Ghost Platoon Cut1

GHOST PLATOON Screenplay by Mike Colonna Logline: A disgraced plastic surgeon, joins the Marine Corps, has his life turned around after suffering brain trauma from a roadside bomb that kills his entire platoon. Now homeless, he develops an uncanny sense of hearing voices and feeling them viscerally around him as he saves an LAPD officer from an attack and eventually, all of them form an undercover team to solve crimes on the streets of LA. Synopsis: Dr. Frank Gallo, a renowned plastic surgeon, botches a facelift, losing everything, including his wife. Distraught, he joins the Marines as a Medic and Intelligence Officer and is sent overseas. While on a mission, his entire platoon is killed by an IED explosion and he is the only survivor. After recovering from his brain injuries, and later sent home, he loses all will to survive and winds up homeless on the streets of LA. One night, while sleeping under the 6th Street Bridge he hears muffled voices in his head, telling him that an LAPD police officer, LaTisha Jackson, is trapped nearby in her car. She’s been ambushed by one of the South Central gangs. Gallo arrives on the scene, feeling that his platoon is there with him, they extricate the unconscious woman from her car. But as police arrive, he slips into the crowd knowing that he can’t explain what happened, retreats to his homeless encampment. Days later, she tracks him down to thank him for saving her life. After pressing him for the truth he reluctantly discloses his past and tells her about the voices he hears. She is wary, but gives him her contact information. Weeks pass and he hears his platoon again urging him to stop an attempted homicide that is about to take place. With their help, he locates the crime scene and calls LaTisha before retreating again into the night. She begins to suspect that maybe he actually has developed this sixth sense, and approaches him to help fight the criminals who’ve taken over the neighborhood.

GHOST PLATOON Screenplay Mike Colonna INT: WESTWOOD - LOS ANGELES - MORNING Sitting on the dining room table are two empty wine glasses next to an expensive empty bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. Moving through the hallway, a bra is hanging from a door knob, a white shirt, silk blouse, ladies thong underwear the trail ends at the master bedroom where Dr. Joseph DaVinci is spooning with his girlfriend. The alarm on his I-Phone rings, it’s time to get up. DaVinci rolls out of bed naked, lies on the floor face down, starts doing pushups. Kathy, his girlfriend, rolls out of bed and climbs on DaVinci’s back. DaVinci continues doing pushups, grunting and groaning while lifting Kathy up and down. DaVinci reaches the floor lies for a second, rolls over on his back and Kathy is now facing him. They kiss while rubbing their bodies together. DaVinci moves to the bathroom. Kathy catches him while he’s facing the mirror in her t-shirt, wraps her arms around him and begins nibbling his ears. KATHY That was wonderful. Want another shot at it?

JOSEPH DAVINCI Later baby, this is a big shot Hollywood star, I can’t be late. KATHY I’ll show you what a big Hollywood Star looks like, give me five minutes in bed. JOSEPH DAVINCI Honey, you’re too much. Towel drops, he turns and they embrace, DaVinci is in a hurry. DaVinci dressed in a white shirt with a tie, rushes through the kitchen, the toaster pops, he grabs a slice of bread, check to see if Kathy’s looking, he pops open a bottle of pills. He takes two uppers. She meets him at the front door, hugs and rubs his body with hers. JOSEPH DAVINCI Later baby, I’ve got to perform a Miracle. DaVinci flies by the elevators, rushes down the stairs, to the underground garage. He boards puts on his helmet, boards his Harley, heads out of the parking structure onto Santa Monica Blvd. DaVinci turns right onto Wilshire Blvd. Enters the parking structure. Parks, takes the elevator to “The Plastic Surgery Center.” DaVinci dresses in a gown, mask, head cover, walks into the operating room. Betty Gaynor, famous movie star, in her 50’s is lying on her back surrounded by two nurses with face masks. She’s ready for her face lift. DaVinci, looks at the bright light overlooking the operating table, it’s blurry. DaVinci watches the anesthesiologist’s needle jabbing Betty Gaynor’s arm. She’s in a deep sleep. DaVinci looks down at Gaynor, everythings blurry. He begins to cut, something goes horribly wrong. Doctor DaVinci collapses and is helped to a wheel chair. The nurses are in a “panic” mode, his assistant is confused. What could go wrong, goes wrong. Kathy Lansing answers the phone.

