INT. PRISTINE CAR SHOWROOM – DAY
Flawless lighting. Heavenly chrome. Sacred silence.
NIKO (30s), flawless suit, flawless smile, flawless fantasy
version of himself — hands keys to a beaming CUSTOMER.
NIKO (V.O.)
This is the version of me that
lives in my head. No anxiety, no
rent notices, no "we ran your
credit and the system laughed."
BOB (50s), glowing mentor energy, lays a warm hand on his
shoulder.
BOB
You know why she bought from you,
kid?
NIKO
Because I was honest?
The CUSTOMER flickers. Freezes. Pixelates.
The showroom glitches — colors warp, audio distorts.
NIKO (V.O.)
Honesty’s great. Just comes with a
zero-mile warranty.
A massive red text glitch slams across a banner:
SALES TODAY: 0
Whiteout.
Genres:
["Drama","Fantasy","Sci-Fi"]
Ratings
Scene
2 -
Awakening to Debt
INT. NIKO’S BEDROOM — 5:00 A.M. — REALITY
ALARM BLARES. REAL NIKO — rumpled, exhausted — smacks it off.
On his cracked phone: —DEBT CALCULATOR —LOCAL NEWS
— NOTIFICATIONS: “Yikes.”
NEWS REPORTER (O.S.)
Consumer advocates continue to
question Jim Jeffers Omni Auto’s
handling of safety recalls—
Niko scrolls past the exposé without blinking.
NIKO (V.O.)
Welcome to my financial horror
film. Brought to you by FAFSA.
He sits up. Nightstand: picture of his mom, a wilted rose,
and a $122,874.56 student loan bill.
He picks up his cheap, slightly frayed tie — his mother’s
gift. His first armor.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
3 -
Dreams Deferred
INT. KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS
Cramped. Bills everywhere.
SUZIE (28, sharp, frustrated) scrolls engagement rings —
three-carat, blinding, unreal. Niko offers burnt toast.
NIKO
Soon, Suzie. Soon.
SUZIE
Soon is debt. Soon is that tie.
She nods at the frayed tie beside his briefcase.
SUZIE (CONT’D)
Why’d you take this job? “Car
salesman” sounds contagious.
NIKO
Because I love people. And… it’s
temporary.
SUZIE
Everything’s temporary with you.
Her tone softens — which hurts worse.
SUZIE (CONT’D)
I need someone who dreams bigger
than surviving.
Niko’s phone BUZZES. MOM. He freezes.
SUZIE (CONT’D)
You should answer. She wants her
piece of the American dream too.
He picks up — reluctantly..
NIKO (V.O.)
The truth hurts, but the financial
truth? That’s a monster. I needed
armor. Even polyester.
He grabs his wrinkled suit. Another call: UNKNOWN NUMBER.
He doesn’t answer. TEXT POPS: DEBT COLLECTOR: Final notice.
File moving to litigation. He shoves the phone deep into his
pocket.
Niko grabs two DONUT BOXES from his desk — next to a PAST-DUE
COLLECTION NOTICE.
NIKO (V.O.)
You can't sell a car when you look
like you can't afford one. So you
dress the part. And you fake the
confidence.
He exits. An EVICTION NOTICE flaps on his apartment door:
PAST DUE: $2,500 — FINAL NOTICE
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
4 -
Driving in Circles
INT. INFINITI – DRIVING – DAY
Niko’s beat-up Infiniti coughs awake. CHECK ENGINE light
mocks him. Two dozen donuts ride shotgun.
NIKO (V.O.)
Gas on empty. Bank account on
fumes. But success requires
optimism, donuts, and a total lack
of shame.
He brakes — the donuts SLAM to the floor. He dusts them off,
eats one with moral resignation.
TEXT FROM MOM: Proud of you! No more quitting jobs. ❤
Radio on:
RADIO DJ #1 (V.O.)
I traded my lemon. Total nightmare
dealership.
RADIO DJ #2 (V.O.)
What’s worse — lawyers or car
salesmen?
NIKO (V.O.)
The antichrist, apparently.
RADIO DJ #1 (V.O.)
Imagine if they had a kid?
RADIO DJ #2 (V.O.)
That kid is the antichrist.
Niko’s smile collapses. He grips the wheel. SLAMS the radio
off.
NIKO (V.O.)
I swore I wouldn't become the
problem. But right now, the problem
is the only thing hiring right now.
The CHECK ENGINE LIGHT glows brighter, taunting him.
TITLE CARD: LEMON LAW (SIGN HERE)
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
5 -
Welcome to the Jungle: Day One at the Dealership
EXT. JIM JEFFERS OMNI AUTO – DAY
TITLE OVER: Based on actual events… well, most of it… except
the parts that could get us sued.
The dealership is sun-bleached, flickering, and missing
letters like they escaped during the night.
Niko parks. Straightens his cheap, frayed tie. Lifts his
crushed donut boxes—communion for the damned.
NIKO (V.O.)
Bob said: Don't listen to the
customer. Just nod, smile and get
'em in the box.
He forces a painful smile.
NIKO
Fake it till you make it.
A SEAGULL dive-bombs a McDonald’s bag on a trade-in hood— the
bag explodes like a sad piñata.
A Cadillac swerves in, nearly clipping him. Behind the wheel:
JOJO (60s, burnout), joint dangling. MARCO (30s) sleeps in a
dented Accord buried in beer cans.
JOJO
Wake up, super star.
MARCO
That’s it. No more speedballs.
They pass Niko without acknowledging he’s a living human.
NIKO (V.O.)
Meet the dream team. My coworkers.
My future? God, I hope not.
SIERRA (late 30s) chain-smokes while scrolling job listings.
SIERRA
(to herself)
Explaining to grown men why 500
FICO isn’t “excellent.” This is my
life.
A sleek sports car glides in.
RICKY (movie-star ego) finger-guns his reflection.
A CUSTOMER slams on the locked glass door like a trapped
zombie.
CUSTOMER #1 (O.S.)
(muffled, through glass)
I SEE YOU IN THERE!
Ricky strolls past him. The doors unlock.
DEAN (40s, Used Car Manager, eternally exhausted) enters.
DEAN
Fuck my life. I should’ve been a
stripper. At least they get tips.
Niko jogs up with his donut offering.
NIKO
Dean! First day — I brought Bob’s
favorites—
DEAN
Talk to me after ninety days, kid.
He flicks his cigarette at a cracked “Employee of the Month”
frame.
NIKO (V.O.)
Survive ninety days. How hard can
hell be?
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
6 -
Morning Madness at the Dealership
INT. DEALERSHIP - GENERAL MANAGER'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
VINCENT (50s) sips coffee, scrolling:
ON SCREEN: “How to cut pay without employees quitting.”
Backspace. “How to fire people without getting sued?”
Sip. No reaction.
INT. MEETING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Buzzing lights. Motivational poster:
GRIND HARDER. CUSTOMERS LIE. COMMISSIONS DON’T.
The staff shuffles in. Niko sets down donuts. They vanish
instantly.
NIKO (V.O.)
If hell held morning meetings, it
would look exactly like this.
EDDIE (flashy GSM, caffeinated delusion) steps up.
EDDIE
Sixty-seven new cars this month. We
need five new today. Minimum.
The room groans.
DEAN
(to Niko, low)
Manufacturer doesn’t end the month
on weekends. Nothing here makes
sense. Get used to that.
EDDIE
I don’t care if you claw, scratch,
or emotionally manipulate— whatever
works. (beat) Good news — tax
season. Money down!
NIKO
Bad news?
DEAN
Every credit criminal thinks they
can buy a car now.
EDDIE
Next month’s goal: one hundred and
twelve new cars.
Collective groan — like a choir in purgatory.
JOHNNY
Impossible. We sold one new car
yesterday.
DEAN
Correction — you lost money on it.
NANCY
We made some on the back.
MARCO
Just the way Ricky likes it.
RICKY
What’s that supposed to mean? I am
not gay. I will absolutely contact
HR.
JOJO
Nobody said you were.
OMAR
(quiet)
But we’re all thinking it.
WHAM. Vincent enters with a folded note. The room stills.
Eddie reads it, sinks a quarter-inch.
NIKO (V.O.)
That’s the thing about this place:
good news walks, bad news wears
cologne.
NIKO
(low, to Dean)
Who was that?
DEAN
The Angel of Death. Rule one: never
buy office supplies. You won’t be
here long enough to use ‘em.
EDDIE
(voice cracking)
Big month ahead. Big numbers.
Elephant energy—strong. Majestic.
DEAN
Or slaughtered for tusks.
KRUSHNA, (30s) plays Candy Crush under the table.
EDDIE
Krushna!
Krushna jolts, fumbles to hide his phone.
EDDIE (CONT’D)
Listen up! Push the 3C package.
Full price = a hundred bucks and my
respect. Minimum gets you a lap
dance from Frank Jr.
FRANK JR.
Not true! It pays fifty bucks.
EDDIE
Shut up, Frank.
Niko raises his hand like a frightened freshman.
NIKO
What’s the 3C?
They look at him like he farted in church. Ricky clears his
throat.
RICKY
Nano-ceramic, diamond-infused, NASA-
grade clear coat. Protects your car
from meteors, UV rays, and your ex-
wife.
EDDIE
Can’t be in writing. Only verbal.
NIKO
(under is breath)
Sounds like bullshit to me.
DEAN
Now you’re catching on.
