SKULLIES Created by Blake Donaldson Written by Blake Donaldson Noah Dean Houston Niyaz Miah Email Address: bdfex007@gmail.com © This script is the property of Blake Donaldson. No portion of this script may be performed, reproduced or used by any means, or disclosed to, quoted or published in any medium without the prior written consent of Blake Donaldson. All rights reserved. FADE IN. IT'S BROAD DAYLIGHT IN THE UNDER-CITY. EVERYTHING IS CALM. CHILDREN PLAY IN THE FIRE HYDRANT, THE HOMELESS SHAKE THEIR CUPS, AND THE UNATTENDED TRASH TELLS IT'S OWN STORY. CUT TO: EXT. UNDER-CITY STREET CORNER - DAY At AN ATM on the street's corner, a SECURITY GUARD giggles in his rusting WHITE CROWN VIC WITH BLACK DOORS. In one hand, his vertical PHONE plays the sound of real TOTAL-COP BODY CAM FOOTAGE through his CARS BLUETOOTH, in his other, a DONUT. Through his windshield we see a SMALL CORNERSTORE with barred windows. The city's forgotten scaffolding leans against it permenantly, decorated with the street's residents' drying clothes. CUT TO: INT. CORNERSTORE - CONTINUOUS The BODY CAM FOOTAGE is muted, replaced by the muffled sound of " Telekenesis" by Buddha Trixie and the cornerstore ambience. SECURITY CAMERA FISHEYE: We see the interior of the little store. Back of store, where the coolers meet the shelves, a SMALL KID (14 YRS) with EARBUDS in his ears, slouches in front of the GUMMY section in his FAST-FOOD UNIFORM/APRON. CUT TO: EXT. UNDER-CITY STREET CORNER - CONTINUOUS Down the street, a BLUR OF KIDS in STREET CLOTHES rush the corner to the CORNERSTORE DOOR. VHOOooooOOM CUT TO: INT. CORNERSTORE - DAY 4 MASKED TEENAGERS storm the cornerstore carrying SHOTGUNS and PISTOLS wearing SKI MASKS. At the door, ONE TEEN ( TUPOIS ) spots another ATM inside and stops at it. TUPOIS gesturing with gun Ayo! This is one of those CashGrab machines! Swear I got that one video bookmarked. The SECOND TEEN ( DUBOIS ) silently splits off and makes a beeline toward DRINK COOLERS AT THE BACK. The LAST TWO approach the COUNTER. One has their BANGS covering the EYE-OPENING of their MASK ( OU) ; They press a 12 gauge SHOTGUN against the CASHIER'S PLEXIGLASS BOX. The other ( PEYTON ) brandishes TWO PISTOLS. PEYTON yelling angrily Now is not the time, Tupois! Tupois is watching a TIKTOK on how to hack a CashGrab ATM He shoots Peyton a sideways look. TUPOIS Did you just say my name in a store? Ou (pronounced "Oh") taps the glass with his barrel, and presses his PHONE against it with a message typed out: PUT THE CREDITS FROM THE REGISTER IN THE BAG. He shoves a DUFFLE BAG through the opening in the PLEXIGLASS. Behind the counter, a large PUERTO RICAN GRANDMOTHER, stares blankly, blinking one eye at a time. PEYTON to Ou You gotta speak up, Ou. to cashier You think this is a game granny?! This is serious Peyton puffs his chest, but the grandma doesn't budge. At the back of the store, the FEMALE TWIN of Tupois; Dubois, approaches the DRINK COOLER, and passes the Fast Food Kid picking gummies who hasn't noticed the commotion yet. Dubois leans past him and taps a bag of CHAMOY PEACH RINGS. He looks to her, noticing her MASK. She lifts it and gives him a wink. BURGER BOY Uh, thanks. