KILLKENNY KINETIC

PROLOGUE – INT. MATRIKS ULTIMA CENTRA – DAY

Man is in a vault server room hooking servers up and he clearly has no idea what he is doing.

Just trying to gets lights to blink.

MONOLOGUE

Yeah, thats me. Few hours ago I had no clue who I was or what I was even doing.

Come to think of if I still have no fucking idea what im doing. Pretty convincing ain’t I?

Hooking up this crap for absolutely no reason what so ever. Well, maybe not no reason.

I do have a plan.

It may get tossed aside like Sarah Hyland after a gangbang but the plan is still there. It’s a really great fucking plan too the only....

Sorry, let me get you up to speed. It all started two nights ago.

I don’t know. Maybe I looked a little too long at the wrong girl or something. Anyway.

The silhouette you see there being dragged to his death, yup, that is me.

PROLOGUE – PARKING GARAGE (NIGHT)

Three MEN force another MAN across a parking garage.

They empty the mans pockets as they hit him and move him at the same time.

The MAN being handled is already injured. Alert, but not fully processing.

They reach the edge.

The city opens beneath them.

A shove.

He goes over.

Halfway down — a FLAGPOLE catches him.

Metal SNAP echoes through the structure.

His body helicopters, momentum broken. He disappears into a dense TREE below.

Branches explode upward in darkness.

He falls out of the tree and hits a BOX TRUCK parked below.

A heavy, hollow impact. Above, the men lean over. No panic. Just verification.

They can’t see the truck. They leave the edge and head for the stairs.

EXT. COMMERCIAL STREET – MORNING

The MAN wakes on top of the box truck. Same truck new location. Quiet morning city noise below.

He sits up slowly. No recognition of place. No panic about that fact. He checks his body.

Pain registers, but doesn’t escalate emotionally.

He swings his legs off the truck. Drops down. Stands. Looks around. Then starts walking.

No destination chosen yet, just movement.

INT. PUBLIC LIBRARY – DAY

Quiet, controlled environment.

He sits at a public computer. Types: “head injury memory loss” Pauses.

Deletes part of it. Tries again. Not distressed. Just testing what information exists.

A librarian notices him watching the screen too long. He notices her noticing. Looks around for something more useful than AI search that gets him nowhere.

He shifts to medical text. Reads. Stops when it stops being immediately useful.

Goes back to PCs with textbook in hand.

BREAK - STILL INT. LIBRARY

INT. LIBRARY – DAY

Angie notices him at the computer. He is searching medical text.

Not panicked. Just methodical in a limited way. She watches him for a moment, then speaks.

ANGIE

Are you alright?

He hesitates.

MAN

I think so.

He processes it real time, just slightly slow.

She pulls back a bit to take in the screen. She sits. Silence returns, but now shared.

Not comfortable. Just present.

INT. LIBRARY – CONTINUOUS

Angie checks her phone. A message. Plans for later that night.

She looks at him. He is still in the same state, stable.

A decision forms in her. She closes the phone. She gathers her things. He watches this. Not anxious. Just tracking change. Stands.

ANGIE

Alright then, come with me.

He looks at her slightly puzzled, stands and follows her out.

INT. ANGIE’S APARTMENT – LATE AFTERNOON

Her place is a mess. Clothes everywhere. Empty takeout still on the table. Magazines piled in every corner.

Man takes his boots off once inside Angie’s apartment.

Man has a knife sticking out of a sheath in one boot and a gun sticking out of the other boot holster.

ANGIE

Ok then. That must mean you are dating.

Man Wrinkles his brow.

Angie waits for some realization from Man that she made a joke. Nothing.

Angie orders him into the bathroom.

He sits on a stool in the bathroom. Angela stands beside him, cleaning a cut on his head.

He barely reacts. She applies antiseptic, blows quickly with intent.

ANGIE

I’m going out tonight.

She finishes with his head. She moves out of the bathroom area into the bedroom.

Drawers open. Closet shifts. Her voice carries back through the apartment.

ANGIE(O.S.)

My friend Jessica is meeting me.

Beat.

She continues moving through clothes. Clothes fly from one side of room to other viewed through door that is open.

From the bedroom:

ANGIE(O.S.)

I am not sure how late I’ll be.

No pressure in tone. She keeps sorting through clothing.

Still speaking, still in motion.

ANGIE(O.S.)

You are more than welcome to come if you like.

She walks back into the bathroom with clothes in hand.