JoJo’s phone BLARES blues.
SIERRA
Hey Ricky, your boyfriend’s
calling.
Laughter erupts. Ricky fumes. Eddie sighs.
EDDIE
You know the rule, JoJo.
JoJo stands and dances — rhythm-less, nightmare fuel.
STAFF
Go JoJo, go JoJo, go JoJo—
EDDIE
Alright, team—bring it in!
They huddle, groaning like an ER waiting room.
EVERYONE
On three! Goooooo…team.
FRANK JR
That’s gotta be the stupidest thing
we do.
Chairs scrape. Coffee slurps. The sadness returns.
EDDIE
Bob… We need to talk.
Bob (60’s) stops. The staff shoots him pity looks.
FRANK JR.
He’s toast.
Niko grips his mother’s tie, thumb rubbing the frayed
spot—his tiny shield.
NIKO (V.O.)
Everybody says they won’t be “that
guy.” But “that guy” thought the
same thing. Right before this room
ate him.
The Managers sit with Bob. Eddie grabs a donut.
EDDIE
Five years, two cars last month.
Too many mistakes.
BOB
But I bring donuts every Friday.
DEAN
And my ten extra pounds thank you.
NANCY
You bring the cheap ones.
EDDIE
We want you to be successful, Bob.
Just… not here.
Bob rises — dignity trembling.
BOB
This place eats its own. And they
still call us family.
He exits, kicking the empty donut box. Silence.
DEAN
(Under his breath)
And that’s how we celebrate Monday.
EDDIE
We gotta throw the new guy into the
fire. Who’s babysitting?
DEAN
Not it!
NANCY
He seems like a good kid.
RICKY
I’ll take him.
SIERRA
I bet you would. No. He’ll end up
forging signatures by lunch.
JOHNNY
I’ll could train him.
DEAN
He’ll learn lazy on his own.
EDDIE
Then it’s settled. Dean, he’s
yours. I got a fresh batch of green
peas coming in.
Dean sighs — heavy, annoyed, resigned.
DEAN
Waste of my time. He won’t
last ninety days.
SIERRA
Over or under?
MANAGERS
Under.
TITLE OVER: ROCK BOTTOM 9:00 AM. ONLY 12 MORE HOURS TO GO.
YAY.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
7 -
Survival of the Fittest
INT. SHOWROOM – DAY
Chaos. PHONES SCREAM. PRINTER SHRIEKS. Kids dart between
cubicles like caffeinated ferrets. Crooked posters shout:
ZERO DOWN! — NO CREDIT? NO PROBLEM!
NIKO (V.O.)
Rule one here: never look stressed
— which is like trying not to sweat
in a sauna full of starving wolves.
Niko attempts to “shadow” someone. Everyone waves him off
like he’s contagious.
Frank Jr., feet up in his glass office, laughs at cat videos.
Marco and JoJo power-walk through service already twitchy.
Krushna argues with a toddler holding a balloon.
Niko reaches his bare desk. He notices the empty space where
Bob’s nameplate used to be.
A beat. Survival tightens around his spine.
Across the showroom: a CUSTOMER (40s, anxious) studies an SUV
— unclaimed. Niko inhales. Crosses the floor. Awkward. Green.
Brave.
NIKO
Hi — welcome to Jim Jeffers.
Looking for anything specific
today?
The customer smiles — the first human kindness he’s gotten
today— then OMAR swoops in, hand on the customer’s shoulder.
OMAR
Right this way, sir — I’ve got
exactly what you need.
The customer gives Niko an apologetic shrug. Gone.
FRANK JR. (O.S.)
(from his glass office)
He’s got guts... I give him a week.
Niko sinks into his chair — embarrassed, defeated.
Dean plops into the seat across from him, chewing a granola
bar like it wronged him.
DEAN
You look lost.
NIKO
I don’t even have a login yet.
DEAN
You don’t need one. Half the guys
here can’t spell login. What you do
need—are ups. Fresh meat off the
lot.
NIKO
So… just start selling?
DEAN
Yep. Simple as that. Remember what
Bob taught you?
NIKO
I took notes.
DEAN
Throw them away. Just keep it
simple. The less you know, the
better.
NIKO
I literally don’t know anything.
DEAN
Perfect! You’ll fit right in.
Niko glances down — a rent notice hides under his keyboard.
His hand grips his mother’s frayed tie — his armor.
NIKO
I’m five hundred short this week.
And I still have to do the
manufacturer tests—
DEAN
Sell a car, be a star. Forget the
tests. Give Frank Jr. fifty bucks,
— he’ll take ’em for you. This
ain’t school.
Across the floor, Omar is laughing with the SUV customer —
deal practically done.
NIKO
I talked to that guy first.
I asked if he needed help.
Dean doesn’t even look up.
DEAN
And that was your first mistake.
Don’t ask. Tell.
NIKO
I don’t follow.
Dean gestures lazily.
DEAN
Stand up.
Niko slowly stands.
DEAN (CONT’D)
Sit down.
Niko sits, confused.
DEAN (CONT’D)
See? Simple.
NIKO
And the lesson here?
DEAN
I didn’t ask. I told you.
Dean walks off mid-chew, granola crumbs trailing behind him
like loser confetti. Chaos swells. Phones, printers,
screaming kids.
A deflated balloon bounces across the floor, rolling past
Niko’s desk. He watches it go.
NIKO (V.O.)
Dean didn't teach me how to sell a
car. He taught me the first rule of
survival: The truth is just the
obstacle between you and the
commission. That's Dean. Cynical.
And that's me— trying not to become
what Bob warned me about.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
8 -
A Promise Unkept
INT. SERVICE DEPARTMENT - DAY
Harsh fluorescent lights HUM like a guilty conscience.
MRS. DELUCA (70s, battle-tested) stands firm, holding a note
scribbled on a Wendy’s receipt.
MRS. DELUCA
Your salesman — Frank Senior — told
me six months ago that you’d
install an automatic transmission
kit. For free. Because of the
steering column issue.
The SERVICE MANAGER (40s, bored, dead inside) reads it, then
snorts.
SERVICE MANAGER
Ma’am… there is no Frank Sr.
That hits her like a slap. The words hit like a slap.
A SERVICE TECH across the bay hollers without looking up:
SERVICE TECH (O.S.)
Automatic transmission kit?! What
is this, Make-A-Wish Auto?!
Mrs. Deluca doesn’t break. Her face tightens — grief
hardening into volcanic rage.
She places the receipt down with delicate, lethal precision…
and marches out. Her orthopedic shoes click like a ticking
bomb.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
9 -
Silenced Truths
INT. SHOWROOM LOUNGE – CONTINUOUS
Niko watches her cross the showroom— her anger like weather.
A TV overhead drones:
ANCHOR #1
Another Lemon Law complaint has
been filed against Jim Jeffers Omni
Auto—
CHYRON: LEMON LAW SUIT FILED.
Eddie BLASTS into frame, grabs the remote, kills the TV.
EDDIE
Ignore that. Negative energy.
Positive vibes only.
He vanishes like a malfunctioning motivational poster.
Mrs. Deluca stares at the now-blank screen.
NIKO (V.O.)
They say the truth always comes
out. But in this place… the truth
just gets turned off.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
10 -
High Stakes and Humiliation
INT. BACKROOM CARD GAME – DAY
Thick smoke. Cash piled like bad decisions.
OWNER JIM JEFFERS (50s — slick veneer, unraveling core) leans
back, full of drunk swagger. He shoves his whole stack
forward.
OWNER
All in. Sven, how’s the wife?
Ingrid, right?
Across from him: BJÖRN (50s — Swedish auto rep, surgical
precision, zero patience).
BJÖRN
(flat)
Astrid. And it’s BJÖRN.
Jim forces a grin — the flop sweat behind it almost audible.
OWNER
Details don’t matter when you’re
about to lose, Björn.
The DEALER flips. Jim slams his hand down like he’s
announcing the Second Coming.
OWNER (CONT’D)
Boom! Read ‘em and weep, IKEA boy!
He reaches for the cash — Björn calmly lays down a superior
hand.
BJÖRN
Not so fast, my ignorant friend.
High risk, low reward. The Omni
Auto strategy. Fitting… considering
your quarterly numbers.
OWNER
…Son of a bitch!
He fumbles for his phone, stands too fast, almost eats the
floor.
OWNER (CONT’D)
Where the fuck is my car?!
PLAYER
(not looking up)
You came in an Uber, champ.
Jim’s confidence glitches — a micro-collapse.
OWNER
…Right. Good thing I got the app.
BJÖRN
Idiot.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
11 -
Disaster Unfolding
EXT. BACKROOM ALLEY – DAY
Jim bursts into sunlight like a hungover vampire.
He scrolls: Tinder… DoorDash… Bank app… finally:
OWNER
Nope… too old. Nope… too young.
Ooh—pizza. Nope… security. Finally!
The dealership security feeds load.
SECURITY CAM POV – QUICK CUTS
— Showroom: phones screaming, salespeople combusting.
— TV reflection: even turned off, the LEMON LAW SUIT chyron
glows faintly.
— Mrs. Deluca: seated in total silence, rage contained like a
warhead.
— Niko: tiny figure on camera, elbows on desk, head in hands
— the exact second the dealership crushes him.
Jim watches it all. His jaw tightens.
Not empathy. Not guilt. Just pure, rising fear.
OWNER (CONT’D)
(under breath)
Shit…
He swipes the feeds away.
