Warzone - Episode 1

By
Thomas K Jemmerson

2009 Thomas K Jemmerson

25 Weldon Place,
Covington, GA, 30016, USA
868-474-0693(c)
[email protected]
 BLACK SCREEN

SFX: THE SOUNDS OF WAR OSCAR

(V.O.)
It’s been 20 years since the War
began. Twenty years and the freedom
promised once the dictator had
fallen, remains undelivered.
Instead Civil War has torn our
country apart.

1 EXT. VARIOUS DESERT LANDSCAPES 1

MONTAGE:
HEAVILY ARMED NAIKU TROOPS FIGHT AGAINST LIGHTLY ARMED MANAI
GUERILLAS.
LARGE AND HIGHLY ADVANCED NAIKU MECHAS SQUARE OFF AGAINST
MORE MOTIVATED MECHA PILOTS ON THE OPPOSING SIDE.
MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE, THERE IS
DESTRUCTION ALL AROUND.
OSCAR (V.O.) While
the Naiku government struggles
to suppress the Manai alliance,
we try to live normal lives.

2 EXT. THE DESERT VILLAGE- SUNSET 2

MONTAGE:
A SIGN SAYING; WELCOME TO HOPE
A MILITARY FACILITY ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE TOWN. THE SIGN
ON THE GATE SAYS; RESTRICTED AREA
DESTROYED MECHAS AND OTHER MILITARY VEHICLES
ABANDONED AND PARTIALLY DESTROYED HOMES
RUBBLE FILLED STREETS WHERE SOME VILLAGERS TRADE VARIOUS
ITEMS FOR FOOD WHILE OTHERS TRY TO REBUILD DAMAGED
STRUCTURES.
OSCAR (V.O.)
Today is a good day; no fighting
and no mayhem. Finally we can play.
 CONTINUED: 2.
2.

3 EXT. A PLAYING FIELD- DAY 3

A group of teenage boys is having a football (soccer) game
in the dusty streets. One of them, DAX (17), takes a shot on
goal. in the background, leaning against an abandoned Mecha
are two younger teens, a boy, OSCAR (13) and a girl, ANA
(13).
OSCAR (V.O.)
Some of us anyway... That’s me, not
the player of the year there.
That’s my brother Dax.
Dax’s shot is parried by the OPPOSING KEEPER and the ball
lands near Oscar. He sees it but chooses to ignore it.
OSCAR (V.O.)
That’s me, Oscar. The girl I’m with
is my best friend Ana.
DAX
(slightly frustrated)
Go get the ball!
Oscar frowns as he slowly begins to move from a rest
position.
ANA
Try not to have too much fun while
you’re doing that Ozzy.
OSCAR
Funny.

ANA
Jokes usually are. Lighten up man,
there’s enough gloom and doom
around here.

Oscar sighs and starts making the walk towards the ball.
OSCAR (V.O.)
She had a point. I just didn’t want
to hear it.
Suddenly it is crushed by the caterpillar track of an
ARMORED VEHICLE. Startled, Oscar jumps back.
OSCAR
Guess that’s the end of the game...
The armored vehicle is part of a larger procession made up
of several HEAVILY ARMED FOOT SOLDIERS, followed by ANOTHER

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.
3.

ARMORED CAR. The second vehicle pulls a TRAILER upon which

is a CONTAINER large enough to carry several mechas. Two GUN
MECHAS bring up the rear. The first vehicle has LARGE
speakers mounted on top of it.
Ana walks over to Oscar and they both look on with interest.
ANA
Wonder what they’re carrying.
OSCAR
I dunno but it must be pretty
important.

OSCAR (V.O.)
These are Naiku soldiers our
protectors...
The convoy slowly makes its way through the village.
VOICE ON SPEAKER
This area is now under high alert!
All citizens must stay off the
streets until the all clear signal
is given. Failure to comply will be
considered as hostile action.

Almost instantly, windows and doors start to close, and the

streets that were buzzing with activity, become increasingly
vacant. Dax comes across to Ana and Oscar.