KATHY Hello HOSPITAL OPERATOR Doctor Gallo is in the ER. Please come as soon possible’ Kathy rushes to her car, speeds off, going faster than the speed limit allows, she runs a red light and a large truck TBones her car on the passenger side. The car explodes. Kathy is in a hospital bed, life saving liquids are piped into her arms, her head is bandaged. Doctor Joe DaVinci arrives. Dazed he attends to Kathy. Her pulse is weak. He bends over to console her bruised and bandaged body. A load beep from the her monitor indicates she’s flat lining. DaVinci yells for help, nurses rush in, Kathy’s heart stops beating.

EXT. LOS ANGELES - STATE COURT BUILDING - AFTERNOON BAILIFF This court will come to order. EXT: U.S. DISTRICT COURT/DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - DAY L.A. Lawyers, judges, law enforcement personnel and business executives, homeless, mentally ill, felons, ex-felons; illegal’s mill surround the downtown courthouse. Gallo drives into the parking garage across from the Courthouse. He takes an elevator up to the third floor. Takes a deep breath not knowing what to expect. He enters the courtroom, takes a seat and waits his turn. His attorney is sitting inside the inner courtroom waiting to be called. Judge Michael Nott, fifties, courtly, enters from the chambers and takes the bench. DOCTOR Joe DaVinci is standing behind the defense table. He stands with his attorney. BAILIFF The State of California Medical Board versus Doctor Joseph DaVinci. All rise. The United States District Court for the Central District of California, is now in session. All persons having business before the court, shall be heard. Please be seated. The judge enters with a polite smile.

NOTT Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being on time this morning. We will begin our trial today with opening statements from attorneys. DaVinci, and his insurance company representative have pre-determined damages but a ruling on DaVinci’s medical license has not been part of the settlement. NOTT Will Doctor DaVinci please stand before the court. DaVinci presents himself before the judge. NOTT I understand there are extenuating circumstances surround your case. I’m sorry your loss, but Ihave a verdict to grant the plaintiffs the amount you have approved through your attorney. A substantial amount I might add. I am also notifying you that your license will be suspended for a period of 10 years. At that time the court will consider reinstatement based on your behavior during this 10 year period. DaVinci loses his license at a Board of Inquiry. DaVinci is devastated but accepts his punishment. Lost without purpose, DaVinci spends hours walking dreaming what could have been. A few days later he walks by a Marine Corps recruiting office. And enters. Walks into an Marine Corps recruiting center and joins the Medical Corps. DaVinci is appointed an intelligence officer. One of the first people I ran into was Lt. General James Overman. He was the commander of the special strike unit that patrolled the roads from our camp to one of the hostile areas just miles from our base.

OVERMAN Glad to meet you Lt. DaVinci. DAVINCI Yes sir. OVERMAN Welcome aboard. The General pulls DaVinci aside privately. OVERMAN I’ve read about all of your drama. You’ve got a great reputation. DAVINCI Thank you for the compliment General. DaVinci gets a quick handshake from everyone around the General. Weeks later, DaVinci was assigned a small platoon of six men to patrol a small town in Afghanistan near the base. These were regular daily missions. His convoy, while on patrol in Afghanistan, drives over a huge roadside bomb hurling his Humvee 20 feet in the air. DaVinci is the only living survivor. He receives a purple heart. DaVinci is discharged, looks for work in Los Angeles but is turned down at every interview. With no future, DaVinci becomes a resident of skid row. A BRIGHT STARRY NIGHT - FULL MOON Billions of stars glitter behind a full moon. We pull back off the sky, and hear hustle and bustle under a street bridge in Los Angeles’s huge freight train yard. PANNING DOWN A lone soul, in a tent, nestled under a blanket beside 10 homeless people, snoring, arms folded behind his head with his eyes gazing into the sky. His thoughts are on times gone by.