TITLE OVER: 11:15 AM. DISASTER LOADING...
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
12 -
Ethics in the Fast Lane
INT. SHOWROOM – DAY
Fluorescent misery hums overhead. Customers wander. Phones
shriek.
At his old desk, Bob sits alone — like a ghost watching his
own obituary.
Dean steps beside Niko.
DEAN
Talk to anyone yet?
NIKO
No. Why’s everyone staring at Bob?
DEAN
He just got shit-canned. Five
years. Car business doesn’t need a
reason. Someone sneezes wrong —
poof. Gotta stay sharp, kid.
Niko’s phone BUZZES — SUBJECT: STUDENT LOAN — COLLECTION
NOTICE. $2,500 due. A gut punch.
DEAN
This isn’t sales… it’s survival.
There's three kinds of salespeople
in this business, kid. And every
one of us falls into one— whether
we like it or not.
Dean gestures with a half-eaten granola bar toward the floor.
Across the room, Nancy cradles a customer’s baby while
reviewing paperwork — pure saint energy.
DEAN (V.O.)
The White Zone. They tell the truth
like it’s a religion. The
Discloser.
A few feet away, Omar is screaming at a customer, voice like
a cattle auction.
DEAN (V.O.)
Then you got the Black Zone — the
liars, the hustlers, the ones who
think ethics is a Greek island.
Basically — Marco lives there, but
Omar built the damn place.
Dean taps Niko’s chest with the granola bar.
DEAN
And then… there's the Grey Man.
That’s you. Operates on both sides.
Not good. Not evil. Just…
adaptable. Says enough to close —
never enough to get caught.
NIKO
Lie just enough to live?
DEAN
Bingo.
NIKO
Can I still use the CarFax?
DEAN
Use whatever helps you sleep. Just
don’t print it in color — looks
suspicious.
Dean leans in, voice low.
DEAN
Acid Test. Customer asks if a car’s
been wrecked. What do you say?
Niko glances at Bob — hollowed out — then at the tie in his
hand, the debt notice echoing in his head. He exhales.
NIKO
Nope. Clean title.
Dean smiles like a proud devil.
OMAR (O.S.)
I got a trade in!
DEAN
Speaking of the Black Zone...come
with me.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
13 -
The Grey Zone Encounter
EXT. DEALERSHIP – CUSTOMER PARKING - DAY - CONTINUOUS
A rusted, plague-ridden SEDAN sits in the sun. Dean opens the
driver’s door. A STENCH erupts — like chemical warfare.
DEAN
Christ! Smells like a possum died
in here, came back to life, and
died pissed off.
A RAT bolts out. Dean SLAMS the door.
DEAN (CONT’D)
Omar’s problem now.
He leaves. Niko stays, staring at the door like it just
barked at him.
NIKO (V.O.)
I said "Clean Title." My first step
into the Grey Zone. And it smelled
exactly like that car.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
14 -
Hazing in the Showroom
INT. DEALERSHIP – SHOWROOM - CONTINUOUS
Eddie storms in like a caffeinated televangelist.
EDDIE
Listen up, losers! We got a laydown
on the lot. We have to hit our
numbers!
DEAN (O.S.)
I’ll hit my numbers… I always do!
EDDIE
Johnny, take this one.
MARIA
He’s a manager! It’s mine!
JOHNNY
We’ll work it together. I’ll take
care of you.
MARIA
You couldn't take care of a cactus.
Niko timidly raises his hand.
NIKO
What’s a laydown?
MARCO
Fucking green peas…
JOJO
Easy money, kid.
Eddie points at Niko like picking a sacrifice.
EDDIE
Hey, new guy! Go grab the left-
handed screwdriver from service.
NIKO
Left-handed screwdriver… got it!
Niko rushes off. The entire staff watches him go like a
toddler walking into traffic.
SIERRA
(to Eddie)
What the fuck is wrong with you?
EDDIE
Rookie hazing builds character.
DEAN
Or makes him quit by Friday.
FRANK JR
Still funny, though.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
15 -
Tension in the Service Bay
INT. SERVICE BAY – CONTINUOUS
Niko scans tool chests like the screwdriver might magically
appear. A hand SNAPS onto his wrist — claws of pure fury.
Mrs. Deluca, vibrating with righteous vengeance
MRS. DELUCA
You! That Marco-Mario-whatever said
you’d install an automatic
transmission kit. For free!
NIKO
A what?
MRS. DELUCA
And I saw the news! You people sold
me a lemon!
Niko freezes — the screwdriver mission forgotten, survival
instinct kicking in.
He gently steers her toward the sales floor.
NIKO
Let’s… let’s talk. I can help.
Across the showroom, Johnny sees this and goes white.
JOHNNY
Who the hell let Niko get a
customer? Lazy bastards.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
16 -
The Key to Deception
INT. NIKO'S DESK - DAY
Mrs. Deluca sits across from Niko — both feet planted like a
trial attorney ready to prosecute. She SLAMS her purse down
like a judge delivering a death sentence.
MRS. DELUCA
I don’t want a manager. I want.
The. OWNER!!
Across the floor, Frank Jr. hears “owner” and instantly bolts
into the bathroom — SLAM.
Niko smiles nervously.
NIKO
I understand your frustration,
ma’am... I'm a good guy.
MRS. DELUCA
Good guys don't sell fruity cars. I
saw the news! I'm calling Channel
five.
She whips out a rhinestone flip phone like a weapon.
MRS. DELUCA (CONT’D)
I have Kurt the Weatherman’s
extension!
Niko panics — then something clicks. A calculated calm. The
Grey Man emerges.
NIKO
Wait!
(beat)
Kurt and I went to the same
college. I can call him directly.
Mrs. Deluca freezes mid-dial — eyes widening.
MRS. DELUCA
You know Kurt? The Weatherman?
NIKO
We're tight. And he'd tell you the
same thing. We want this fixed —
fast — without lawyers.
(MORE)
NIKO (CONT’D)
Tell me what it takes to make this
go away.
She thinks. Hard.
MRS. DELUCA
Well… my therapy bills. And my
cruise fund. Five grand.
Niko almost swallows his own tongue.
NIKO
I can't promise that. But if you
give me the your key, I’ll talk to
the used car manager right now.
Across the showroom, Sierra and Dean sip coffee like they’re
watching a documentary on doomed wildlife.
SIERRA
Should we step in?
DEAN
No. Let the boy cook.
Dean grins— then gets a beautifully evil idea. He waves Ricky
over.
DEAN (CONT’D)
Hey. That old lady’s asking for
you— something about buying a
warranty.
Ricky straightens his tie, smirks, and struts over.
THEIR POV – NIKO’S DESK
Ricky shoos Niko away and slides into his seat. Niko lingers,
helpless.
RICKY
Ma’am, I understand you called
about an extended service—
MRS. DELUCA
I called about fraud, you sparkly
moron.
Dean and Sierra share a delighted smirk.
RICKY
I get your frustration, but maybe
another car— more features—
BANG! She slams the desk. Ricky CHOKES on his water.
RICKY (CONT’D)
I-I mean… zero miles on it.
MRS. DELUCA
I only have five hundred miles on
it now!
NIKO
What about the reimbursement?
Ricky shoots Niko a DEATH GLARE so lethal it should come with
a warning label. Niko recoils.
RICKY
Let’s not call anyone.
MRS. DELUCA
Six grand, then.
Ricky's face turns red.
RICKY
This handsome young man—
(pointing at Niko)
—will grab your keys. Mileage, VIN,
all that.
NIKO
What’s a VIN?
Ricky nearly implodes. Mrs. Deluca hands over the keys anyway
— satisfied she now has the “owner’s people” working on her
$5–6K grievance. Niko pockets the keys — a tiny victory.
NIKO (V.O.)
I just lied to a seventy-year-old
woman about knowing a weatherman to
cover up a lie about an automatic
transmission kit… to fix a lie
someone else already told. It
wasn't clean. But I got the key.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
17 -
The Price of Deception
EXT. DEALERSHIP LOT — DAY
Niko hustles behind Ricky toward Mrs. Deluca’s sedan..
RICKY
Six thousand dollars. You did good
getting the keys. Now stay close,
watch, and don’t talk.
NIKO
She just… wanted that automatic kit
Marco promised—
RICKY
Marco’s a criminal. We’re all
criminals. People don’t buy cars,
kid. They buy hope. And hope?
((pointing at the
dealership)
Is expensive.
Niko nods, uneasy.
RICKY (CONT’D)
Rule one: whatever you do—don’t let
Dean appraise it. We owe her money
now. We’re about to get buried in
this trade, and we need to show
corporate why.
He taps the rear bumper with his toe. A tiny misalignment
wiggles.
RICKY (CONT’D)
Smells like desperation in here.
Now, look. This is the Appraisal
Gap. See the bumper?
Ricky uses his toe to kick the rear bumper. It makes a
hollow, cheap sound.
RICKY (CONT’D)
See that? Eight-hundred-dollar
repair. Minimum.
NIKO
But there’s no actual—
RICKY
Doesn’t matter. We tell the
customer it’s frame damage. Write
“Severe Frame Misalignment” on
this.
He hands Niko a clipboard. Niko hesitates
NIKO (V.O.)
Eight hundred dollars of pure
fiction. The Grey Man doesn’t just
lie to close a sale— He lies to
steal from the people who already
bought.