DAX
(solemnly)
Let’s go inside.
As the three youths walk away, Oscar turns his head to
observe the convoy some more. As he does, his eyes meet
those of a female soldier who travels in the second armored
car. Her skin is pale and her eyes piercing. She turns away
from him as the convoy heads toward the NEARBY BASE.
FADE TO BLACK
 CONTINUED: 4.

4 INT. FAMILY HOME - NIGHT 4

Oscar, Dax and Ana are sitting around a TABLE, having a
meal. The helpings are small but Oscar eats greedily anyway.
The other two are more deliberate in their actions.
In the background, the boys’ mother is beginning to wash up.
She hums a tune as she does.
OSCAR (V.O.)
That’s my mother. Besides my
brother she’s the only family I’ve
got left. I’m lucky though, Ana has
no one;she stays with us.
Dax finishes his meal and hurriedly gets up from the table.
MOTHER
Where are you going?
DAX
Tapped into one of the Army’s
frequencies with that old CB.
Thought I’d listen in for a while.
OSCAR
Wait,YOU got that old thing
working? You?
DAX
Hey,I’m not just a pretty face.
MOTHER
This isn’t anything that will cause
trouble is it?
DAX
The most they’ll do is kick us off
the network. It’s perfectly fine.
His mother stares at him, unconvinced.
DAX
Trust me.

ANA
(enthusiastically)
Can we join you?

DAX
(bluntly)
No.

(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 5.

ANA
Come on man. There’s nothing to do
here.
OSCAR
Yeah, come on Dax.
DAX
Fine. Meet me on the roof when
you’re done.
He leaves the room.

MOTHER
Sure you don’t want to keep the old
lady company? We can have tea and
play some cards.

Ana and Oscar stare blankly at her.

MOTHER
(laughing)
Just teasing. Go join your brother.
FADE TO:

5 EXT. THE ROOF- NIGHT 5

Ana and Oscar are on their backs, looking at the night sky.
The moon is out and it is very quiet. Dax is in the
background trying and failing to get the CB radio to work.
DAX
Stupid thing was working a minute
ago!
He pounds it in frustration . It spits out static.
OSCAR
Well this was a waste of time
Ana Chuckles
DAX
I can hear you.
Oscar and Ana laugh

ANA
Well at least we get to take in all
of this.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 66.
.

Ana points toward the sky and as she does a shooting star
appears. she follows it’s path with her finger as it heads
toward the base on the outskirts of the town. in the
background Dax’s radio starts to come to life again a voice
interrupted by static comes over.
ANA
Make a wish!
OSCAR
Come on, that’s stupid.
VOICE ON CB RADIO
(frantically)
These...gone crazy. It’s all...
DAX
(slightly worried)
Guys.

ANA
Just do it. Be a kid for once in
your life.

Oscar closes his eyes.

VOICE ON CB RADIO
(frantically)
We need...
DAX
(worried)
Guys, I think something is wrong.
OSCAR
I wish that the Manai would
surrender and this stupid war would
end.
There is a huge explosion at the base. The three children
stand and look on in horror. Overhead, the sky that was
quiet a second before is now filled with the sound of flying
mechas and heavy artillery fire.
OSCAR
So much for that wish...
More missiles are fired and several nearby buildings are
reduced to rubble. People begin running out of their homes
in panic but are mowed down by the invading mechas.
Dax grabs the two younger ones by the arm, releasing them
from their state of shock.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 76.
.

DAX
Come on!
They hurriedly go downstairs, as a wall of the house takes
an indirect hit.
INT. THE FAMILY HOME- NIGHT
They find their mother who has been knocked prostrate. There
is a hole nearby where the kitchen wall once was.
OSCAR
(shocked)
No!
Oscar starts rushing toward her but is stopped by his older
brother.
DAX
Go open the hatch!
Oscar and Ana push aside a nearby table and open a TRAP DOOR
that is beneath it. There are some steps leading downwards.
Dax turns his mother’s body over. She opens her eyes and
smiles at him weakly.
As Ana makes her way down into the basement, Oscar looks
back to check on his brother.
DAX
She’s OK!get in!
Dax helps his mother up and they begin to move.Oscar stands
still even as his mother and brother approach. Ana shouts at
him from inside the basement.
ANA
Come on!
OSCAR (V.O.)
Sometimes you know when something
is going to happen...you feel it in
your gut - but even though you know
it’s going to happen, there’s
nothing you can do about it...
The room takes a direct hit. Oscar is knocked into the
basement, while Dax and his mother are knocked to the
ground.
FADE TO WHITE.
 CONTINUED: 88.
.

