcement officer led to the seizure of his shop on the grounds of ‘suspicious activity.’ The intrusion was unwarranted, the allegations baseless. Yet, Farhad was helpless, trapped in a prejudiced system that saw him as a threat, not a hardworking citizen.
His daughter, Dorri, a fiery spirit and a compassionate soul, fought fiercely to defend her father. Her profession as a lawyer gave her the tools to counterattack, but the ingrained bias was a towering barrier. Dorri’s impassioned pleas fell on deaf ears, her father’s innocence overlooked deliberately by a system blinded by prejudice.
Days turned into nights, and Farhad’s frustration grew. His shop remained closed, his life’s work hanging in a balance, a victim of racial profiling. The ordeal took a heavy toll on Farhad. His demeanor turned fatalistic; his dreams seemed to sink beneath the waves of xenophobia.
In the ensuing chaos, a chance encounter with the Brentwood couple added another layer of complexity to Farhad’s predicament. The district attorney’s wife, stricken by her recent ordeal, made an impulsive decision that unknowingly connected their fates. Meanwhile, Farhad, overcome by desperation, made a decision that would mirror the macrocosmic tensions of post-Sept. 11 Los Angeles, marking a tragic climax in his life.
The 36 hours of upheaval changed Farhad irrevocably. He went from being a humble shopkeeper to a symbol of the misunderstood immigrant, fighting against the tide of prejudice. His ordeal served as a stark reminder of the destructive power of discrimination, a symbol of the resilience of the human spirit, and a testament of an individual’s struggle in the face of societal prejudice.
As prejudice and despair consumed the city, Farhad’s story was just one of the many threads in the intertwining tale of post-Sept.11 Los Angeles. His narrative, filled with tension, conflict, and hardship, was a microcosm of the larger socio-cultural chaos, painting a raw and unfiltered picture of a city teetering on the brink of an emotional breakdown.
The chapter’s end signaled not just the end of Farhad’s ordeal but also marked the beginning of an upheaval that would engulf the city and its diverse inhabitants. It served as a stark reminder of the perils of prejudice and the importance of understanding in an increasingly divided world. The echoes of Farhad’s tale would resonate in the subsequent chapters, leaving an indelible mark on the narrative fabric of ‘Crash.’
Chapter 4: Law & Disorder
In the heart of the City of Angels, Officers John Ryan and Peter Waters painted two starkly contrasting images of law enforcement. Officer Ryan, the seasoned veteran, wore cynicism like a second skin. He had seen all there was to see; the underbelly of the city had given him a jaundiced view of the world. Officer Waters, the greenhorn, was still full of idealism. The fresh academy graduate saw himself as a force for change, a bulwark against the chaos of the metropolis. The city that never slept was a dance of shadows between them, a ballet of black and white, right and wrong.
Their patrol route took them through the sprawling neighborhoods, past the gleaming high-rises, and into the maze of back alleys. This was the city in its unvarnished reality, the Los Angeles that didn’t make it onto postcards. Officer Ryan navigated the car through this urban jungle with an ease that came from years on the force, while Waters took in the sights with a blend of fascination and apprehension.
Over the radio, the chatter of dispatchers was a constant hum, a symphony of crime in progress, a testament to the city’s unrest. Their next call awaited them on the fringes of Beverly Hills. A Persian shop had been vandalized, racial slurs sprayed onto the walls.
Walking into the tense atmosphere of the shop, Officer Ryan took the lead, his hardened gaze scanning the damage. “Another hate crime,” he muttered under his breath. Waters followed, his eyes wide as he took in the scene. It was his first real brush with the city’s deeply rooted racial tension – a baptism by fire.
Conversations with the shopkeeper were strained, the immigrant’s broken English struggling against Ryan’s blatant indifference. Waters empathized with the shopkeeper’s frustration, his own father being an immigrant. However, Ryan’s authoritative aura silenced any form of protest.