Niko writes it — the lie sits there in ink.
RICKY
Good. Now take this to Eddie.
Across the lot, Sierra and Dean sip coffee, observing.
SIERRA
Look at Ricky. Selling hope like
it’s heroin.
DEAN
Difference is, heroin works.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
18 -
Sneaky Dealings
INT. EDDIE’S OFFICE – DAY
Niko BURSTS in — clutching the keys and appraisal sheet like
a bomb.
NIKO
I got an appraisal… I think. Ricky
said you had to sign off.
Eddie swivels, stands, smooths his shirt.
EDDIE
Ricky sent you?
Niko nods.
EDDIE (CONT’D)
Dean see you?
Niko shakes his head.
EDDIE (CONT’D)
Good. We sneak out back.
Eddie raises his pen to sign — Niko panics.
NIKO
Wait— that frame damage... it's not
real.
Eddie freezes an inch above the paper. Then laughs softly —
horrifying.
EDDIE
Course it’s not real. It’s a six-
grand negotiation gap. Don’t worry
about what’s real.
He signs with a flourish. The two tiptoe toward the back exit
— until:
DEAN (O.S.)
Where the hell you two going?
Dean blocks them with a coffee like a hall monitor who’s seen
everything.
NIKO
Appraisal.
EDDIE
(to Niko)
What did I just say?
NIKO
Sneak out the back?
Dean sips, unimpressed.
DEAN
Do what you want, Eddie. You’re the
GSM. Just make sure your name’s on
that appraisal. Six-thousand-dollar
buyback for a transmission kit that
doesn’t exist? (smiles)
Corporate loves that kind of frame
damage.
He taps the clipboard Eddie’s holding.
EDDIE
(to Dean, challenging)
Relax. You got sixty days to get
rid of it before the floorplan eats
your budget, Dean. (to Niko)
Let’s roll.
He pushes past Dean.
DEAN
King of the sewer.
SIERRA
Sewers move a lot of shit. He’s
perfect.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
19 -
Ethics on the Lot
EXT. DEALERSHIP LOT – DAY - CONTINUOUS
Mrs. Deluca’s sedan bakes in the sun. Niko stands over it,
guilty clipboard in hand.
NIKO
Have you even looked at the bumper?
Eddie squats, crouches low — then finds a MASSIVE DENT on the
opposite side.
EDDIE
Beautiful. A Picasso. Let me guess
— she said the car’s perfect?
NIKO
She told Ricky.
EDDIE
Doesn’t matter. We need units. The
lot guy can buff that out later.
NIKO
But if there’s real damage… won’t
that kill the value?
EDDIE
Kid, value’s a myth. Like unicorns.
Or honest mechanics.
He angles his phone down low — so the dent disappears into a
sky reflection.
EDDIE (CONT’D)
Boom. Appraisal photo. Perfect.
NIKO
You’re… hiding it.
EDDIE
Welcome to used cars. If Dean asks,
that dent wasn’t there five minutes
ago. We’ll blame the lot guy.
NIKO
Won’t he notice?
EDDIE
Eventually.
Niko looks down at the lie on his clipboard — now smudged,
ugly.
NIKO
I’m so confused.
Eddie slaps him on the back as they head inside.
EDDIE
Good. Means you’re learning.
Confusion’s the first step to
greatness.
(cutting him off)
Don’t like it? Take up knitting.
This is the business we chose.
NIKO (V.O.)
That's Eddie. Manic. Magnetic.
A tornado in a human suit. And
somehow — the only one telling the
truth.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
20 -
Silent Anxiety
INT. UBER – DAY
A NISSAN LEAF glides silently down the road. Jim Jeffers
(Owner) fidgets in the back, too anxious for an electric car.
OWNER
This thing’s so quiet. I can hear
my own thoughts… and guess what?
They suck!
He jabs at his phone — dials.
INTERCUT WITH: INT. VINCENT’S OFFICE – SAME
Vincent sips coffee, bathed in the red glow of spreadsheets
titled: CASH FLOW ALERT.
OWNER
Tell me we’re hitting numbers,
Vincent. Otherwise I’m driving this
toaster into the nearest lake.
VINCENT
We need seventy-two. We’re at sixty-
seven. Pray nothing unwinds.
Jim’s face tightens.
OWNER
What about that fraud claim?
VINCENT
I had to move the maintenance
account to cover Marco’s “automatic
transmission kit” promise. (pauses)
Credit’s tapped. Only thing left is
my money.
OWNER
A settlement for an upgrade that
doesn’t exist—great. And all while
I’m stuck in a golf cart for
adults.
VINCENT
More bad news: Francis “The Fixer”
called. One more Lemon Law goes
public, and we’re done.
Jim’s knee bounces violently. He leans forward, glaring at
the Driver.
OWNER
Hey, you ever talk, or just
silently judge people from up
there?
The Uber driver pulls out an earbud.
DRIVER
What was that?
OWNER
Just drive, Tesla Lite.
TITLE OVER: 12:30 PM. DISASTER BUFFERING…
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
21 -
The Great Escape
INT. DEALERSHIP – BATHROOM STALL – DAY
Frank Jr. hides in the handicapped stall like he’s camping
there for the winter: Snacks, iPad — Mini, clip-on fan, Capri
Sun. Feet up like he’s hiding from the IRS.
FRANK JR.
(to himself)
Let the peasants burn. I’m union.
BANG! BANG!
NIKO (O.S.)
Frank! She asked for the owner!
That lady’s here with lawyers!
FRANK JR.
Wrong number.
He flushes loudly, raises his Capri Sun like a toast.
FRANK JR. (CONT’D)
Somebody’s gotta preserve morale.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
22 -
Sales in Chaos
INT. DEALERSHIP SHOWROOM - SAME TIME
Full madness. PHONES SCREAM. CHILDREN ricochet off furniture.
A RAT darts under the sales tower like it’s late for its
shift.
The faint echo of Niko pounding on the bathroom stall carries
in… then vanishes under the dealership noise tsunami.
Eddie stands on a chair, preaching to NEW HIRES with cult-
leader certainty and zero self-awareness.
EDDIE
Sales isn’t about what you’re
selling— it’s about what you’re
TELLING. You don’t sell a Honda—you
sell freedom. You don’t sell a
warranty— you sell peace of mind.
You don’t sell tires — you sell
safety for their children. (beat)
Even if they don’t have kids.
The new hires nod like terrified sheep. Niko BURSTS in, still
shaken from Deluca, from Eddie, from all of it.
NIKO
Eddie! You need to talk to her!
She’s still here and she knows
about the automatic kit lie—
Eddie slowly turns. The DEATH STARE shuts Niko up mid-
syllable. He turns right back to the New Hires, voice
booming.
EDDIE
And when they ask stupid questions?
You sell CONFIDENCE.
NEW HIRE
What if they just wanna test drive?
Eddie WHIPS around so fast his neck cracks. A coffee mug
trembles like it's in Jurassic Park.
EDDIE
Then you sell them the dream of
driving it home TODAY.
The hires nod, shaken. Another clears his throat.
NEW HIRE #2
Sir? There’s a lady outside
threatening to call the news.
Eddie parts the blinds with two fingers like he’s peeking at
an ex. Sees Mrs. Deluca pacing with her flip phone raised
like a holy relic.
He SLAMS the blinds shut.
EDDIE
Right. Anyway — let me tell you
about the time I closed a deal
using only my eyes.
The new hires lean in, horrified and fascinated.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
23 -
The Art of the Sale
EXT. DEALERSHIP LOT – DAY
A wide-eyed TECH BRO CUSTOMER caresses a brand-new OMNI
HELLSPIRE 3 like it’s a crypto investment that hasn’t crashed
yet.
Marco lounges on the hood like sleazy Vegas showfloor
royalty.
MARCO
Oh, you’re gonna love this. See
this paint? (taps hood) Same
molecular coating they use on
planes.
TECH BRO
No way!
MARCO
Way. You ever see a plane take
damage from rain or bird shit?
(leans closer, whispering)
Exactly.
He leans in, voice dropping to “illegal whisper.”
MARCO (CONT’D)
Legally, I can’t say it’s
bulletproof… but between us? It’s
basically bulletproof.
Tech Bro’s brain melts.
TECH BRO
Bro. Keys. Now.
Marco hands him the keys like he’s gifting a grenade in a
movie. On his way inside, he high-fives JoJo, who already
regrets everything.
MARCO
I just can’t help myself.
JOJO
We’re gonna get so sued. Again.
Marco cracks open a water bottle, taps Niko on the shoulder.
MARCO
Heard you got Deluca's keys. Good
job, new guy. Don't worry about the
noise. Just sell the fantasy.
Marco saunters off like he didn’t just commit five felonies
in one sentence.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
24 -
Sales Fantasies and Ethical Dilemmas
INT. SHOWROOM – CONTINUOUS
Niko stares through the glass, watching the Tech Bro
practically humping the Hellspire’s fender.
NIKO (V.O.)
I wrote down a lie about frame
damage. Marco just sold bulletproof
paint. It was only 12:35 PM.
Up in the sales tower, Eddie and Dean watch like two
disapproving gods.
EDDIE
Unit Number One. See? Fantasy
sells. Now, go work the floor. We
need four more before closing.
DEAN
Don’t push ’em too hard. We just
put a six-grand settlement on the
books.
EDDIE
Correction — Marco put the six-grand
settlement on the books. This is my
hour.