Checks what she did. Moves on. She turns the shower on and starts to undress.

ANGIE

I would feel better about it that way I can keep an eye on you.

Beat.

ANGIE

Whether you come with or not you are welcome to stay here tonight.

He remains seated spinning to follow her voice.

She continues. No pause in her rhythm.

She takes off her underwear and bra and looks him dead in the eyes with no shame, shoulders back.

ANGIE

I will be home to help you with breakfast.

He is taken aback by her brass, face shifting from slight stun to interest.

EXT. STREET – CLUB – NIGHT

They exit car at the same time and walk into club.

Boom cam follows and pulls back to show the club they walked into and surrounding businesses.

INT. CLUB – NIGHT

Angie walks up to the bar and motions to the tender.

ANGIE

2 beers and 2 shots of whiskey.

Her head moving to the music and she looks MAN up and down with new eyes on.

ANGIE

So you don’t remember a thing?

With agreement in his eyes he shakes his head no.

ANGIE

Well I came to forget a few things, You are already on that train I guess.

Angie offers a nervous laugh as she gets the drinks and motions to MAN finding a table to sit at.

Gives a beer and a shot to the MAN.

ANGIE

Well, I cant keep calling you “hey.” What should I call you?

The man looks at Angie as if she has the answer.

ANGIE

Let’s see... Travis? No, too gay country. Tommy? No, too Irish mafia. here’s an idea. I’ll just call you John Doe until we figure out who the hell you are. Sound good?

With a puzzled look of approval John Slides into the name.

JOHN

I can live with John.

Angie reaches across the table and grabs John’s wrist.

ANGIE

Now all we need is to get you tagged, shots, and nuitered and you’re ready for the dog park.

John forces a smile as he takes a drink of his beer.

Jessica walks in off screen.

Angie starts waving her hand in the air to flag her down.

ANGIE

There is my friend Jess!

Angie gives Jess a friendly kiss full on the lips and smacks her ass.

ANGIE

Come meet my new stray.

They walk over to the table John is at.

ANGIE

Jess, this is John. John, this is my best friend Jessica. We have been friends since 7th grade.

John and Jessica shake hands, sizing each other a bit.

JOHN

Ta beauté m’obsède et me fait vibrer.

JESSICA

Ohwww.

Jessica can feel that run from from her ears down her entire body to between her legs.

JESSICA

And what is it that you do John?

Jessica looks at him with DEEP interest, so does Angie.

John hold her eyes for a moment and responds.

JOHN

I wish I knew.

Jess looks confused. Looks to Angie for more.

ANGIE

I found him at the library today. He lost his memory. I think he was trying to figure out how it could have happened.

JESSICA

Oh, mysterious. (Whispers loud) How do you know he’s not a serial killer?

ANGIE

Look at him. Killer, maybe. Serial? even if he was, he doesn’t remember anyway.

Jess gives a look as if that logic makes sense on some level.

The girls sit down at the table with John.

JESSICA

John, how is it that you came to grace us with your presence here tonight? Like, do you have any idea how you, I assume you have retrograde amnesia. Did you get electrocuted or something?

JOHN

I doubt it. Woke up on top of a delivery truck. Outside, nowhere near power lines that I could see.

JESSICA

Thats one possibility down. My dad owns this CIA data center. Well, it was a data center anyway. They shut him down. That is why I’m working this shit job at a shit bar he bought after they let everyone go. Not the bar we are in now, different, bar, I guess. Anyway, there was a guy there that got E-smoked and he forgot how to talk, and thought he was Ben Grimm from the fantastic four for 3 days.

Beat.

JESSICA

You’re not a super hero, are you John?

JOHN

Not sure, Maybe.

Jessica looks him up and down. Smiles.

JESSICA

If things go well maybe we can find out together, later on.

Jessica winks at John.

Angie playfully slaps Jessica.

ANGIE

Stop teasing the animals. He may not be a killer but he may still bite.

JESSICA

Good. Makes him that much more intriguing.

Jessica purrs loud.

Song in the club changes.

JESSICA

Oh, shit yeah! Come with me!

Jessica grabs Angie by the arm and pulls her out to the dance area to dance.

Angie keeps glancing at John to see if he is watching her move.

INT. CLUB – NIGHT

ANGIE

Time to finish up. Take a walk a few doors down and see what other trouble we can get into.

Angie gives Jess a look like she needs to get ready for some fun.

Everyone gathers things and walk out.