Night fell on the city as they returned to patrol, the pulsating neon lights reflected in Waters’ wide eyes. He questioned Ryan about his abrasive nature towards the shopkeeper, and an argument ensued. They were two sides of a coin, their ideologies clashing like titans. Ryan’s bitterness towards the city’s woes reflected his belief in humanity’s inherent darkness, while Waters’ sunnier disposition argued for the potential goodness in men. This argument hinted at a deeper philosophical debate, an existential battle between pessimism and optimism.
Simmering tension aside, duty called. A luxury SUV’s description came over the radio in connection with a carjacking. The district attorney’s car. They responded immediately, launching into a tense search. As the hunt intensified, it was Ryan’s cynicism that kept them grounded, while Waters’ idealism fueled their persistence.
Their pursuit led them to a rough neighbourhood known for its gang prevalence. The SUV was spotted at an abandoned warehouse. Swiftly, a violent chorus of gunfire erupted as they engaged the carjackers. It was a brutal spectacle, the city’s tension personified in the deadly dance between law and disorder. The clash culminated in a standoff, the climax of their ideological war. Ultimately, it was a clever diversion by the carjackers that led to their escape, leaving the officers empty-handed.
The aftermath was chaotic. Their failure weighed heavily on them individually. While Ryan’s cynicism seemed momentarily justified, the optimistic Waters was left questioning his beliefs. The heated confrontation earlier now seemed petty; they were both part of a larger system, a city spiraling into a vortex of hate and fear.
As they returned to the precinct, Waters reflected on his first real exposure to the city’s layered complexities. His optimism had been challenged, but not defeated. He was determined to effect change, despite Ryan’s pessimistic outlook. The experienced officer, on the contrary, saw this as just another day on the fractured streets of Los Angeles.
In the face of this harsh realization, the pair continued their duty, patrolling the restless city. For amidst the chaos and cacophony, they had their own battles to fight, their own perceptions to confront, and their own lessons to learn. The city was their teacher, their antagonist, and their companion. And thus, the dance of shadows continued – law and disorder, weaving an intricate tale of a city on the precipice.
Chapter 5: Life on the Edge
In the forbidden underbelly of Los Angeles, two figures lurk in the darkness. Peter and Anthony, two young men entangled in a life they didn’t choose but can’t escape. Their actions, as reckless as they come, are the product of despair, fear, and a stifling environment that breeds crime more than it does opportunity.
Their lives are marked by an ironic sense of freedom. The freedom that comes, not from the absence of restraint, but from the absence of choice. They lived in a world where the color of their skin defined them before their characters could. They were not Peter and Anthony, they were numbers in a system that had conditioned itself to look the other way.
The city night, their home and hunting ground, is alive with danger, an adrenaline-infused version of Russian roulette. But it’s also filled with an odd sense of camaraderie, a brotherhood formed in the face of shared hardship. A brotherhood that was not decided by them, but for them by the world that had branded them.
The night was young when they set their eyes on a shiny black Navigator. Seated inside was Cameron, a successful black television director, and his wife, Christine. This was an opportunity, a target. And like lions on a gazelle, they had to seize it.
A confrontation brims. The city underbelly growls. The carjacking isn’t just an act of financial gain. It is a scream, a cry in the wilderness of urban desolation. Peter and Anthony did not just steal a car that night; they robbed Cameron and Christine of their sense of security, their belief in the fundamental goodness of the world.
The Navigator swerves through the cityscape, a wild beast let loose. The police give chase, the sirens wailing a melancholic tune in the otherwise quiet night. The game of cat and mouse is as thrilling as it is dangerous—the perfect embodiment of their life.
The chase culminates in a narrow escape—an empty playground becomes their unintended sanctuary as they ditch the stolen car. Now on foot, they delve deeper into the city’s labyrinth of alleys, clutching hard onto their stolen freedom, their laughter echoing in the stillness, a stark contrast to the grim reality they represent.
The chaos of their existence continues, the city underbelly their ever-churning stage. Their actions form ripples, extending beyond their comprehension, causing unseen effects in the lives of those they touch.
Their reckless decisions, their life on the edge of society, set in motion a domino effect. The carjacking isn’t just an isolated event; it’s a metaphor of their existence, a catalyst that kicks off a whirlwind of events that would pull everyone into the vortex of chaos, further blurring the lines of morality, of right and wrong.
