TEAM JINJA EP. 02

"THE NEW TEAM"

By

Jordan Lagana

1423 Merganser Circle(951) 520-5748

EXT. LEON'S APARTMENT (REALITY) - DAY

Katie bangs on Leon's door, agitated. A title card appears after a moment.

TITLE CARD: TWO WEEKS LATER

KATIELEON. You need to come out eventually. It's been two weeks!

Leon replies, his voice muffled and distant because he is indoors.

LEON (O.S.)I'm fine, Katie. I've got all the necessities of life in here.

KATIECome to the door.

LEON (O.S.)No.

Katie slams her hand once more against the door.

KATIEI've got to leave for work, come on.

A beat or so passes. Sound effects of bottles getting knocked over can be heard from inside. Slowly, the door opens. Leon shields his eyes from the light of the outside world. He is in dire need of a shave, his eyes are red, and his shirt is stained.

LEONAlright, you've got me. What do you want?

KATIEI just want to make sure you're really okay. It's starting to scare me, Leon.

LEONI just need a little more time.

KATIEWhat you need is to get it together. Titus is dead.

LEONHe was my mentor-

2.

KATIEWe both knew him. But I know for a fact that he wouldn't want you to just waste away 'in his memory'.

Katie pulls a book out of her purse. The cover features a large smiley face and the title "GET OVER IT ALREADY, YOU CRYBABY".

KATIE (CONT’D)Read this. I'm going to work. Call me when you have a breakthrough.

LEONBye, Katie.

KATIEBye.

Katie turns and departs. Leon stands still for a moment longer before closing the door.

TITLE CARD: II - "The New Team"

INT. LEON'S APARTMENT (REALITY) - DAY

Leon looks at his couch. There is a terrible pile of junk all over, but with a Leon-shaped hole in the middle of it. He climbs into this gap and sighs.

After a beat, he looks towards the TV. His XBOX controller sits there. Reluctantly, he boots up the system, grabs the controller, and dons the headset.

As HALO is loading, he receives a request.

XBOXGAME INVITATION FROM TITUS.

Leon's head perks up.

LEONWhat?

(beat)A-accept invitation.

EXT. HIGH GROUND (HALO) - DAY

Leon appears in the game and immediately begins looking around. The shot occasionally shows Leon in his apartment speaking.

2.

3.

LEONHello? Is anybody here?

Unseen, TITUS responds.

TITUSPrivate Leon! About time you got here.

Leon approaches the main base on the map. Looking up, he sees black-armored Titus standing on the gate.

TITUS (CONT’D)If there's anything this team needs, it's a number two. Well, it could also use a number three, and a four, but a two is most necessary. Without a two, there is no three.

LEONUm, are you actually Titus?

TITUS(laughing)

Who else would I be?

LEONThey told me you were dead!

TITUSDo I sound dead?

LEONNot really. You sound like... you.

TITUSI don't understand why you're so confused by this, soldier. Now, get in here so we can get started.

LEONWhat are we starting?

TITUSThe new team, Private! What's gotten into you today?

LEONI'm just relieved, that's all.

TITUSGlad to hear it! Now, get in.

3.

4.

Leon looks at the gate, noticing how closed it is.

LEONAre you going to open the gate for me?

Titus also looks at the gate.

TITUSHuh. I am not sure how to do that. I know! My assistant can help us out here.

Titus turns away.

TITUS (CONT’D)FREYA, report to the front gate.

LEONFREYA?

A shot of Leon in reality pulling out his phone and looking up an image of FREYA.

LEON (CONT’D)Isn't she...? Yes, she is! She's one of those random side characters in the game. What is Titus doing?

Back in the game, a teal soldier walks slowly up to Titus' side. FREYA, the teal soldier, speaks in a mechanical voice that sounds inhuman and jumps randomly between pitches.

FREYAHere I am, Captain Titus. How may I assist you?

LEON(disbelief)

She said his name. How did- who- uh- how did he get her to say his name?

TITUSOpen the gate so our new team member may join us in the base.

FREYA scans the area, spotting Leon.

FREYAWho, this Private?

TITUSIs there a problem?

4.

5.

FREYAI have just finished reviewing his... interesting service record. His present ranking among other soldiers is inconsistent with the quality you claim to be seeking for this team.

The camera begins panning over to Leon, who watches the both of them in shock.

TITUSNonsense. Leon is an exceptional Private and would make a necessary addition to our team.

FREYAI must insist that you reconsider.

TITUSIf it will set your circuits at ease, we will give him an evaluation of his merit.

FREYAThat is an acceptable solution. Opening the gate.

The gate opens, revealing Leon standing there, twitching.

LEON(INCOHERENT NONSENSE.)

HARD CUT TO:

EXT. KATIE'S APARTMENT - DAY

Leon rushes out of his own apartment, whips around the corner, and ends up at Katie's apartment. Leon bangs desperately on Katie's door.

LEONKATIE! KATIE!

5.