Niko watches Tech Bro peel out of the lot, triumphant.
NIKO (V.O.)
Mrs. Deluca told me five grand.
Then she tells Ricky six.
(beat)
She should work here.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
25 -
Tensions Rise in Vincent's Office
INT. VINCENT’S OFFICE - DAY
Nancy bursts in and SLAMS a stack of deal jackets on
Vincent’s desk.
NANCY
Five deals kicked back. Missing
signatures.
On Vincent’s monitor: Eddie and Dean screaming at reps while
Niko freezes like a deer in a dealership-themed horror film.
VINCENT
Great. Should we stop selling cars
to fix it, or do you want me to
Franky-forge the signatures?
(beat)
Maybe you can explain to corporate
why we suddenly need ten new cars
instead of five.
NANCY
I can’t tell if you’re kidding.
VINCENT
You should see me play poker.
He taps a spreadsheet full of pulsing red alerts — the
dealership equivalent of a heart attack.
VINCENT (CONT’D)
I don't care how you get those re-
signs.
(eyes narrowing)
But if one unwinds over signatures,
we go backward. And we can’t
unwind. Not one.
She grabs the jackets and storms out.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
26 -
Panic in the Showroom
INT. BOB’S DESK - CONTINUOUS
The showroom buzzes with panic. Bob sets a fresh box of
donuts on his desk like a ritual offering to the gods of
unemployment.
BOB
You think you can get rid of me?
Please. I survived ’09. I survived
’09. I’ll survive this.
JoJo reaches for a donut—SLAP. His hand recoils.
BOB (CONT’D)
Not for you. These are for family.
Across the room, Eddie shoves the kicked-back jackets into
Frank Jr.’s chest.
EDDIE
Nancy bounced five deals. Missing
signatures. Fix them before they
unwind— (and with venom)—or your
dad finds out you’ve been hiding in
the bathroom all morning.
FRANK JR.
Aw, come on—
EDDIE
Do. Not. Let. Them. Unwind.
Frank Jr. sulks, sorting papers like a disgraced intern.
SIERRA
What’s the count so far?
DEAN
One new. Marco sold the bulletproof
Hellspire. Ricky’s closing the
Deluca thing—that’ll be two.
EDDIE
Corporate wants five NEW.
Manufacturer says one more bad
month and they cut allocation.
(leans in grimly)
Translation— we’re selling air.
Dean claps Niko’s shoulder — half mentorship, half
condolence.
DEAN
Congrats, kid. First day and you’re
already circling the drain with us.
Here—Deluca’s car needs an
inventory photo. Go get a beautiful
picture of that bumper.
NIKO
(takes the fob, exhausted)
The Picasso.
SIERRA
At least he’s got good company.
Dean and Sierra clink coffee cups like it’s champagne.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
27 -
Electric Discontent
EXT. DEALERSHIP – CUSTOMER DROP-OFF – DAY
A Nissan Leaf glides up like an embarrassed whisper. The
owner (Jim Jeffers) steps out, slaps bills into the driver’s
hand.
UBER DRIVER
No tip?
OWNER
Yes. Buy American.
Jeffers SLAMS the door.
UBER DRIVER
This Leaf was built in Tennessee.
The Leaf hums away pathetically.
OWNER
Pathetic. Can’t even peel-out.
Disgrace.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
28 -
Rock Bottom Has a Basement
INT. SHOWROOM - SAME TIME
CHAOS. PURE CHAOS.
Finance on fire. Sierra smoking indoors. A rat sprints past —
the Owner STOMPS it mid-stride without slowing down.
OWNER
WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING HERE?!
The entire dealership FREEZES. A CUSTOMER faints. JoJo
clutches a desk.
JOJO
Knew I shouldn’t have smoked that
second doobie.
Jim scans the carnage, vein bulging like a stressed radiator
hose.
OWNER
My security cameras show CHAOS.
My lawyer shows me BILLS. And
Channel Five just emailed asking
for COMMENT.
Silence. Fear.
OWNER (CONT’D)
Corporate says if we don’t hit
five units today— they CUT our
allocation.
SIERRA
No allocation = no inventory.
DEAN
No inventory = no paychecks.
JOJO
No paychecks = I gotta move back in
with my ex-wife.
(beat)
She owns a cat sanctuary.
OWNER
It’s NOON. And we have ZERO units
on the board. ZERO!
The room recoils.
OWNER (CONT’D)
Fix it. SELL something. Or I start
firing from the bottom of the totem
pole.
Every head turns to… Niko.
NIKO
(whispers)
…shit.
TITLE OVER: 12:50 PM UPLOAD COMPLETE. ROCK BOTTOM HAS A BASEMENT.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
29 -
Fractured Loyalties
INT. DEALERSHIP SHOWROOM – CONTINUOUS
Chaos. Phones ringing. Papers flying. The owner storms the
floor like a man hunting his own obituary.
OWNER
Three units from losing the
franchise — and the board still
says ZERO? What the are you people
doing?
He spots Ricky babysitting Mrs. Deluca.
OWNER
Why is that old woman STILL here?!
RICKY
Final stages, sir.
OWNER
Then finish it. Or marry her. Don’t
care.
His gaze snaps to Bob, sitting at his empty desk.
OWNER
Bob! Why are you still here? You’re
fired!
Silence.
BOB
I was loyal to you.
OWNER
So were my ex-wives. Take your
donuts wand get out!
Bob rises, clutching the empty donut box like it’s emotional
support. He passes Niko.
NIKO
Sorry, Bob.
Bob doesn’t look up.
BOB
Don’t be. I’m you in ten years.
This place eats hope. You chase
debt long enough, you start chasing
lies.
He walks out. The door shuts like a vault sealing.
Niko catches his reflection in the glass — small, tired.
NIKO
(mutters)
Great. I’m the deer politely asking
the wolf for career advice.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
30 -
Crisis and Calm
INT. VINCENT’S OFFICE - DAY
Vincent sips chamomile, zen as ever. The owner explodes into
the room.
OWNER
Lawsuits, back taxes, inventory
strangled by corporate — and now
Omni wants FIVE new cars TODAY or
we’re dead.
(beat)
Go ahead, finish your tea.
He paces, sweating.
OWNER (CONT’D)
I need another extension. And
another hundred grand. If the
franchise goes, so do I.
Vincent doesn’t blink.
VINCENT
Relax, Jim.. If this place goes
under, you won’t be around to worry
about it.
The Owner freezes —threat? Warning? Who knows. Then—
OWNER
I’ve got it.
VINCENT
Herpes?
OWNER
A promo. We take anything on trade.
Drives, floats, crawls — has a
pulse or USED to have a pulse — we
take it.
Vincent’s eye twitches. Panic, by his standards.
VINCENT
That’s a terrible idea.
OWNER
Perfect. Make signs. Blast social.
Radio. TV.
VINCENT
Jim… that’s a terrible idea.
OWNER
State Attorney calls again? Blame
the new guy.
He storms out. Vincent reopens his laptop, serene.
On his screen:
GOOGLE SEARCH: “how to dissolve a body quietly.”
Vincent sips.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
31 -
The Price of Compromise
INT. NIKO’S DESK - DAY
Mrs. Deluca exits smiling. A DEAL PACKET drops on his desk.
NIKO
Wait… you closed this? It’s under
my name.
RICKY
Counts as your unit. Finish the
packet, I’ll RDR it.
NIKO
RDR?
RICKY
Retail Delivery Registration.
Manufacturer needs it to clock the
sale.
As they walk, the receptionist hands Ricky a crisp hundred.
RICKY (CONT’D)
Told you. Should’ve pitched the 3C.
Niko processes all this like he’s watching a crime doc about
himself.
Krushna appears at his elbow.
KRUSHNA
Quick favor, yes? You keep sale. I
take the RDR. I give you one
hundred.
He slides the bill into Niko’s hand.
NIKO
That’s… not legal.
KRUSHNA
Everything legal until someone
looks. No one here looks. Make
signature pretty.
Niko's hand brushes the past-due notice in his pocket. His
hand trembles — but he signs.
KRUSHNA (CONT’D)
Good. Tell Ricky to clock it in my
name. Welcome to the grey.
Krushna disappears. Niko grips the hundred, sick.
A CUSTOMER storms slams a folder onto his desk — a lemon on
top.
LEMON GUY
You sold me a goddamn , LEMON!
Dean materializes behind Niko like a weary angel.
DEAN
New or used?
LEMON GUY
Used!
DEAN
Then it’s not a lemon. Lemon Laws
cover NEW cars under warranty —
first year or 12–24k miles. Used
cars are “as-is” unless you bought
coverage. Did you?
LEMON GUY
…No.
DEAN
Then you bought a dream with
problems. Trade it, roll the
negative equity, or drive it till
it breaks your heart.
The man leaves, defeated.
Niko stares at the lemon, then the hundred in his hand.
NIKO
What just happened?
DEAN
Real life.
(beat)
You’ll get meaner in the knees
before the mouth. Everyone does.
Dean walks off.
Niko sits, staring at the lemon... and the money.
NIKO (V.O.)
First sale. First lie. First
hundred. I thought I was paying off
debt. But this place — This place
was changing me faster.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
32 -
Fractured Aspirations
EXT. DEALERSHIP BACK LOT – DAY
Rows of dusty trade-ins bake in the sun. Niko paces with his
phone pressed to his ear, trying—and failing—to sound alive.