In the bleak hours of the morning, they find themselves back in their den, a safehouse hidden in the city’s grimy underbelly. Their reverie is short-lived as they partake in the spoils and reflect on their actions—questioning and justifying, a constant negotiation with their conscience.
Their lives, as chaotic as the city they roam, are a testament to their survival. Amidst all the turmoil, they remain a reflection of the city’s resilience, the perseverance of their existence in a world that’s ready to write them off.
Peter and Anthony’s Life on the edge, filled with uncontrolled chaos, continues, drawing everyone around them, into the vortex of their chaos—an intricate web of consequences that none of them could foresee. It’s a story of survival, of living on borrowed time and borrowed freedom, a relentless struggle in a world where the survival of the fittest isn’t just a theory, it’s the law.
Chapter 6: The Silent Struggle
In the heart of Los Angeles, a city bursting with color and noise, a tiny apartment perched in a non-descript neighborhood was home to Mr. and Mrs. Kim. They were an elderly Korean couple who had immigrated decades ago, in hopes of a gleaming American dream. Their journey was not an easy one, marked by the struggle of adapting to a new culture while grappling with the obstacle of the language barrier.
Mr. Kim was a proud, stern man of few words. His silence wasn’t a marker of tranquility but rather a barricade, protecting him from the world that seemed so alien. He had held various odd jobs over the years, laboring painstakingly, hunched over sewing machines or scrubbing floors, his silence resonating louder than any words could. Mrs. Kim, on the other hand, had a kinder, softer exterior but carried her own formidable strength. She toiled in the silent world of their home, meticulously preparing meals that tasted of nostalgia, whispering comforts of a homeland they had left far behind.
Theirs was a life lived in whispers, in subtleties, unobserved by the clamor of the city that never slept. But the 36-hour period that this story spans would change all that. It all started with an innocent little fender bender. Mr. Kim had been returning home from his late-night janitorial job when he accidentally bumped into a swanky car in the dim-lit parking lot. The owner, an irate young man, started spewing insults, most of which Mr. Kim did not comprehend. But he understood the hostility, the blatant disrespect and that was enough.
Back in the safety of their home, Mr. Kim relayed the incident to Mrs. Kim, his anger simmering beneath his quiet demeanor. Mrs. Kim just sighed, her deep-set eyes reflecting an amalgamation of fear and resignation. They were both aware that their silence could be mistaken for submissiveness in this alien land.
The following day, their humble life was brutally interrupted. They were unexpectedly visited by the police regarding a petty shoplifting incident involving a young woman they barely knew. The police officer, having no patience or understanding of their limited English, mishandled Mr. Kim, pushing him to the ground in frustration. This blatant display of power imbalance shook the Kims to their core.
Here was their struggle, hitherto silent, now reverberating in the confines of their tiny apartment. Their world, previously unobserved, was thrust into the harsh spotlight, and would now intersect with the lives of all those around them.
The subsequent chain of events played out like a domino effect. The Kims’ story intertwining with the carjacker’s, the district attorney, the Persian shop owner, and the police officers. Their quiet existence began questioning the boundaries of right and wrong, blurring the lines between victims and perpetrators, forcing them to fight against the rising tide of racial prejudice and hostility, and most importantly, challenging their own silence.
Chapter 6, is thus a stark portrayal of their silent struggle turning into a roar, an echo of resistance against their circumstances. Their life comes full circle in these 36 hours as they realize that their silence, though a shield, was also a cage. As the events unfold and intertwine with the lives of the rest, the climax of their story leaves a lasting impact, not just on their lives, but on the lives of all those involved, changing the trajectory of their existence forever. Their struggle, though initially silent, finds its voice, reverberating as a testament to their resilience, their human spirit, their strength in unity, painting a poignant picture of the human condition, of struggle and hope against all odds.