EXT. BAR – NIGHT

As the 3 walk out the bar a stranger approaches them.

STRANGER

Jessica, you are needed at the club.

JESSICA

I don’t think so, not tonight.

STRANGER

Gavin needs to see you right now.

JESSICA

Whatever shit he has gotten himself into he can figure it out on his own or he can talk to my father. Leave me out of it.

STRANGER

You are com–

The stranger reaches for Jess.

Right before he touches her John pushes his arm away with his right hand and cracks the stranger across the face with his left. As if reflexively.

The stranger drops to one knee and reaches into his jacket with his right hand.

John squares off for a fight and pushes Angie behind him.

Jess grabs strangers hand and puts up her palm at John trying to prevent any escalation.

JESSICA

It’s alright. I’ll go.

Jess walks off with the man.

ANGIE

Well that soured the night.

Angie looks at John. He motions to her car.

ANGIE

What?

JOHN

You don’t want to follow them? She is your friend and he was looking to shoot me in public. That doesn’t worry you?

Angie puts the events together in her mind.

Angie opens her bag for her keys and starts to run to her car, yet still keeping pace with John walking.

ANGIE

You don’t think they would really kill her or something? Do you?

JOHN

No. He was ready to shoot me. If they only wanted her dead they would have just walked up and done it. I WOULD like to see where they go.

EXT. – TESSERA – NIGHT

Angie’s car slows across the street.

The neon sign HUMS: TESSERA.

John watches it. Something tightens in his posture.

ANGIE

That’s where she works.

JOHN

You’re sure?

ANGIE

Yeah. Jessica’s here all the time.

Across the lot, Jessica and the stranger step out of their vehicle.

Jessica doesn’t look injured.

They move toward the entrance. Not rushed. Controlled.

A door opens. They go inside. The door shuts behind them. Silence fills the space they left behind.

ANGIE

That’s not normal.

JOHN

No.

Beat.

John opens the door.

ANGIE

What are you doing?

JOHN

Following the bad guy.

ANGIE

You don’t even know what’s in there.

JOHN

That’s why we go in.

He’s already moving.

Angie hesitates, groans, then follows.

EXT. TESSERA – REAR ENTRANCE – NIGHT

They circle the building.

Music leaks through the walls. Bass thumps low and steady.

A side door sits slightly ajar.

John pauses. Listens. Then slips inside. Angie follows.

INT. TESSERA – BACK HALLWAY – NIGHT

Dim light. Narrow corridor.

Staff move past without looking at them.

John stays close to the wall. Too controlled. Too precise.

Angie notices.

D.J. (Background audio)

And now coming to the stage, please give it up for.... MISSSS MAAAANAGMENT!

ANGIE

You always walk like that?

JOHN

Like what?

ANGIE

Like you’ve done this before.

JOHN

Maybe I have.

They reach a corner.

Voices ahead. Jessica’s voice. Angry. Controlled.

A man responds—calm, confident.

John stops. Listens.

ANGIE

That’s her.

John look at her as if to say, ”I DID just meet her an hour ago, I remember the girl” He moves again. Slower now. More deliberate.

They edge toward an open doorway.

Inside Jessica stands in the center of a room.

Gavin sits behind a desk. Two large men stand behind her. Russians.

GAVIN

Where is it?

JESSICA

I told you. I don’t have it.

Gavin leans back. Smiles.

GAVIN

You keep saying that like it changes anything.

The Russians step closer.

Jessica doesn’t move.

RUSSIAN

You waste time.

Gavin speaks in a slow, teaching tone, not mocking.

GAVIN

I am coaxing it out of her.

Beat.

Gavin looks at Jessica like a problem he’s tired of solving politely.

GAVIN

Take her.

Jessica’s expression tightens but she doesn’t panic.

The Russians grab her.

She resists only slightly. Not enough to win.

ANGIE

We should do something.

JOHN

Can’t yet.

ANGIE

They’re taking her.

JOHN

That is what it looks like.

Jessica is led toward a rear door passing closer to where John and Angie are hidden.

John watches. Still. Something inside him reacts but he doesn’t have language for it. Only pressure.

Jessica disappears through the door. The room settles again.

ANGIE

We lost her.

JOHN

Maybe YOU think we lost her.

Beat.

JOHN

I know exactly where she is.

He turns. Follows.

INT. TESSERA – BACK CORRIDOR – NIGHT

John moves swift. Not rushing.

Angie struggles to keep up in heels.