NIKO
Yeah, I’m alive. Barely.
(beat)
No, I can’t make dinner. There’s no
overtime in car sales. It’s like
prison—just less structure.
He stops at a grime-caked windshield.
NIKO (CONT’D)
Yeah, rougher than a Turkish
prison. I’ve seen Midnight Express.
(beat)
Someone tried to sell bulletproof
paint today.
(beat)
Yes, it’s a lie. Please don’t make
me defend that.
He kicks a hubcap—CLANG. It echoes off a dumpster like a bell
starting round two.
GIRLFRIEND (V.O.)
You said this job was a fresh
start.
Niko looks down at the folded hundred in his pocket.
NIKO
I’m trying, okay? It’s my first
day. How else am I supposed to
afford that ring?
His voice cracks. A deep METAL GROAN erupts from inside the
building—something heavy dragged across tile, then shouts.
NIKO (CONT’D)
…Gotta go.
He pockets his phone and trudges toward the noise.
Genres:
["Drama","Dark Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
33 -
The Deal and the Reflection
INT. FRANK JR. DESK - DAY
Chaos from the showroom bleeds in. Frank Jr. sweats through a
collapsing deal. A tired MARRIED COUPLE rises to leave.
FRANK JR.
Y-yeah, okay, sleep on it, we’ll be
here tomorrow—
They turn—almost collide with Niko, still wiping stress off
his face.
NIKO
Sorry... I’m new. Heard you’ve been
here ninety minutes and you’re
walking out—what’s holding you
back?
HUSBAND
Can’t go over five hundred a month.
You guys are at five twenty.
Niko shifts—calm, almost soothing.
NIKO
That’s less than a cup of coffee a
day. And we have great coffee. Come
in every morning — there’s your
twenty bucks.
He gestures at Frank Jr., eyes locked on him.
NIKO (CONT’D)
And if you don’t like our coffee,
Frank Jr. will hand you a twenty
on the first of every month.
FRANK JR.
...A refund?
Niko shoots him a glare that stops his heart.
Silence. A beat.
HUSBAND
…Where do I sign?
Frank Jr. almost collapses. Paperwork flies, pens glide.
FRANK JR.
(stunned)
Dude… How did you do that?
NIKO
Just something someone said today.
Frank Jr. bolts off celebrating like he just witnessed
sorcery. Niko stays behind, staring at the signed contract…
and at his own reflection in the glass.
A thinner, meaner version of himself stares back.
NIKO (CONT’D)
(quiet)
…That wasn’t me.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
34 -
Swallowed by Corruption
INT. SERVICE BAY - DAY
The cavernous bay roars with impact wrenches and compressors.
Niko walks through with paperwork — tired, frayed.
VINCENT (O.S)
Match it to the warranty.
Two-years. Nothing greedy.
Niko slows. He peeks into the bay.
A SERVICE TECH plugs a handheld device into a late-model SUV.
The odometer flickers — digits spinning like a dying slot
machine.
Vincent watches, composed, surgical.
TECH
Takes a few passes for it to hold.
VINCENT
Everything does.
Niko bumps a wrench stand—CLANK. Vincent turns. No alarm.
Just cold assessment.
VINCENT (CONT’D)
You lost, kid?
NIKO
Looking for Frank Jr.
VINCENT
He’s hiding. Come in.
Niko steps in, uneasy. The Tech presses a final command:
ODOMETER: 92,412 → 61,903
A clean, confident lie. Vincent studies it… pleased.
VINCENT (SOFT) (CONT’D)
Mileage doesn’t sell cars.
Certainty sells cars.
The Tech lowers his voice.
TECH
If this doesn’t sync with the
service history—
Vincent cuts him off with a small, surgical smile.
VINCENT
It will. And if it doesn’t... it
wasn’t us.
Bob’s signature— neat, practiced, unmistakably forged—
already waits on the approval line.
Niko’s breath catches. He looks at: – The falsified odometer
– Bob’s stolen signature
– Vincent’s serene, untroubled face
A machine that keeps eating… even when there’s nothing left
to chew.
NIKO (V.O.)
That’s when I realized —
I didn’t get hired. I got
swallowed.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
35 -
Chaos and Ultimatums
INT. FINANCE OFFICE – MOMENTS LATER
A cramped pressure cooker. Paper towers. Overheated
computers. A printer wheezing like it’s about to die.
CUSTOMER (O.S.) #4
I WANT A BETTER DEAL OR I AIN’T
SIGNING SHIT!
The Owner’s temple vein THROBS — pulsing like a hazard light.
OWNER
First the Lemon Guy. Then Deluca
fiasco. And we’re STILL three units
from goal?
He WHIPS a stapler at the wall. It EXPLODES — pieces skitter
across the floor.
One jagged shard spins to a stop at Niko’s shoe. Niko stares
at it… then down at his phone: BANK BALANCE: $47.12.
NIKO (V.O.)
Survival reflects value.
The printer BEEPS — high, panicked, metallic.
OWNER
One more deal comes back — just ONE
— and I’m replacing ALL of you with
AI and trained baboons. And
honestly? The baboons would
SELL MORE CARS.
No one breathes. Frank Jr. slowly emerges from behind a wall
of banker’s boxes.
FRANK JR.
So… uh… crazy morning, huh?
Everyone glares. The Owner storms off down the hall.
OWNER (O.S.)
I want FIVE units before close!
FIVE! Or this place is DONE!
Niko watches him go — the stapler shrapnel still at his feet.
Something in him shifts. Hardens. A decision beginning to
form.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
36 -
The Chaos of the Worst Dealership Promo
INT. DEALERSHIP - SHOWROOM - DAY
Eddie storms out of Finance, rattled.
EDDIE
After that meltdown, I need a
laugh. Owner wants us selling that
new psycho promo.
DEAN
He should be grateful we're not
outside giving our depositions to
Channel 5.
Front doors swing open like a hero entrance. A stunning WOMAN
walks in, drops a lunch bag into Ricky’s hands, kisses him,
walks out.
RICKY
See? My wife. Told you.
DEAN
Mm-hm. Definitely a paid actress.
High-end. Very validating for your
Grey Man aesthetic.
MARIA
Craigslist, most likely.
RICKY
She’s real! That woman LOVES me!
DEAN
Sure. What’s his name?
RICKY
Don’t make me call HR.
A massive banner UNFURLS from the ceiling — crooked and loud:
“IF IT DRIVES, FLOATS, OR FLIES… WE’LL TAKE IT ON TRADE!”
TITLE OVER: 3:45 PM – THE WORST DEALERSHIP PROMO EVER.
EDDIE
I LOVE it!
DEAN
This is gonna end in litigation.
SIERRA
Can’t wait to see what people drag
in.
JOJO
Can we take weed in on trade?
MARIA
What about live animals?
RICKY
Do we list them as “livestock”?
JOHNNY
I can appraise livestock. My
grandpa owns a farm.
MARCO
Hope we get a lot of sheep.
Long, painful silence. Eddie claps like a deranged camp
counselor.
EDDIE
Three more new cars today. Owner
says no excuses, no sleep, no
sanity.
DEAN
Pretty sure he meant the baboon
thing.
Niko looks at the sales board: NIKO — 1 UNIT. His stolen,
compromised sale. Guilt flickers. The need flickers harder.
NIKO
(to himself)
Trading in my dignity… And my
sanity.
Outside —
A BEAT-UP MOTORBOAT lurches into the lot, horn blaring.
“FOR TRADE” sign flapping.
DEAN
…And so it begins.
EDDIE
Hell yes it does. Welcome to Omni
Auto.
MONTAGE – CHAOS TRADE-INS (FAST, TARANTINO-PUNCHY)
— A man pushes a riding LAWNMOWER across the tiles.
— A parrot shrieks: “NO MONEY DOWN! NO CREDIT — NO PROBLEM!”
— Eddie screams into a phone: “YES WE TAKE BOATS!”
— Two teens drag in a busted Jet Ski dripping oil.
— A SEGWAY crashes into the glass — Marco cheers.
— The parrot, again: “GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN!”
END MONTAGE.
Genres:
["Comedy","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
37 -
Sales Pressure and Absurdity
INT. JOHNNY’S OFFICE – DAY
Quiet — the eye of the storm. Johnny slouches, scrolling
TikTok, smoothie in hand.
A CUSTOMER #5 peeks in.
CUSTOMER #5
You’re the new car manager, right?
JOHNNY
Uh, yes. Yes I am.
CUSTOMER #5
Numbers looked good. I’m ready to
sign.
Johnny CHOKES mid-sip.
JOHNNY
Really? I mean—cool. Let’s get that
paperwork started. Maria!
They leave. Johnny wheezes.
Niko appears, exhausted, covered in stray feathers.
NIKO
Someone traded a bird and a Segway.
In the same fifteen minutes.
Johnny glances to the sales board outside:
2 NEW. 3 TO GO.
JOHNNY
(muttering)
Three to go before the baboons
replace us.
Niko follows his gaze — throat tightening.
NIKO (V.O.)
Two units. The number was getting
smaller. And suddenly, the baboons
didn’t feel like a joke anymore.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
38 -
The Art of Deception
INT. RICKY’S OFFICE – DAY
Mahogany, soft light — the cathedral of confident bullshit.
MR. HARRIS sits across from Ricky, stiff, clutching a family
photo on his phone. Ricky beams like a surgeon delivering
good news.
RICKY
Good news: you’re approved.