Chapter 7: The Grand Finale
The chaos, fear, and tension in post-Sept. 11 Los Angeles had reached its boiling point, a hissing cauldron of mixed emotions and divided communities ready to overflow. The paths of the Brentwood couple, the Persian shopkeeper, the cops, the carjackers, and the Korean couple, which had been meandering, briefly intersecting, and diverging – all finally converged to a single point, drawn together by the sheer force of circumstances.
The district attorney, Richard, stood flustered in his opulent Brentwood residence. His wife, Jean, was nursing her sprained ankle, the result of a slip induced by her escalating paranoia and fear. The tension was taut, a palpable thread about to snap as their world was about to violently collide with the lives they had managed to keep away.
Meanwhile, Farhad, the Persian shopkeeper, was wrestling with his dilemma. His shop had been vandalized following a petty argument, his livelihood ruined. He remembered Officer Hansen advising him to repair his damaged shop lock, but the memory was distorted by rage and humiliation. He decided to take matters into his own hands, seeking justice in a city that had seemed to forgotten to offer any.
Officer Hansen was navigating through a sea of emotions. His partner, Officer Ryan, had already shown his true colours through a racially charged encounter, leaving him disheartened. His faith in justice was wavering, and he was starting to question his role as a protector in a city that appeared to be tearing itself apart.
The carjackers, Anthony and Peter, no less burdened with their own dilemmas, were operating on the edge. Their recent carjacking had shaken them, forcing them to confront the reality of their choices. They were tired, tired of running, tired of fear, but most of all, tired of the system that seemed to have forgotten them.
The Korean couple, Kim and Park, were locked in their silent battle. Their language barrier and cultural differences created an island of misunderstanding, leaving them vulnerable to the waves of a city that refused to understand them.
In a city already teeming with tension, a gunshot echoed through the night, a sound that signaled the beginning of the climax. Farhad, seeking retribution, had shot at a locksmith he believed had wronged him. The bullet, however, had an unforeseen trajectory. It pierced through the walls of their lives, igniting a chain of events that would engulf them all.
Back in Brentwood, the gunshot broke the silence, triggering Jean to face her fears and prejudices. Richard, unable to deny the reality of their situation, felt guilt creeping into his heart. This reckoning catalyzed their actions, urging them to step out of their bubble.
Officer Hansen, hearing the gunshot, was jolted out of his moral conundrum. His duty took over his doubts, leading him to the spot of the shooting. Anthony and Peter, alarmed by the sound, decided to retreat, not realizing they were walking right into the heart of the drama.
The gunshot reached the Korean couple too, shaking them out of their silent alienation. It forced them to communicate, catalyzing an unforeseen bond that would tie them to the rest.
In a dramatic climax, the characters, all driven by fear, guilt, anger, and desperation, found themselves confronting their prejudices. The reverberations of that single bullet echoed through their lives, leaving a trail of revelations, self-realizations, and reconciliations.
The gunshot, instead of tearing them apart, brought them together. It forced them to face their fears, prejudices, and to understand the experiences of others. In the process, they realized the complexity of their existence, the interconnections of their lives, and the power of empathy in bridging divides.
Their actions in that 36-hour period, spanning from the ordinary to the extraordinary, marked a significant turning point in their lives. It illuminated the dark corners of their existence, unveiling the truths they had been avoiding. They experienced the diversity of human emotions and the intricate web of life in Los Angeles, a city on the brink.
The drama ended not with a whimper, but with an explosion of self-realization, redemption, and transformation. Life in post-Sept. 11 Los Angeles would never be the same again. As they navigated through the aftermath, they realized they had all been victims and perpetrators of the same system. The experience had scarred them, changed them, and ultimately united them in their shared trauma.
Ultimately, the grand finale was a catharsis, a purging of their fears, guilt, and anger. They had come to a harsh realization of their biases, forcing them to recalibrate their attitudes and approach. The 36-hour period, packed with drama, despair, redemption, and solidarity, was a microcosm of the post-Sept. 11 life in Los Angeles. Their lives, forever intertwined by destiny, would continue in the city that had seen them crash and rise.
Some scenes from the movie Crash written by A.I.