ANGIE

Where are we going?

John tilts his head back and shifts his eyes in the direction of Jessica

JOHN

Same direction they went.

ANGIE

That’s not an answer.

JOHN

It’s something.

They pass a STAFF MEMBER pushing a cart.

The man doesn’t look twice.

John doesn’t slow down.

Angie watches him more closely now. Something about the way he moves is changing. Revealing.

They reach a SERVICE DOOR at the end of the hall. Closed. A keypad.

Angie stops.

ANGIE

That looks locked.

John looks at her, her amazing ability to point out the obvious, then at it.

Beat.

Then— He presses his fingers lightly around the frame. Testing. Not thinking.

His hand moves to the keypad.

ANGIE

John—

Click. Door unlocks. Angie freezes.

ANGIE

…how did you—

JOHN

Buttons are worn, you can sometimes tell what the pattern is by the wearing pattern.

He opens the door.

INT. TESSERA – BACK ROOM – NIGHT

Storage. Liquor crates, supplies. A secondary corridor beyond.

John steps in without hesitation.

Angie follows more slowly now.

ANGIE

You’re not lucky you know.

JOHN

Then I’m consistent.

They move through another door ahead. Half-open.

Voices inside.

RUSSIAN (O.S.)

Move her.

JESSICA (O.S.)

Get your hands off me—

A scuffle.

John stops at the edge of the doorway.

Angie reaches him. Looks past him.

INT. LOADING BAY – NIGHT

A large garage-style space. A black SUV idling.

Jessica is being pushed toward the rear seat. She fights harder now. More desperate.

JESSICA

You’re making a mistake!

GAVIN

No.

Gavin lights a cigar calmly from a few feet away.

GAVIN

I am making a managerial decision, you made the mistake dear girl.

The Russian men don’t react to Gavin’s words. They don’t acknowledge him at all.

One of them opens the rear SUV door.

Jessica twists hard—kicks backward—misses.

A hand clamps her shoulder and forces her down.

JESSICA

Stop—! I’m not—

She disappears into the back seat. The door SLAMS.

Inside the SUV, she immediately starts pounding the window.

ANGIE (O.S.)

Oh my God…

Angie is frozen at the edge of the doorway.

John doesn’t move. Not yet.

The engine idles steady.

Gavin exhales smoke, watching the SUV like it’s already finished.

GAVIN

You see, people think control is about force.

He takes another slow drag.

GAVIN (CONT’D)

It isn’t.

A second Russian steps up beside the driver’s door. Not rushing.

John’s eyes track that movement. Something tightens in him again. Not fear. Recognition

ANGIE (hushed tones)

We should—

JOHN (hushed tones)

Not yet.

ANGIE (hushed tones)

Not yet?!

The SUV’s brake lights flicker. Tinted glass. No sight inside. The SUV idles for half a beat. Then pulls away.

ANGIE

We just—

JOHN

I know.

Gavin doesn’t move.

The SUV turns out of the lot and disappears into traffic.

Silence settles hard in the empty space.

ANGIE (hushed tones)

We lost her.

JOHN (hushed tones)

She’s not lost.

Angie looks at him, frustrated now.

ANGIE

Oh, no?

JOHN

No, losing her implies we had her in the first place.

Beat.

He nods toward the empty exit where the SUV left.

JOHN (CONT’D)

We just watched her get professionally relocated.

ANGIE

That’s supposed to make me feel better?

JOHN

I don’t think so, It’s supposed to make you accurate.

Beat.

JOHN

Look, if they wanted her dead, they would not have put a live girl in the back of that car.

Angie exhales, half annoyed, half disarmed.

ANGIE

So what, Mr. Accurate, we just… stand here?

John motions his head toward Gavin.

Gavin is still there. Still calm.

JOHN

We follow the guy who didn’t even bother pretending this was a problem.

Angie follows his gaze to Gavin.

Gavin pulls out his phone and calls a contact. He speaks immediately while turning his body.

GAVIN

Yeah… no. I’m coming to you. I’m not dealing with this here.

That’s what John hears.

JOHN

He’s leaving.

ANGIE

You sure?

JOHN

He ain’t sticking around.

Gavin is already walking now, phone still up.

GAVIN (O.S.)

Move it without me. I’ll handle it on-site.

JOHN

Now.

ANGIE

Now what?!

JOHN

Our car.

John turns and moves immediately.

Angie follows.

They break toward the club entrance.