FLASHBACK INT. Beverly Hills - Operating room - Morning Three nurses prepare a female patient for plastic surgery. A face lift. Dr. DaVinci enters, seems disoriented, has popped pills to give him more energy. A famous movie star lies on an operating table waiting for Dr. DaVinci to do his magic face lift. DaVinci Loses his license at a Board of Inquiry. Walks into an Army recruiting center and joins the Medical Corps an intelligence officer. One of the first people he meets is Lt. General James Overman. Overman is the commander of the special strike unit that patrols the roads from camp to one of the hostile areas just miles from our base. OVERMAN Glad to meet you Lt. DaVinci. DAVINCI Yes sir. OVERMAN Welcome aboard. The General pulls DaVinci aside privately. OVERMAN I’ve read about all of your drama. You’ve got a great reputation. DAVINCI Thank you for the compliment General. All assignments were made with the General’s knowledge. It was called the human intelligence tent. DaVinci gets a quick handshake from everyone around the General. Weeks later, DaVinci was assigned a small platoon of six men to patrol a small town near the base. These were regular daily missions. His convoy, somewhere in Afghanistan, drives over a huge roadside bomb hurling his Humvee 20 feet in the air. DaVinci attends to the wounded and is awarded a medal of valor. DaVinci is discharged, looks for work in LA but is turned down at every interview. With no future, DaVinci becomes a resident of skid row. EXT. SIXTH STREET BRIDGE - MIDNIGHT - LOS ANGELES DaVinci is awakened by an explosion on the bridge. Startled he rushes to the top of the bridge and sees a police car that appears to have hit some type of land mine. A lone female officer is dazed and trapped in the front seat. DaVinci jerks open the passenger side and pulls the police officer out of the car. DaVinci turns on her vest radio and shouts for help.

DAVINCI Officer Down. Does anyone copy? 911 OPERATOR Sir, please state your name and where you’re calling from? DAVINCI I’m here with a downed Police Officer, we’re at the 6th Street bridge, Hurry! 911 OPERATOR Sir, I need you’re name, please! DAVINCI You’re wasting time. Get someone down here ASAP. The officer begins to regain consciousness. Police cars are racing toward the accident. Sirens blaring. The officer reaches into her shirt pocket and gives DaVinci her card. She pushes DaVinci away and signals him to leave before her fellow officers arrive. DaVinci moves quickly from the scene, as he does he notices a the moon catch some type of glass shinning from a six story building nearby. EXT. SIX STORY BUILDING - LATE NIGHT - LOS ANGELES DaVinci enters the slum looking building and rushes up to the fourth story where he detected the flash of moonlight off of glass. He quietly opens the door. A disposable cell phone, a cigarette butt are on the floor next to the window. The apartment is vacant. Two men are fast footing it down the back fire escape, they get to the alley, a black van moves quickly through the alley, stops, the side door opens. The two middle eastern looking men jump in and are immediately shot by the driver of the van.

INT: LOS ANGELES - HOSPITAL - MORNING DaVinci walks through the hallway passes an armed police officer is guarding the injured officer. DaVinci’s nodded in. Bruised but not in serious condition, the female officer gives DaVinci a slight smile of approval. EXT: SIX STORY BUILDING - MORNING - LOS ANGELES DaVinci walks the alley and picks up a spent shell. A nervous young homeless couple appear at the end of the alley. They have information. A license number, description of the van, a blurred description of the driver. DaVinci is returns his homeless encampment under the sixth street bridge. His confidant is Jack Ging, an 75 year old ex Navy Seal during the Korean War. DaVinci shares his information with Jack. EXT. PHONE BOOTH ABOVE BRIDGE - AFTERNOON. DaVinci dials officer in hospital bedroom. MONICA GOMEZ Who is this? DAVINCI Hope your feeling better. I’m the guy who found you on the bridge. MONICA GOMEZ I owe you my life, you and the others that helped me, I can’t thank you enough. DAVINCI I would visit you but I’m sure you have a 24 hour guard at your door. MONICA GOMEZ When I’m out of here, we have to meet. DAVINCI Fine with me. Weeks later.