Scene 1
INT. LOS ANGELES – DAY
FADE IN:
A bird’s eye view of the L.A. cityscape – a melting pot of diverse cultures, lifestyles, still reeling from implications of Sept. 11.
NARRATOR (V.O)
In a city teetering on the edge, lives are about to collide in the most unexpected ways.
EXT. BRENTWOOD MANOR – MORNING
We see RICHARD, a stern district attorney, sipping his coffee looking over legal documents. His wife, LAURA, a fashionable, athletic woman in her 40s, is seen choosing her outfit for the day.
LAURA
Richard, it’s your turn to pick Christopher today.
Richard, lost in his documents, doesn’t respond.
LAURA (CONT’D)
(Raises her voice)
Richard!
RICHARD
(Sighs)
Yes, I’ll pick him up.
INT. PERSIAN SHOP – DAY
A humble Persian store, filled with exotic merchandise. Our shopkeeper, FARHAD, a traditional Persian man in his 50s, deeply engrossed in inventory checks.
EXT. LOS ANGELES POLICE CAR – DAY
Two cops, OFFICER RYAN, a hardened veteran, and OFFICER HANSON, a younger cop with a hopeful gleam in his eyes, patrol the city in silence.
OFFICER RYAN
(Chuckles, breaking the silence)
Welcome to the real world, rookie.
FADE OUT.
TO BE CONTINUED.
NEXT: CHAPTER 2 – THE BRENTWOOD COUPLE.
Scene 2
INT. BRENTWOOD HOUSE – KITCHEN – MORNING
RACHEL, a successful influencer type, pours her husband JAMES, a district attorney, a cup of coffee. Their exchange is mundane, indicative of a long marriage.
RACHEL
(thoughtful)
You barely touched your dinner last night.
JAMES
(distant)
Work stuff, nothing more.
Suddenly, the PHONE RINGS. Rachel picks up.
RACHEL
(excited)
Oh, it’s the salon confirming my appointment.
EXT. BRENTWOOD STREET – DAY
James, in his stylish suit, steps out. He kisses Rachel, who’s getting into a black SUV.
JAMES
(smirking)
Don’t get into any trouble.
The SUV pulls out; Rachel waves at James. Suddenly, TWO MEN approach James.
INT. SUV – DAY
Rachel, on the phone, spots the two men approaching James.
RACHEL
(frantic)
Hold on, something’s happening.
EXT. BRENTWOOD STREET – DAY
The men confront James. There’s a brief scuffle before they snatch his briefcase and sprint away. James doesn’t chase them.
INT. SUV – DAY
Rachel is in shock, her phone call forgotten.
RACHEL
(in shock)
They took his briefcase…
The serenity of Brentwood life is shattered, the tranquillity replaced by a sense of impending doom.
FADE OUT.
Scene 3
FADE IN:
INT. PERSIAN GROCERY STORE – MORNING
DR. FARHAD, a middle-aged Persian shopkeeper, restocks shelves, anxiety etched on his face. Behind the counter stands DORRI, his daughter, a methodical, strong-willed woman.
DR. FARHAD
(speaks in Persian, English subtitles)
“These people see us the same. They don’t care.”
DORRI
“Baba, you can’t blame everyone for the actions of a few.”
A CUSTOMER walks in, glances their way, his eyes rife with suspicion.
EXT. PERSIAN GROCERY STORE – MORNING
A hooded TEENAGER paints graffiti on the store’s exterior wall. Dr. Farhad steps out, confronts him.
DR. FARHAD
“Stop! This is my store.”
The teenager scoffs, reveals a gun, and flees. Shaken, Dr. Farhad returns inside.
INT. PERSIAN GROCERY STORE – MORNING
Dorri and Dr. Farhad argue about buying a gun for protection.
DORRI
“Baba, guns aren’t the solution.”
DR. FARHAD
(points at graffiti)
“If not a gun, then what, Dorri?”
FADE OUT:
TO BE CONTINUED…
The tension in this scene sets up the family’s dilemma in a prejudiced world and introduces the conflict that will pull them into the city-wide drama. The gun, as a symbol of fear and protection, foreshadows their imminent encounter with chaos and disorder.