6 EXT. THE DESTROYED VILLAGE- DAY 6

Oscar opens his eyes and can see the smoke filled sky. He
turns his head and can make out the trap door to the
basement bunker, it is open. there is no sign of the house.
Instead there is smoldering rubble, fire and dust
everywhere. Some familiar feet approach from the distance,
they belong to Ana.
Ana ducks down to Oscar’s level, she smiles at him.
ANA
Welcome back.
Oscar sits up. He squints his eyes and holds his head.
OSCAR
Thanks. Feels like I was smashing
rocks with my head though.
Ana takes a water bottle out from the satchel she is
carrying. She hands it to Oscar and he takes a sip.Suddenly
he remembers what happened.
OSCAR
Dax, mother, are they OK?
He hands her the bottle and she puts it back into her bag.
ANA
I don’t know. I went looking for
food, water and survivors. Check on
the first two.
OSCAR
The base, maybe they’re at the
base. I mean the army would HAVE to
take us in after this.
ANA
You might be right. You OK to walk?
OSCAR
Yea I’m good.
Two Manai PATROL MECHAS come around the corner and onto the
street as the two friends stand up.
OSCAR
Crap.
The children hide behind what’s left of a nearby building.

(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 98.
.

The mecha stops and looks in the direction of the children

for a few beats. It does not see them.
Oscar places a finger over his pursed lips telling Ana to be
quiet.
The mecha then turns and begins to move away from their
hiding place, following the other one which has moved
slightly ahead.
ANA
Guess that’s why everyone is
hiding.
The children run toward the base as the mechas continue to
patrol.

7 EXT. OUTSIDE THE BASE - DAY 7

The gates are broken down and the facility has been all but
destroyed. What little is standing is smoldering and/or
crumbling.Ana and Oscar look at each other,disappointed.
OSCAR
There HAS to be someone here.
He takes a step forward.
ANA
You sure about this?
OSCAR
I’m sure.
As they make their way into the facility, the "Restricted
Area" sign on the gate falls to the ground.
FADE TO:
INSIDE THE BASE
The children make their way forward and find only gruesome
scenes. Amongst the ruins and charred remains of vehicles
are the charred remains of dead soldiers. Vultures are
already at work on the bodies.
OSCAR (V.O.)
Reality begins to set in... Nobody
was hiding and nobody was
evacuated. Alliance mechas were
sent here on a search and destroy
mission - and we’re the only ones
lucky enough to be alive.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 10.

Suddenly, a corpse 30 yards away begins to move. It is a

YOUNG SOLDIER.
ANA
(pointing)
Look!
The soldier holds a small BLACK BOX in his hand. His helmet
is broken. As the children move toward him he weakly pushes
the black box toward Oscar’s feet.
YOUNG SOLDIER
(weakly)
Take it.Find Sid.
Oscar looks at the box, puzzled.
OSCAR
What is it?
The soldier is too weak to respond.
OSCAR
(breaking)
The survivors...where are they?
The soldier attempts to talk. Finally he is able to utter a
single word.
SOLDIER
Water...

OSCAR
(frantically)
Give me the bottle!

Ana gets the bottle out but sees that it is too late. The
young soldier closes his eyes and draws what seems like his
last breath.
Oscar turns to Ana with both rage and sadness in his eyes.
OSCAR
I’m tired of living like this Al.
Tired of losing people, tired of
not being able to just be. This
stupid war has taken everything
from us. Wish I had the power to
end it- for good!
Ana maintains her cool demeanor.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.