WATCH CAPTAIN Officer Gomez, the Captain wants to have a few words with you. Officer Gomez enters the Captain’s office. CAPTAIN MORRIS Glad you’re feeling better, that was quite a death defying event you went through. The reason why you’re here? I want you to head a task force to infiltrate two East L.A. Drug gangs. It won’t be easy but I will supply you with all the tools you need. Interested? MONICA GOMEZ I’m in, Captain. Officer Gomez visits the Sixth Street Bridge location where she was rescued by DaVinci. She walks to the railing, looks down, sees a homeless encampment. Walks down to the encampment and observe more than 10 homeless men and women laying back on pillows and beach chairs. One of the tents seems off the beaten path, as she walks to the enclosure, a homeless man in his mid 30’s exits. MONICA GOMEZ Maybe you could help me. I’m looking for a man who rescued me about one month ago after an accident above this bridge. DAVINCI I guess you’re looking for me. MONICA GOMEZ Well then, we have a lot to talk about. Let’s meet tomorrow at the Echo Park Avenue Concession area. Need a ride? DAVINCI No, I’ll see you there 2pm. MONICA GOMEZ 2pm it is. EXT: AERIAL OF ECHO PARK, AFTERNOON 2PM Aerial of Echo Park lagoon, small concession canoe’s with families, couples enjoying paddling around the small lake. Officer Gomez dressed in civilian clothes, dolled up waiting for DaVinci sitting on a park bench overlooking the water. A mid-twenties male is sitting on a chair singing songs working for tips nearby. DaVinci approaches Gomez and sits next to her on the bench. MONICA GOMEZ Well, Well, we finally meet face to face. DAVINCI My pleasure, officer. Officer Gomez.

MONICA GOMEZ My friends call me Monica. DAVINCI Glad to meet you Officer Gomez, again under different circumstances. MONICA GOMEZ I guess you could say that. Actually you saved my life. How did you get there so fast? DAVINCI The explosion woke me out of a dead sleep, good thing I was close by. MONICA GOMEZ If I recall, you pulled me out of the patrol car, I’m not sure if I was seeing things, but you looked like you had help. DAVINCI You were imagining things. MONICA GOMEZ No I’m serious there was a lot of commotion, voices, fading in and out, invisible figures that faded in and out, moving quickly and methodically. DAVINCI Well it’s a long story Detective. MONICA GOMEZ Please call me Monica. DAVINCI Ok, Monica, I spent three years in the Middle East, lot’s of issues I don’t want to talk about, everyone in my platoon was killed by a roadside bomb. I had a serious brain injury, when I came to in the hospital, I was surrounded by what I thought was a dream, or hallucination, shit, I don’t know what to call it, but the guys in my platoon surrounded my hospital bed, they follow me everywhere, I don’t know, sounds crazy but it’s as if they never died.

MONICA GOMEZ Interesting. Maybe they were the figures I saw, helping you after my car exploded. DAVINCI Who knows? DaVinci focuses in on the guitar player who has a waist high cast on his right side. He has two tip jars, one on each side of his chair. Planted next to the tip jar on the right is a small shopping bag, as people walk by they would dump a few coins into the right tip jar. Some young teenagers, strolled by, listened, then put dollar bills in the tip jar on the left. After they deposited their tip, the stuck their hand in the paper bag, and pulled out what seemed to be a small baggie. DAVINCI Detective, I mean Monica, check out that guitar player, he’s got two tip jars, looks like one’s for public, the other for druggies. After he finished dealing he hobbled off to a waiting late model Chevy Van. I got the license number if you’re interested and a picture of the van. MONICA GOMEZ Very astute of you to notice, you have an eye for undercover work. We’ve been watching him for months, he’s connected with a small time East L.A. drug gang, we’ve got eyes on him, he doesn’t know it, but his drug selling days will be over soon. DAVINCI What’s your plan. MONICA GOMEZ My plan is to recruit you to be my undercover connection with the street gangs. Are you interested? DAVINCI I don’t know, I’m a disbarred plastic surgeon, an officer that lost his platoon in Afghanistan, a bum living under an L.A. Bridge, what good would I be? MONICA GOMEZ Don’t be so hard on yourself Doctor. I can use you, you’ll be paid well, enough to buy some decent clothes, and maybe a nice little place you can call home. DAVINCI Let me think about this. I’ll need some time.