Scene 4
FADE IN:
EXT. LOS ANGELES POLICE CAR – NIGHT
Officer DANIEL, late 30s, hardened by the streets, and rookie Officer PETER, early 20s, wide-eyed and eager, cruise down a seething LA street.
DANIEL
You think this job’s about catching the bad guys, don’t you?
PETER
Well, isn’t it?
Daniel chuckles and shakes his head.
DANIEL
It’s about surviving, Peter. It’s about getting home at the end of the night.
Peter nods, pensive.
Suddenly, the RADIO squawks – armed robbery in progress. Daniel flicks on the SIRENS.
CUT TO:
EXT. LIQUOR STORE – MOMENTS LATER
They arrive to chaos. Peter gets out of the car, pulling his gun but unsure of what to do next.
DANIEL
(into radio)
We’re at the scene. Request back-up.
With determination in his eyes, Daniel joins Peter.
DANIEL
(to Peter)
Stay close, follow my lead.
They move forward, unaware of the chain of events their actions will trigger.
FADE OUT:
TO BE CONTINUED…
Scene 5
INT. UNDERGROUND GARAGE – NIGHT
Meet JAMES and MICHAEL, two carjackers in their mid-20s. Tense and jittery, they anticipate their next move.
JAMES
(whispering)
Remember the plan, Mike. Stick to the plan.
MICHAEL
(smirking)
When have we ever stuck to the plan?
Suddenly, a high-end SUV rolls in. Michael grins at James.
CUT TO:
EXT. UNDERGROUND GARAGE – NIGHT
They swiftly approach the SUV, just as the DRIVER steps out. James pulls out a gun, Michael yanks the DRIVER back.
MICHAEL
(keys jingling)
Car keys. Now.
Driver throws the keys at Michael, stunned. James keeps the gun trained on him. They jump into the car.
INT. SUV – NIGHT
James drives away, shaking. Michael studies the SUV, grinning.
MICHAEL
(satisfied)
A good night’s work, wouldn’t you say?
James, still shaking, glances at the rear-view mirror. A POLICE CAR approaches, sirens blaring.
JAMES
(frightened)
Mike… cops.
The night takes a dangerous turn as they speed into the city, a police car closing in. Their actions draw them closer to a world of chaos, escalating the situation into a dramatic chase.
FADE OUT.
Scene 6
INT. KIM’S GROCERY – NIGHT
Meet JAE-HO and MYUNG-SOOK an elderly Korean couple, owners of a mom-and-pop grocery store.
JAE-HO
(In Korean, subtitled)
Close the register. It’s time to go home, Myung-Sook.
MYUNG-SOOK
(In Korean, subtitled)
Just one more minute, Jae-Ho.
Suddenly, the bell above the door chimes. The TWO CARJACKERS burst into the store.
CARJACKER 1
Put your hands up!
Myung-Sook and Jae-Ho freeze, they can’t understand English.
CARJACKER 2
(In broken Korean)
Money… give!
Jae-Ho, furrowing his brows, reluctantly moves to open the register. Myung-Sook tries to intervene.
MYUNG-SOOK
(In Korean, subtitled)
Don’t!
CARJACKER 1
What she’s saying?
The carjackers get nervous. Suddenly, a POLICE CAR passes by, sirens blaring. The carjackers panic and sprint out of the store.
FADE OUT.
INT. KIM’S GROCERY – NEXT MORNING
The Persian Shopkeeper enters, he notices the disturbed ambiance.
PERSIAN SHOPKEEPER
What happened?
Myung-Sook looks at Jae-Ho. She hesitates, then:
MYUNG-SOOK
(In broken English)
Rob… rob.
Shopkeeper looks concerned. He leaves, promising to return.
FADE OUT.
INT. KIM’S GROCERY – NIGHT
The shopkeeper returns with the District Attorney and his WIFE. They listen to the Kims’ story, their eyes revealing a new understanding of their city’s tension. The plot thickens.
END OF SCENE.
