ACT II

I/E. HOUSE - CLOUDY - MORNING

OUTSIDE:

Thick snow flurries fall. A Tudor styled home. A neighborhood of large houses and big yards. A bag SLAPS to the bottom of a garbage can. A woman SHUTS the lid. CLANG. FOOTSTEPS.

The woman MOVES to a side door leading to an attached garage. Her boots CRUNCH on snow.

This is Tami Knox, (48) short, dark-skinned, jaw length hair, wearing a sleep gown.

INSIDE: KITCHEN

TAMI removes a carton of eggs, cheese, butter, milk, and jelly from an expensive refrigerator. Skillets from a bottom cabinet. She SWITCHES on a stove eye. TICKING. FLAMES. Her feet STEP a modern kitchen.

Sunlight beams in from a window centered above a sink; snow falls beyond it. Tami HUMS while POPPING four pieces of bread into a toaster and PRESSING the side handle down. She CRACKS three eggs into a bowl, MIXING cheese, milk, and butter with a fork, before POURING the mixture into a heated skillet on the stove. SIZZLING.

THUD.

Tami pauses, her sight shoots to a hallway off the kitchen. Elliot exits a bedroom; her son makes his way to the kitchen.

TAMI
Good morning, honey.

Elliot PECKS her on the cheek then fixes his work uniform.

ELLIOT
Morning. How are you feeling?

TAMI
I'm doing better.

ELLIOT
(sighs drastically)
I'm sorry for not being here,
you had to be scared.

TAMI
Don't apologize, you were working. Yeah, I was scared at first but I calmed myself down and did what I needed to do.

ELLIOT
Have the doctors gave any updates?

Tami COOKS, SPRINKLING spices into the pan; salt and black pepper

TAMI
Dr. Claud says my condition is improving.

ELLIOT
Do you feel like you're improving?

SIZZLING PAN.

TAMI
I feel it's true. I think the same as he does; the cause was the medicine change. I had to adjust, that's all. My heart is fine now, sweetie, don't worry.

ELLIOT
It's hard not to.

His gaze lowers, weighed with stress.

TAMI
Why'd you get in so late last night? I tried waiting up but I couldn't keep my eyes open.

ELLIOT
The ceremony always lasts until ten.

TAMI
(harshly)
Hmm, yesterday was that day, huh?!

ELLIOT
I know you hate taking the money. But-

TAMI
(angry)
Hate is an understatement!

ELLIOT
It's a lot to throw away. I feel better knowing it can help someone.

She refines her bitter mood.

TAMI
Sorry.

The bread POPS from the toaster, she place the toast onto saucers: SCRAPING jelly across each. Tami POURS orange juice into glasses then SCRAMBLING the eggs with a fork.

TAMI (CONT'D)
(indifferent)
I love what you're doing with the money, I support your choice. It's just whose it's from. The name boils my blood!
(irate)
I used to burn the checks...

ELLIOT
I remember.

Tami TOGGLES off the stove and adds eggs to the saucers, then heads a dining table.

ELLIOT (CONT'D)
I'll get the drinks.

He brings the drinks to the table. His mother takes a seat, out of breath.

TAMI
How was the ceremony?

ELLIOT
Amazing, three thousand children are in better places because of me. It was a great night. Sonya went with me, she had fun.

Elliot hands her a glass then sits beside her with his.

TAMI
I knew there was a glow to you this morning, I just couldn't put my fingers on it.
(smiles)
So, finally, came to your senses, huh?

ELLIOT
No, she has a boyfriend, remember?

TAMI
She's not married, and things can change, temperaments can range out of control and before you know it...
(snaps fingers)
She'll be single-

ELLIOT
(chuckles)
That's a little farfetched.

TAMI
(drinks)
Is It?

They begin EATING; CLINGING FORKS. Elliot POWERS on a flat screen TV. FOX NEWS STATION. A weather map of the United States showcases a light blue color. Snow. A weather man faces the camera.

WEATHER MAN
Tonight will reach the freezing point of -40 below. Yes you heard that right, -40. That wind chill is killer. This will be the coldest day Chicago has ever seen. Way chiller than January 20th, 1985, which held the record of -27. Schools are closed, roads are closed off due to ice, and ten inches of snow on the way.
(sarcastically)
Happy New Year!