MONICA GOMEZ Don’t wait too long, the streets are filling up with drug dealers, I need your help. DaVinci leaves the bench walks past the guitar player, and smiles. The guitar player reaches into the right jar to pick out the cash, DaVinci observes a three leaf black clover with 6’s in each leaf and the letters AB inscribed below the clover. DaVinci, nonchalantly walks to a bench close-by, so he can observe the guitar playing drug dealer. The drug dealer picks up his gear and hobbles off the a waiting white van. DaVinci snaps a cell phone picture capturing the van and a license plate. He walks to the Laguna Avenue bus stop where he boards a bus and heads back to his “palace” underneath the 6th street bridge. DaVinci realizes his brain has special powers with his Ghost Platoon. The Platoon was clean cut, raucous, superhumans. Misunderstood by their actions but loyal to DaVinci their Platoon Commander. Later DaVinci calls Officer Gomez.

DAVINCI We’re in, I mean I’m in. She nods with a puzzling grin. Later that night the drug dealer is settled in his apartment next to a window. A suspicious black four door sedan is driving by slowly. He begins to panic, grabs his cash calls 911 and frantically reports the scene and that he fears for his life. DRUG DEALER 911 Please help me, 911 OPERATOR Sir was is you name and where are you calling from? DRUG DEALER Hurry, they’re coming after me. 911 OPERATOR Who’s coming after you. I see where your at an address near Echo Park. DRUG DEALER They’re getting out of their car, and coming into my building. 911 OPERATOR Sir we’re sending a unit out to your address.

DRUG DEALER Hurry! The drug dealer, exits, walks down the second floor hallway looking for the fire escape. Pushes the handle, jumps down to the landing on the fire escape, he’s in pain, begins hobbling down to the first floor, then onto the street. The passengers, rival gang members, enter the building with drawn guns, they climb the stairs, first floor, second floor, move down the hall, look for the drug dealers apartment, Apartment 211, bust open the door, check the rooms, nobody, one of the rival gang members looks out the window. He sees a man trying to run with a cast on is right leg. He flags his fellow gang members, they see the guitar drug dealer hobbling, then ducking into an alley. They run down the stairs, the chase begins, the guitar player is at the end of the alley, sees an eight foot fence, he gasps, muttering expletives, starts climbing up the fence, there’s barbed wire at the top, if he doesn’t make it, he’s dead meat. Guitar playing drug dealer climbs to the top of the fence, tries to get over, he’s hears voices shouting VOICE ONE We’ll kill you “cavarone.” His cast get caught at the top of the fence, he pulls as hard as he can, nothing, muttering to himself, maybe I can crawl down the other side, his cast is caught in the barbed wire, he’s hanging upside down. Two squad cars come down the alley, the gang members flee, the guitar playing drug dealer is hanging. OFFICER ONE Ok buddy, we just saved your life. PACO Get me otta here man. Can’t you see I’m in extreme pain.

OFFICER ONE What’s your name? (As they untangle Paco from the fence) PACO What’s it to you. Just get me out of here. Paco is now laying on the ground. Moaning. OFFICER ONE We’re taking you to a hospital. We here ambulance sirens approaching. PACO No man just get me up. I can make it home. Officer Two is on the two way with the Captain. OFFICER TWO Norm, the Captain says we have to let this character go. OFFICER ONE If that’s what they want, we have no choice. Let’s turn him lose. Weeks later. Two gangbangers are in a dark late model car in a residential neighborhood in East L.A. Smoking weed. DRIVER Hey man, this is good stuff. He hands the weed to his passenger. PASSENGER We should get back to the warehouse, the boss is waiting. DRIVER C’mon man he can wait. (inhales)