Welcome to the Omni family.
HARRIS
This VIN etching—two ninety-five?
For scratching numbers on glass?
RICKY
Laser-precise, NASA-grade anti-
theft. We’re basically the SpaceX
of crime prevention.
HARRIS
My brother did his for thirty bucks
on Amazon.
RICKY
Sure. But did he get the lifetime
theft guarantee?
HARRIS
That’s not a thing.
RICKY
It is here. If your car’s stolen,
we guarantee it still has your VIN.
Harris blinks. Signs. Ricky sweeps the paperwork away like
he’s harvesting organs.
RICKY (CONT’D)
That’s what I like about you, Mr.
Harris — a man of vision.
Harris exits, clutching the keys like a hostage release.
Niko watches through the glass, unsettled. His hand tightens
around the folded hundred in his pocket — Krushna’s bribe.
NIKO (V.O.)
It works. The lies. The confidence.
The whole act… it actually works.
Eddie stomps in, still sweaty from the Owner’s meltdown.
EDDIE
That the fifth? We’re officially
safe from baboons.
RICKY
Five new, five used. Three hours
left.
Eddie leaves. Ricky leans back, king-of-the-zoo.
Niko can’t look away — horrified and hypnotized.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
39 -
Betrayal in the Office
INT. EDDIE’S OFFICE – DAY
Eddie SLAMS a folder onto his desk. Marco stands opposite,
chewing gum like he’s training for a competition.
EDDIE
You cost us six grand on Deluca.
Charge-back city.
MARCO
Relax. I made it back on the
Hellspire 3 dude. Sold him the
“bulletproof paint package.”
Eddie freezes.
EDDIE
Marco… tell me you didn’t—
MARCO
You said sell the 3C. I sold NASA-
grade paint.
EDDIE
NASA doesn’t make paint! If this
blows back, the deal jacket shows
the new kid touched the file.
Niko pauses dead in the doorway. Eddie doesn’t see him.
EDDIE (CONT’D)
If corporate calls — we blame him.
He won’t fight back. He’s still
polite.
Niko’s face drops. His hand grips his mother’s tie — the
frayed spot. The last bit of who he was.
NIKO (V.O.)
The Grey Man pays the bills, but
the Black Zone buys the lawsuits.
Marco strolls out, unfazed. Niko retreats down the hallway,
breath thinning.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
40 -
Chaos in the Driveway
EXT. CUSTOMER’S DRIVEWAY – NIGHT
Tech Bro crouches beside his shiny Omni Hellspire.
TECH BRO
Let's see if Marco was lying.
He fires a BB gun. PING! It ricochets like it hit a tank.
TECH BRO (CONT’D)
No. Fucking. Way.
He fires again. WHIP — SMASH! A garden gnome EXPLODES next
door.
NEIGHBOR (O.S.)
GARY! That was my mother’s gnome!
Tech Bro panics, dives in the Hellspire — and CRUNCH scrapes
down his own mailbox.
INT. DEALERSHIP – DEAN’S OFFICE - NIGHT (INTERCUT)
Dean watches the Tech Bro’s meltdown on TikTok:
TECH BRO (PHONE)
NASA PAINT, BABY!
Dean rubs his temples.
DEAN
This place is gonna kill me. And
they say cigarettes kill.
He shuts the phone. Niko stands in the doorway, still dusted
in rogue parrot feathers.
NIKO
Why’s that guy shooting at his car?
Dean shows him the TikTok. BB gun. Dead gnome. Marco’s lie.
Dealership sticker in frame. Niko pales.
NIKO (CONT’D)
That’s… Marco’s sale.
DEAN
No, kid. That’s your future.
JoJo drifts in, obviously high, with a new CUSTOMER #6.
CUSTOMER #6
This the one you recommend?
JOJO
Oh, yeah. Classic. Can’t go
wrong with a good ol’ Bruik.
DEAN
It’s BUICK! Why are you always
high?
JOJO
Relax, man. You’re too uptight.
JOJO (CONT’D)
This job requires a little pre-
gaming, man.
CUSTOMER #6
So, does this Bruik-Buick-run okay?
JOJO
Oh, it runs, my guy. Purrs like a
kitten.
Dean glances at the framed photo of a young girl on his desk
— then back at the disaster. Hollow.
DEAN
Somebody just put me out of my
misery. Seriously. I’ll Venmo you.
Niko takes all of it in.
NIKO (V.O.)
I didn’t join a dealership. I
joined a food chain. And I wasn’t
climbing it. I was getting eaten.
He looks at: -The TikTok -his name blinking red on the sales
board -the frayed tie -he dirty RDR cash trembling in his
fingers.
A realization hits him: He’s becoming them.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
41 -
Cookie Chaos at the Dealership
INT. DEALERSHIP – SHOWROOM – NIGHT
The showroom doors SLAM open. Mrs. Deluca marches in with an
enormous TUPPERWARE. Everyone flinches like she might
detonate it.
MRS. DELUCA
Oatmeal raisin. Cinnamon. Just for
you Ricky. Don’t share with these
clowns.
She exits. A beat. The entire showroom POUNCES like starving
raccoons. Cookies vanish instantly.
MARCO
I thought she’d blow us up. Turns
out—goddess.
EDDIE
(chewing slowly)
These are Xanax in cookie form.
DEAN
Finally. One happy customer. Let's
just hope this one doesn't sue us
over the raisins.
Ricky stares at the empty tub —a single crumb left.
RICKY
Thanks guys. Guess I'll just wait
for the charge-back on those.
NIKO (V.O.)
Every win in this place comes with
a bill.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
42 -
The Weight of a Sale
INT. NIKO'S DESK - NIGHT
The floor empties. The SALES BOARD glows like a scoreboard of
sins.
Niko — hair messy, tie loosened, eyes exhausted — slumps into
his chair. The team gathers around.
SIERRA
How’s your first day?
NIKO
Thank god it’s over.
DEAN
Wrong. Tradition: end-of-month
drinks.
NIKO
It’s the third.
DEAN
Our calendar is dumber than our
customers.
MARIA
Point is — you got a first sale.
DEAN
And it didn’t require CPR.
Impressive.
Niko forces a tired smile. His phone BUZZES: “Where ARE you?
Deposit is due TODAY.” He silences it quickly.
Ricky leans in.
RICKY
Gotta ask. That thing with your
mom — did you make that up?
Niko hesitates… then smiles weakly.
NIKO
Nah. Just the timing.
EDDIE
That’s my boy. Reminds me of a
young Dean — before he got cynical
and diabetic.
DEAN
I don’t see it.
They head out.
Niko stays behind, rooted to the chair. Lights dim. Shadows
stretch across the room.
He stares at the sales board —
5 NEW / 5 USED. His name under UNIT ONE.
NIKO (V.O.)
One sale, one lie, one step closer
to rent… and one step further from
who I was.
Niko finally stands and walks toward the exit. The main
lights SNAP OFF behind him.
Only the Sales Board remains lit, humming faintly like a red
warning siren.
NEW MONTH STARTS TOMORROW. TUESDAY THE FOURTH.
INT. MRS. DELUCA’S LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
TITLE OVER: 9:01 PM. AFTER THE STORM.
She knits peacefully. News humming in the background.
MRS. DELUCA
Good kids. Just stressed. Can’t
believe they didn’t notice that
fucked-up bumper.
She chuckles to herself, perfectly content.
NIKO (V.O.)
Feels less like winning… and more
like catching something contagious.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
43 -
Descent into Despair
INT. OWNER’S HOME OFFICE – NIGHT
The Owner sits alone, lit only by the glow of dozens of
dealership security feeds.
He watches his own staff dragging themselves to their cars
like survivors of a disaster. He takes a long pull from a
flask.
OWNER
This fucking place is gonna kill
me. I used to love it… just like my
ex-wives. And look how that turned
out.
He clicks through spreadsheets — red everywhere. Bills.
Lawsuits. Missing allocation. A corporate warning email
flashes:
“FINAL NOTICE – PERFORMANCE REVIEW SITE VISIT: PENDING.”
The Owner rubs his face.
OWNER (CONT’D)
Tomorrow we hit ten units…
or I start selling kidneys.
He stares at the monitors, jaw clenched.
OWNER (CONT’D)
Something’s gotta give.
He shuts the laptop with a shaky hand.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
44 -
High Reflections
EXT. RANDOM APARTMENT COMPLEX - NIGHT
Jeff sits in his beat-up Corolla, lights off, joint burning
low. A SHADY GUY approaches the window with a giant bag of
weed.
SHADY GUY
You sure you need this much, man?
JEFF
Dude, my job is to keep two grown-
ass men comfortably high enough to
sell warranties.
He takes a puff, coughs, stares at the sky.
JEFF (CONT’D)
You ever think the dealership’s a
metaphor? Like—it’s the protagonist
(MORE)
JEFF (CONT’D)
and we’re just side characters in
its slow descent into hell.
SHADY GUY
Bro, what?
JEFF
Never mind, I’m too high for
metaphors.
The bag of weed is exchanged.
As Jeff drives off, the dealership’s empty lot slowly
crossfades into frame.
Genres:
["Drama","Dark Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
45 -
Calculated Malice
INT. VINCENT'S OFFICE - NIGHT
The dealership is dead quiet. Vincent sits perfectly still in
front of a glowing screen.
ON SCREEN: “Ways to cut pay without employees noticing.”
He backspaces. Types: “Do employees REALLY need benefits?”