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 2. PEYTON (O.S.) yelling Alright, granny, looks like you don't want to do things the easy way! Peyton FIRES at the LOTTERY TICKETS lining the CASHIER BOX. CUT TO: EXT. UNDER-CITY STREET CORNER - CONTINUOUS The gunshot startles the Security Guard outside, he spills his COFFEE, drops his DONUTS, and fumbles to lock his PHONE and find his GUN. He slips out off his car, sweat beading, and carefully creeps around the corner toward the STORE, his PISTOL drawn CUT TO: INT. CORNERSTORE - CONTINUOUS The Fast Food Kid reacts in shock to the GUNSHOT, clutching his PEACH RINGS. Dubois opens one of the COOLERS and crouches down to the ARIZONAS at the bottom. PEYTON (O.S.) THIS NPC CAN'T BE FOR REAL?! Granny; -.- TUPOIS following along with video P, chill. I can't hear the vid. You're causing a scene. PEYTON A scene?! He BLASTS off another round at the PLEXIGLASS, richocheting back at the teens. They duck. PEYTON This is a robbery. TUPOIS Bout to be far worse. Ou (pronounced "Oh") quickly types a MESSAGE on his phone with one hand and puts it in Peyton's face: HE'S RIGHT. ( ) ( ) (CONT'D) 3. PEYTON betrayed in shock Ou? Amidst their arguing, Granny has reaches under the counter toward a BUTTON that says: DON'T PRESS. NEVER PRESS. TOTAL PIGGGS X.X Dubois runs her fingers along the choice of ARIZONA FLAVORS, settling on: MUCHO MANGO. CUT TO: EXT. UNDER-CITY STREET CORNER - CONTINUOUS The Security Guard presses up to the WIDE-OPEN DOOR of the cornerstore. PEYTON Why don't you do the gun pointing then? TUPOIS Man, I gotta do everything? PEYTON You don't- MAN- I can- The Security Guard box breaths with his GUN at the ready, his CAP keeps sliding down his face. He prepares to- 3 MORE GUNSHOTS from Peyton into the CEILING. Security Guards recoils. A SCREAM can be heard through the thin floor. UPSTAIRS RESIDENT (O.S.) OH MY LORD!! PEYTON You're FINE! The Security Guard, swallows hard, and commits, rushing into the door SECURITY GUARD performatively EVERYBODY'S HANDS IN THE AIR! He steps into the DOORWAY with a overdramatic swagger The clatter of GUNS drop to the FLOOR. Ou franticly types on his PHONE and puts it up with his hands: OH SH U T. (typo) ( ) ( ) 4. TUPOIS Damnit Peyton.. PEYTON Me?! Dubois removes the CAN from the shelf, the dented aluminum of the can POPS The Security Guard jumps , slips , and MISFIRES , squeezing his BULLET through the GAP in the PLEXIGLASS, hitting the GRANNY. PEYTON Dear god... The Granny falls out of her stool, dropping to the floor DEAD. The GANG scoop back up their GUNS, Tupois takes cover behind the ATM, Peyton and Ou duck behind the SHELVES. The Fast Food Kid drops his PEACH RINGS, falls to the ground and covers his head. Dubois tucks away her MUCHO MANGO in her hoodie and closes the cooler door. IN THE BACK CORNER, OPPOSITE THE FRONT DOOR, ONE OF THE COOLERS QUIETLY SLIDES AWAY, REVEALING A SECRET STAIRCASE A GUN FIGHT insues. BRRAT BLAT BLAT BRRAT Dubois tucks behind the SHELF and spots the SECRET STAIRCASE. DUBOIS Yo, Burger Boy. The Fast Food Kid, "BURGER BOY" looks up to her; She nods toward the SECRET STAIRCASE CUT TO: EXT. UNDERCITY STREET CORNER - CONTINUOUS EERY DRONING SIRENS approach outside the store coming from the STREETS. A MEGAPHONE is heard TOTAL COPS (O.S.) ATTENTION ALL CITIZENS. ASSEMBLE FOR IMPROMPTU INSPECTION IN THE STREETS. CUT TO: (CONT'D) 5. INT. CORNERSTORE - CONTINUOUS The Security Guard drops his GUN, pulls out his ID and whips around in the doorway to the unseen threat, at attention. PEYTON defeated Well... Nice knowing y'all. Ou locks his PHONE and puts in it in his POCKET. DUBOIS yelling out Guys, this way! The GANG all turn to see the SECRET STAIRCASE and bolt toward it