A dark pickup truck drives up the block slowly. As he approaches the gangbangers, the passenger pulls out an AK 47, they come up to the car, the passenger in the car waves to the driver in the dark car, pulls out his AK -47 and begins spraying the dark car, bullets are flying, windows are breaking, the gangbangers are ducking, the gangbangers are shot dead. Collateral damage to homes and anyone standing in the line of fire are hit by the shooter. They burn rubber and race down the residential street. Neighbors come out of their homes to see the carnage. It was a Saturday afternoon and Angelina Perez was sitting on her front lawn trying to lure her cat out from the front porch. She rose to her feet from a crouched position and a black pickup truck slowly drives by spraying passengers in the car parked in front of the Perez home. The front porch and windows in front of the house are blown out. The ten year old was in the line of fire, she would be the latest victim of a drive-by in the L.A’s, Bario. The victim of a stray bullet, her little body held the promise of an Olympic medal someday. All of this gone in a flash, a crumpled lifeless body, gone from life to limp. Oscar Perez heard the gunfire, a familiar sound, and charged out of his house to see his child who lay motionless. She was gone and he knew that his life no longer had any meaning. When the police arrived hey attempted to console him. OFFICER ONE Mr. Perez, we can’t tell you how sorry we are. Did you see anything that could help us find these murderers? Oscar Perez is holding his daughter in his arms. Officer one is trying to calm him down. OSCAR PEREZ These sons of bitches, assholes, murderers, will pay for this. Why would God let this happen, she was a beautiful little girl, her future was bright. (Looking up to the sky.) There is no God, why would he let this happen. (Drowning his tears on Angelina’s limp body.) Two plainclothes officer approach Oscar and asked if they could speak to him. The were assigned to the gang squad, Detective Gomez was in radio contact with them.

DETECTIVE DIAZ Oscar, this isn’t the time and place we are very sorry, whatever your plans for your daughter, were available to help. Let’s talk tomorrow. DETECTIVE BALLANTE We’re going to comb the area for anyone that either saw something or had their front porch camera’s recording this assassination. The Detectives arrive to the station hours later, their flagged into a room with Detective Gomez. DETECTIVE DIAZ That little girl had no chance. Her father’s a mess. He’s ready to go to war to avenge his daughters murder. DETECTIVE BALLANTE We’re checking the neighborhood to see if anyone has this on camera. DETECTIVE DIAZ Officer Degner just messaged me that one of the neighbors has a video of the pickup truck that the two gangsters were in. Detective Gomez’s mind is the brainstorming mode. She calls DaVinci, and fills him in.

OSCAR PEREZ This is bullshit. I want revenge, we’ve been under this cloud for years, ignoring the killings. Marcella Perez is crying in the kitchen. MARCELLA Oscar, our little baby is dead. Watch what you say, you could be next. OSCAR PEREZ Marcella, we have to take a stand. I promise you I will not take matters into my own hands. MARCELLA We have to move out of this area, Oscar, I’ve had enough of the killings, the rapes, the drug dealing. Oscar is sobbing on the couch, nodding his approval. Oscar didn’t know that he was about to become a part of something that would profoundly affect his community. He had lost his son Mario, an LAPD rookie officer, to gang crossfire, and now his daughter. On an evening after the funeral, Oscar answered the phone and agreed to meet with the detectives after midnight. OSCAR PEREZ Hello, who is this?

DETECTIVE ONE Oscar, this is Detective Diego, my partner and I want to pick you up and meet some people that could help in finding the people that murdered your daughter. OSCAR PEREZ It’s after midnight, what will I tell my wife. DETECTIVE DIAZ Tell her the LAPD has got some leads on your daughters murder, and they want to talk to me right now.

MARCELLA I’m coming with you. OSCAR PEREZ They want to see me alone. I can handle it Marcella, trust me. It’s approaching midnight Oscar is waiting patiently looking out his front window waiting for the officers. A car arrives, the two detectives flash their lights on and off, Oscar opens the passenger door. Detective One is driving, the other detective is in the back seat. DETECTIVE DIAZ Oscar we know you’re hurting. And we hear that you want revenge. OSCAR PEREZ I’m moving out of this hell hole. As they drive off. Oscar looks back and sees Marcella looking out of their living room window.