A commercial break cuts in; Biorè Baking Soda face wash.

TAMI
(dazedly)
Now that was a year I'll never forget. There was cold so bad that frost formed on the walls inside the house. Just breathing made you freeze. It was a mini ice age. You weren't born yet; it was before I thought of having a kid.

Elliot's phone BEEPS. He pulls it from his pocket and reads a text. Sonya: Sonya: ur late, Superman.

ELLIOT
I gotta go.

He hastily EATS the breakfast. GULPS down the orange juice, draining the cup.

TAMI
Don't eat so fast, you'll choke!

ELLIOT
I'm alright.

TAMI
This weather is insane to work in!

ELLIOT
I'll be fine. I'll drive slow and bundle up like an Eskimo.

He winks and gets up, going to SNATCH his coat from a rack.

EXT. STREET - BRIGHT - MINUTES LATER

P.O.V:

A snowy street from a car's window. Someone spies on the Knox family's place from a dark SUV. The side mirror, which is foggy, is WIPED by black gloves, clearing the view. Revealing two more SUVS parked behind.

END OF P.O.V:

A person STEPS out of the car and holds up a fist to the other SUVS. A gesture that means: wait. Their feet DIG through inches of snow, crossing the street. CLIMBING the stairs of the Knox House. A man surveys the street, FROST flows from his nostrils.

This is Agent Bryant Beck, (58) short, salt and pepper hair, handsome, dressed in all black. A city truck PLOWS the street, RUMBLING past slowly.

Bryant removes two high tech device from his pocket. One looks like a calculator, it BEEPS and buffers, before SCANNING the doorknob. The words: SECURITY DISABLED, flashes the screen.

A second device is used. It looks like a miniature key molder; yellow light glows from it. The knob MELTS, DROOPING. The gooey metal knob falls. THUDDING on a welcome mat.

INT. HOUSE - LIGHT - SECONDS LATER

BRYANT STRIDES a large, wanes coated foyer. His eyes search a dining room, living room, a study and a bathroom. He proceeds to a hallway leading to the kitchen. INAUDIBLE TALKING from the TV.

BRYANT
Hello?

The TV VOLUME lower.

BRYANT (CONT'D)
Tami? I'm not here to hurt you, you need to come with me now.
(walks ahead slowly)
Let's not make this a hassle, alright?

Bryant eases to a family room. A TV is on but no one sits on the sofa. He scans a corner. CRACK. Tami SLAMS a chair across his back. He GROANS and FALLS to his knees. THUMP. WOOD PILES atop his body: PLATTERING.

TAMI
Bryant!
(pissed)
Why the hell are you here?!
I warned you!

BRYANT
(grunts)
I wouldn't be here if I didn't have to be.
(holds his back)
It's Carter, he's dying. Your
husband is asking for you and Elliot.

Bryant stares up at Tami. Her eyes tear up, she loses her balance, holding onto a wall for support. Fear spreads her face. She INHALES sharply. The fear changes to rage.

TAMI
Why would we care?! Does he
expect us to see him off like a happy family?!

BRYANT
Yes, he does. Please obey, no protest this time.

TAMI
Well, he has really lost his mind. I'm not giving him a damn thing. Neither is my son.

Bryant manages to stand, sloughing over a bit. Wincing.

BRYANT
Listen, he really needs you both
right now. There's a jet waiting. Where is Elliot?

TAMI
We're not going!

She SWINGS but Bryant dodges the attack like a ninja.

BRYANT
I'm sorry.

Bryant locks Tami in a body hold, pinning her arms down to her sides. His fingers go for her neck, to a pressure point. Tami FIGHTS; SCRATCHING his arm with her nails. RIPPING SKIN. He SHOUTS.

Bryant PRESSES on. Tami SCRAMBLES. KICKING and SLAMMING him against the wall. Picture frames CLASH to the floor. BREAKING GLASS.

Tami HYPERVENTILATES. Her movements slow, her resistance decreases. Tami's fall unconscious. Bryant CATCHES her in his arms before she hits the floor.