unquestioningly. DUBOIS C'mon Burger Boy. She holds out her hand for him. He takes it. The cooler slides back into place behind them. The dead Granny's HAND slips away; pressing a previously unseen UNMARKED BUTTON beside the PIGS button. CUT TO: EXT. UNDER-CITY STREET CORNER - CONTINUOUS The Security Guard looks back at the now EMPTY STORE, the BULLET CASINGS at his feet, the splatter on the PLEXIGLASS, and the DEAD GRANDMA. His eyes go wide, he gulps The silhouette of TOTAL COPS approach the cornerstore entrance. SECURITY GUARD sweating profusely I- The kids- I swear I-- TOTAL COPS augmented voice Stand aside citizen. The Security Guard is huddled away from CORNER STORE, herded into a group with the rest of the STREETS RESIDENTS. CUT TO: INT. SECRET STAIRCASE - CONTINUOUS The kids are stumbling down a PITCH BLACK STAIR WELL, bumping into each other. ( ) ( ) (CONT'D) ( ) ( ) 6. PEYTON Watch it! TUPOIS You got the sharp elbows! DUBOIS Can anybody see where we're going? Ou types on his PHONE, and illuminates the seemingly ENDLESS STAIRWELL He holds up his PHONE to the rest: NO. He locks his PHONE. CUT TO: EXT. UNDER-CITY STREET CORNER - CONTINUOUS A Total Cops arm is waved , the BARREL of a TANK is turned, the CORNER STORE is BLOWN TO SMITHEREENS CUT TO: INT. SECRET STAIRCASE - CONTINUOUS The STAIRWELL crumbles around the GANG. Everyone SCREAMS , Ou's PHONE RINGS A circus of DEBRIS collapses with them into the CAVERNESS PIT below CUT TO: EXT. UNDER-CITY STREET CORNER - CONTINUOUS The RESIDENTS gasp SMOKE and DEBRIS blanketS everything. Coughing ensues. The Security Guard is in pure shock CUT TO: INT. CAVERNESS PIT - CONTINUOUS Tenitis rings. Tupois climbs out of the RUBBLE. His panicked screams are muffled He frantically digs in the rubble to finds his sister, Dubois. He pulls her out. Peyton's HAND punches up through the rubble. He climbs out. 7. Burger Boy stumbles up to the rest of the gang, his HEAD bleeding Dubois catches him as he begins to fall and stabilizes him. Peyton cups his mouth, shouting silently , we can make out the "O" of his shouts. He looks to Tupois, who shrugs uncertainly. The tenitis slowly fades. Ringing takes its place. It's Ou's PHONE. Peyton and Tupois dig together toward the sound of RINGING finding a near-unconcious Ou. They drag him from the debris. They glance around the cavern; the walls are covered with bizarre OTHERWORLDLY TECHNOLOGY and GADGETS, MOTORCYCLES, MECHAS, etc. PEYTON in fear and awe Where in the world are we... They look up to see the COLLAPSED FLOOR of the CORNER STORE above We hear the muffled sounds of the Total Cops augmented VOICES above. TOTAL COPS (O.S.) Secure the perimeter. Sweep the area. TUPOIS We gotta split. POV: Burger Boy regaining his senses, opens his eyes, noticing something shiny in the RUBBLE at his feet. He struggles to kneel down, and brushes DEBRIS away revealing: a MUSTARD YELLOW SKULL-CAP (BEANIE) with a DAZZLING GEM clipped to its rim. Dubois kneels down next to him, and brushes away more: a PILE of SKULL-CAPS of DIFFERENT COLORS with matching GEMS. TUPOIS Grab what you can and let's go. The GANG grab what they can off the WALLS, stuffing DUFFLE BAGS with whatever they can carry. Dubois scoops up all of the SKULL-CAPS and throws them in her BACKPACK. PEYTON C'MON. VAMANOS. ( ) (CONT'D) 8. They escape into a TUNNEL of debris as the Total Cops FLASHLIGHTS clip the SMOKE and enter the remnants of the CORNERSTORE above FADE OUT. TITLE CARD: "SKULLIES" 9.