He sips tea. Calm. Almost zen.
Opens a new tab. An AI corporate software page loads:
C.O.I.N — Corporate Oversight Intelligence Node
“FREE 30-DAY TRIAL – OPTIMIZE YOUR WORKFORCE”
He clicks BUY NOW without hesitation. Printed spreadsheets
sit neatly beside him. Names. Salaries. Charge-backs. Red
circles.
One name is circled three times: “Jim Jeffers.”
Vincent reaches into a drawer. Pulls out a single BRASS
BULLET. Places it gently on top of Jeffers’ name. The bullet
gleams in the cold blue light.
VINCENT
He’s fucked.
Vincent’s reflection stares back at him in the glass —
expressionless.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
46 -
A Moment of Reflection
INT. GAS STATION - NIGHT
Harsh fluorescent light hums overhead. Niko’s battered
Infiniti wheezes at the pump like it’s giving up on life.
Inside, Niko slides a crisp $100 bill onto the counter — the
tainted RDR money.
The GAS STATION ATTENDANT (20s, pretty, sharp-eyed) clocks
his suit, his exhaustion.
ATTENDANT
Big spender, huh? You look like you
just survived a war you didn’t sign
up for.
NIKO
Close. Car sales.
She whistles — sympathetic. He notices a sad flower stand:
one wilted rose left. He picks it up.
ATTENDANT
For you? Take it. Good luck out
there, soldier.
He pockets his change— the money now “clean.” His reflection
in the window looks older but for the first time today:
proud. A hollow kind of proud. He exits.
Genres:
["Drama","Character Study"]
Ratings
Scene
47 -
A Somber Departure
EXT. GAS STATION - CONTINUOUS
Niko approaches his car — stops. Bob sits on a plastic bench,
holding an empty donut box like a relic.
NIKO
Hey, Bob. How you holding up?
Bob looks ahead, calm in a way that feels dangerous.
BOB
They can fire me. They can’t fire
the truth. Hold the line, kid.
He stands. Walks off into the night without looking back.
Niko watches him go, then looks down at the empty donut box.
NIKO (V.O.)
Just like that, Bob was gone
forever. Just like those donuts.
He sets the rose gently on the passenger seat and drives off.
The rose is the only color in the monochrome night.
Genres:
["Drama","Character Study"]
Ratings
Scene
48 -
Desperate Salesmanship
INT. TINA’S CABARET – NIGHT
TITLE OVER: 11:17 PM. ESCAPE MODE ACTIVATED.
Dim lights. Music THUMPS. Neon haze. The atmosphere is
desperate, not sexy.
The crew is scattered. Niko sits alone with a beer, staring
at the rose-thoughts weighing on him. Dean slides into the
booth beside him.
DEAN
So. Survived your first day.
NIKO
Barely. Do they all end like that?
DEAN
No. Sometimes someone cries.
DEAN (CONT’D)
What’s with the screwdriver?
NIKO
Found the left handed one. Was
gonna shove it up Eddie’s ass.
Dean smirks. Niko leans in, guilt twisting in his voice.
NIKO (CONT’D)
Dean… I gotta tell you something.
Krushna offered me a hundred bucks
to put the RDR in his name. I took
it. I feel—
Dean cuts him off, sipping.
DEAN
Rookie mistake.
NIKO
Yeah, I know, it’s dishonest, and—
DEAN
No. Rookie mistake is only getting
a hundred. You hold out for two.
That’s how you learn.
Dean raises his glass, gesturing around the club.
DEAN (CONT’D)
Look around, kid. Life is just one
big sales pitch. They sell lies
they can live with. We sell ones
they can afford.
Maria appears with tequila shots.
MARIA
To Bob. Gone but not forgotten.
They clink glasses. Niko hesitates, then drinks.
DEAN
We celebrate survival. His lack of
it just sweetens the deal.
A gum-chewing STRIPPER finishes her set. Sierra waves her
over like a furious manager.
SIERRA
Okay, real talk— too much hair
whip, not enough eye contact.
SIERRA (CONT’D)
Sell the sizzle, not just the
steak.
The stripper stares, defeated.
STRIPPER
Uh… okay?
Sierra pats her like a disappointed dance mom. Niko watches —
sees his own desperation reflected back in her performance.
His phone BUZZES. ON SCREEN: “Where are you? The catering
hall deposit. I need you here.” He silences it immediately.
Finishes his beer.
NIKO (V.O.)
Day one was over. The game had
started. And I knew the only way to
survive was to sell a better story
than anyone else. Even if it was to
myself.
Genres:
["Drama","Character Study"]
Ratings
Scene
49 -
Dawn of Regret
EXT. ROAD /INT. NIKO’S APARTMENT – PREDAWN
Time-lapse: Night-black city → washed-out blue dawn.
Niko’s Infiniti crawls through empty streets like a wounded
animal returning to its den.
INT. NIKO’S APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS
The door creaks open. He enters — wrecked, hollow. TV glow
flickers over a tiny, messy apartment.
He drops his keys. Kicks the door shut. Trips on a suitcase.
He freezes. The half-dead plant? Gone. The engagement-ring
app? Gone. The comfort of “maybe” in this apartment? Gone.
Suzie stands by the window, jacket on, purse ready. Not
angry. Worse — resolved.
NIKO
…Suzie?
SUZIE
You’re late. Again.
Niko fumbles for the only thing he brought home: The rose.
One petal missing.
NIKO
I, uh…
(holds it out)
I got this for free.
It slips from his fingers. Rolls under the couch like it’s
hiding from both of them.
NIKO (CONT’D)
You going somewhere?
SUZIE
Away from you. You beat me to the
goodbye part.
ZIP. The suitcase closes — the sound slices him open.
NIKO
I sold a car today. My first one.
Broke three laws doing it. Made a
hundred bucks so someone else could
make three. I don’t even know if
that makes me a success… or an
accessory.
SUZIE
Let me guess. You spent most of it
already?
He opens his hand. Only crumpled $1 bills remain. They fall
onto the counter — quieter than shame.
NIKO
If I sell two cars tomorrow… would
you stay?
She just stares at him — sad, small, tired.
SUZIE
You don’t build a future. You
survive. And I can't keep surviving
for us.
NIKO
So… you don’t like the rose?
A beat. She’s already shaking her head.
SUZIE
This is you, Niko. Showing up after
the crash.
She shoulders the suitcase.
SUZIE (CONT’D)
I hope the job was worth it.
She’s gone. The click of the door echoes like a gunshot in a
church. Silence.
The fallen rose lies on the floor — another petal drifting
loose. He sinks onto the couch.
NIKO
(to himself, soft)
I didn’t choose the lie. The lie
chose me. (beat) It’s just the
only thing still hiring.
He looks to the counter: His dealership badge sits there,
glowing faintly in the dawn light. His warped, exhausted
reflection stares back.
The ALARM CLOCK BUZZES: 5:00 A.M.
NIKO (CONT’D)
(under his breath)
I hate people. And tomorrow, I sell
‘em cars.
He leans back. As he finally closes his eyes — The faint
sounds of the dealership bleed in: phones, pitches, fake
laughter. They haunt him like a new religion.
TITLE OVER: DAY ONE: SURVIVED. TOMORROW: PAYBACK.
Niko exhales. A single, ragged breath. Lights out.
END OF PILOT
POST-CREDIT SCENE
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
50 -
Morning Reflections
INT. NIKO’S BEDROOM – EARLY MORNING
Silence. Just the low hum of a cheap refrigerator somewhere
offscreen.
Niko lies sideways on top of the blankets — yesterday’s
clothes still on, name tag still clipped, belt still buckled.
His shoes hang halfway off like he gave up mid-attempt.
His phone VIBRATES on the nightstand. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. He
doesn’t move. The screen dims… then voicemail autoplay kicks
in.
MOM (V.O.)
(chipper)
Hi baby… just checking in. I saw on
Facebook your cousin bought a new
house. Five bedrooms. Custom pool.
He’s twenty-six.
A faint twitch in Niko’s eyelid.
MOM (V.O.)
I told your uncle you’re in
“sales.” That sounded… nicer.
His hand curls into a fist, the knuckles whitening.
MOM (V.O.)
Listen — rent’s coming up, right?
Don’t be too proud. You can always
come back home. Your bunk bed is
still there.
Niko exhales through his nose like it stings.
MOM (V.O.)
And don’t worry about that girl. If
she left, then she wasn’t the one.
Real relationships survive stress.
(beat)
She didn’t even cook... Though I’m
sure she was… very pretty.
The phone slips off the nightstand — THUMP. The voicemail
continues from the floor, muffled.
A single tear slides out. Not a breakdown — just gravity.
His hand touches his name tag, feeling for it like checking a
pulse.
MOM (V.O.)
Some people peak late, sweetheart.
Not everyone is meant to be
successful. Some people are meant
to be good people instead.
BEEP. The message ends. The phone immediately lights again:
ON SCREEN: 7 NEW VOICEMAILS — MOM
Still no movement. Just a hollow stare.
His 5:00 A.M. ALARM BUZZES.
Niko’s eyes drift to the glowing, flickering phone on the
floor… and faint dealership sounds fade in over it — ringing
phones, canned laughter, sales scripts.
A new day calling him back.
TITLE: DAY TWO: LOADING…
Niko exhales — slow, rough — and his fist finally unclenches,
palm creased deep.
END OF PILOT