DETECTIVE DIAZ We need to talk to you in a safe place. The secret meeting place is in a warehouse in the rear of a junk yard filled with dismantled cars, not to far from the Sixth Street Bridge. The two detectives escort Oscar into the warehouse. Detectives Carlos Diaz, and Eddie Ballante are making sure nobody’s eyes are on their meeting. Oscar is looking around, what’s next? The light was poor but Oscar could see men, some faintly, seated at a long table. DETECTIVE DIAZ Oscar, not sure if you’ve haven't met our lead Detective Gomez. Next to her is a neighbor that lives six houses away. Oscar focuses and recognizes Johnny Solario. The two men stare at each other for a long moment then lock in a powerful embrace, sobbing uncontrollably , tears streaming down their faces. The pain of unbearable loss. OSCAR PEREZ I’m surprised to see you here Johnny. I think the last time we saw each other was at your son Antonio funeral. Detective Gomez sits silently.

DETECTIVE DIAZ This meeting is off the books. I want both of you men to ensure us that you understand, the things we talk about may make you cringe, you may want to leave. If you leave, it means you were never here. Understood? And if you were never here, you can’t talk about it. Oscar and Johnny both show nods of approval. DETECTIVE BALLANTE We are here tonight to break the law. We want to make sure the punks in these gangs pay for the pain, suffering and heartache they have caused. There will come a time when the neighborhoods will no longer live in fear. It will be the gangs, the punks who will live in fear. We offer no mercy. Age will not matter. They will pay with their lives and the price will be ten to one. For every one us that falls, there will be ten of them who die. We will call this secret, Society of Vengeance. “La Society of Venganza!” JOHNNY SOLARIO (Regaining his composure) I want to be a part of this. No matter what it takes I want to avenge my son’s death. Johnny Solario was a thirty year veteran of the LAPD, he was comfortable with his retirement, despite the loss of his wife.

JOHNNY SOLARIO My son’s grew up knowing that their father would be proud of them if they became police officers. You know they both lived at home after my wife Anna died. They both respected me, and wanted to be close to me. We would have dinner together almost every night. All we talked about were police matters. They always asked for my advice. Detective’s Diaz, and Ballante exit the warehouse leaving the two men alone. Johnny Solario, sat at the long table, with a grim face, he was in his late fifties, he sat at the table quietly. His eyes were glazed, he looked around the almost empty warehouse, knowing that he had every right to be at this meeting. The ware house is dead quiet. Johnny Solario rise from his chair with a determined demeaner. Slamming the table with his fist. JOHNNY SOLARIO I’m going to rip their hearts out like they did to me! I want vengeance! Let the “La Society of Venganza!” Begin. DaVinci picks up information at his homeless camp that a big drug deal is about to come down. A drug trafficking gang in South Central Los Angeles based in Mexico is about to deliver more than three million dollars of fentanyl to one East L.A. gangs Detective Gomez’s been investigating. DAVINCI The Downtown Crips plan to steal the drugs during the transfer.

DETECTIVE DIAZ There will be some fireworks. You should stay away. DAVINCI I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Keep my in the loop. Sixteenth Street Gang and the Twenty Eighth Street Gang resulted in the apprehension of two men and the seizure of more than three million dollars of fentanyl. EXT. L.A. DOWNTOWN APARTMENT DISTRICT DaVinci is sleeping on a park bench activity in an apartment building, he sees a black van making a left turn toward the two story apartment building. Van stops, three middle east looking men open the back doors and begin removing file size cardboard boxes and entering the building. Two gang members, their early thirties with backpacks enter the building. DaVinci is wired, he describes the van, the activity, a few minutes later a SWAT team has the building surrounded, they rush the entry, get to the apartment and all hell breaks lose. Smoke bombs, explosions, bodies flying out of windows, suicide vests, the whole nine yards. Waist hi cast.

EXT. LA Freight Yard - Sunset Aerial of the vast train yard, panning down to two freight trains passing, in opposite directions,, engines roar. a closer look, DaVinci is standing between the trains as they pass, his image turns into a shadow as it dissolves into the Sunset.