ANA
Relax; being hysterical isn’t going
to help us.
He looks at her with even more rage in his eyes.
OSCAR
Don’t tell me to relax!
Oscar takes the black box and slams it onto the ground. It
breaks open and the elaborately designed glove it contains
is revealed. His rage is quelled for a second.
CUT TO:
OUTSIDE THE BASE
The two Mechas from earlier land in front of the gates and
begin to move in.
BACK TO:
Oscar and Ana, both squatting,are examining the glove.
ANA
What is it?
OSCAR
Some kind of weapon I guess.
Oscar picks it up.

OSCAR
Not sure how it works though.
He starts to put it on.
ANA
I don’t think you should do that.
Oscar stops with the glove half on.
OSCAR
What’s the worst that can happen?
ANA
Given the day we’ve had, I’m
guessing the end of the world.
Oscar rolls his eyes.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 12.

OSCAR
Whatever.
He finishes putting it on.
Beat
OSCAR
See, it’s fine.
Suddenly, the glove lights up and latches itself to his
hand. He falls to the ground writhing and screaming in pain.
Ana attempts to pull the glove off him but is thrown back.
She screams out. She recovers but can only watch as Oscar’s
fit continues.
OSCAR
Help me!
Soon he lies still. The fit is over. Ana rushes over to him.
ANA
Ozzy!

OSCAR
I’m OK.I think.
He sits up- and as he does, one patrol mecha breaks through
a nearby wall.
ANA
Crap.
The mecha begins to turn its GATTLING GUNS toward the
children.
Oscar grabs onto Ana and holds her tight.
OSCAR
Don’t look.
Two large mechanical hands break through the ground and
crush the patrol mecha. It falls to the ground like a broken
toy.
ANA
You saw that too right?
OSCAR
Yea- Run!

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 13.

Shots are fired from patrol mechas that are just arriving
from above. As the children run away, the ground where the
broken mecha fell is torn to pieces- mecha parts fly
everywhere.
ANA
What was it?
OSCAR
Looked like the mecha from hell.
The children take cover behind a nearby structure. As they
do, 2 MORE PATROL MECHAS arrive to support the others. They
all fire at the ground and what is left of the surrounding
infrastructure.
All is reduced to rubble and a large crater opens up in the
ground before them.
They stop shooting and the dust settles.
Ana and Oscar peek out from behind their hiding place to
survey the damage.
OSCAR (V.O.)
Sometimes you know when something
is going to happen...you feel it in
your gut - but even though you know
it’s going to happen, there’s
nothing you can do about it...
A HUGE SWORD shoots out of the ground and into the air
slicing through one of the patrol mechas as it does.
OSCAR (V.O.)
Not that you’d want to.
A HUGE MECHA breaks through the ground following the sword
catching it in mid air before free falling toward the two
remaining patrol mechas. It takes one of them out with the
sword as it lands.
The huge mecha now turns its attention to the last remaining
mecha which makes a hasty retreat. The behemoth does not
pursue, instead sheathing its sword and turning toward the
two children.
ANA
Crap.
She ducks down while Oscar does not move. His glove glows
while he seems to be in a trance like state.

(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 14.

ANA
Oscar!
He ignores her even as she tugs at his clothing.
OSCAR (V.O.)
Suddenly I’m communicating with
it.It tells me I have nothing to
fear.
He begins walking toward the large mecha. As he does, the
glove glows more brightly.
Ana stands up and looks on with concern. She begins to
follow,tentatively.
OSCAR (V.O.)
I relive the battle...only
this time, I am the machine

MONTAGE:
SHOTS OF THE BATTLE WITH THE PATROL MECHAS FROM THE POV OF
THE HUGE MECHA,INTERCUT WITH THE ADVANCE OF THE CHILDREN
TOWARD THE BEHEMOTH.
OSCAR (V.O.)
I am the machine...
The children now stand in front of the huge mecha.
Oscar gives Ana a reassuring look although she seems less
than convinced.
OSCAR
Don’t be afraid, I’m in control.
the huge mecha’s chest opens up and mechanical arms reach
out, grabbing the two youths and placing them into the
cockpit contained within. The chest then closes and the
machine flies off.
CUT TO:

8 EXT.THE VILLAGE - DAY 8

A large WHITE MECHA surveys the damage. The huge mecha flies
overhead. The white mecha cloaks itself and flies off in
pursuit.
FADE TO BLACK.
END.