EXT. LOS ANGELES FREEWAY – DUSK
A RIVER OF BRAKE LIGHTS stretches under a hazy orange sky. Smog. Tents. Graffiti. Broken
glass.
SUPER: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
The camera glides off the freeway into a dead-end street, boxed in by the wall of the 110.
EXT. DEAD-END STREET – CONTINUOUS
Quiet. Too quiet.
INT. HARRISON LIVING ROOM – SAME
ROBERT HARRISON (40s, neat, aerospace engineer) peers through blinds.
Outside, a SHADOW FIGURE tries the door handles of multiple cars.
Behind Robert: LISA (late 30s), holding their daughter ABBY (8), anxious.
Robert dials 911.
911 DISPATCHER (V.O.)
(through phone)
What’s your emergency?
ROBERT
Yes—there’s a guy checking cars again.
Fourth time this week. 1249 East Amber Court.
Pause. Typing.
911 DISPATCHER (V.O.)
Units are responding to higher-priority calls.
Estimated arrival time… three hours, twenty-two minutes.
Robert stares at the figure tugging his car handle.
ROBERT
So he just walks away?
911 DISPATCHER (V.O.)
If he breaks in, call us back.
Call ends.
The SHADOW FIGURE flips Robert off and walks away.
LISA
Welcome to California.
Robert says nothing. His jaw tightens.
TITLE SEQUENCE – QUICK MONTAGE
— Nebraska plate removed, replaced with California plate
— Northrop Grumman badge photo taken
— Boxes labeled “HARRISON FAMILY – OMAHA” unpacked
— News anchor claiming, “Crime is down across the state…”
— Cut to: porch thefts, shattered windows, street camps
SUPER: ROBERT WILL COMPLY
ACT I
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
2 -
Tensions and Fears in a New Home
INT. HARRISON KITCHEN – MORNING
Laptop open. The California firearm registration portal.
ON SCREEN in red:
“ERROR: APPLICATION INCOMPLETE — RESUBMIT.”
ROBERT
I did this already. Twice.
Lisa packs Abby’s lunch, stressed.
LISA
You said California was good for us. Better money.
ROBERT
Money’s better.
Beat.
ROBERT (CONT’D)
Weather’s mostly smoke.
Abby enters with her bike helmet.
ABBY
Can I bike to Ms. Rivera’s today?
LISA
No bikes. You walk. No exceptions.
Abby sets the helmet down, disappointed.
EXT. SIDEWALK – AFTER SCHOOL – DAY
Abby walks with two kids. They split off.
A SEDAN idles at the curb. A MAN in his 30s leans on it, pretending to smoke.
He watches Abby too closely.
Then follows.
MAN
Hey. Lil’ girl. You know where Rosemont is?
Abby speeds up, scared.
INT. NORTHROP GRUMMAN – BREAK ROOM – SAME
Robert reads a new email:
“Registration inquiry received. Estimated response: 90–120 days.”
A coworker scrolls his phone.
COWORKER
California’s safe, bro.
Just read the press releases.
Not the crime logs.
He laughs. Robert forces a smile but is worried.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
3 -
Confrontation and Frustration
EXT. DEAD-END STREET – SAME
The MAN follows closer.
MAN
You deaf? I’m talking to you—
Lisa’s car screeches up.
LISA
Abby! Get in!
Abby runs to her.
LISA (CONT’D)
I’m calling the police.
MAN
I just asked for directions, lady. Damn.
He drives off, smirking.
INT. HARRISON LIVING ROOM – LATER
Lisa on the phone.
LISA
He followed her. Yes, I want to report it.
…No, we don’t have video.
…So unless he touches her you can’t do anything?
She hangs up, furious.
Abby hugs a pillow.
Robert listens silently, haunted.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
4 -
A Night of Fear and Frustration
EXT. GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT – EVENING
Lisa loads groceries.
A HOODED TEEN sprints up, grabs her purse, yanks it violently.
Lisa falls hard.
LISA
Hey! Stop!
The teen jumps into a waiting car and speeds off.
Bystanders film. None act.
INT. HARRISON KITCHEN – NIGHT
Lisa ices her shoulder.
Robert dials 911 again.
ROBERT
Yes—same address. Yes—again.
Pause.
ROBERT (CONT’D)
Do you guys have a frequent caller plan?
He laughs bitterly at his own joke.
DISPATCHER (V.O.)
An officer can take a phone report.
Abby watches from the hallway, scared.
Robert hangs up.
Something flips inside him.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
5 -
The Calm Before the Storm
INT. GARAGE – NIGHT
Lights flick on.
Robert stands over blueprints, wires, hoses, metal parts.
He sketches:
— Pressure mat trigger
— High-pressure water jets
— Low-voltage shock strip
— Cayenne spray nozzles
ROBERT (V.O.)
Non-lethal.
Targeted.
Defensive.
He builds the device with surgical precision.
He arms it with a calm, chilling focus.
ACT II
Genres:
["Thriller","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
6 -
The Trap Unleashed
EXT. HARRISON PORCH – LATE NIGHT
A porch pirate approaches casually, scanning for cameras.
He steps on the mat—
CLICK.
BLAST — a jet of high-pressure water smashes his legs.
He falls and grabs the railing—
ZAP — shocked violently.
Cayenne mist sprays him across the face.
PORCH PIRATE
I’M BLIND! HELP! HELP ME!
He rolls on the ground screaming.
Neighbors pour out, filming on their phones.
Inside, Robert watches.
Lisa runs in.
LISA
Robert… what did you do?
Sirens roar in the distance.
Genres:
["Thriller","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
7 -
Injustice on a Dead-End Street
EXT. DEAD-END STREET – MINUTES LATER
FOUR LAPD units respond immediately.
The porch pirate is wrapped in a blanket, crying for cameras.
PORCH PIRATE
He tried to kill me! He booby-trapped his house!
Robert walks down with hands raised.
ROBERT
Officers—he’s been stealing from—
OFFICER #1
Sir, turn around.
ROBERT
But I—
They cuff him.
LISA
He’s the victim! Check your system!
We have reports!
OFFICER #2
We’ll sort that out downtown.
Abby, crying, clings to Lisa.
The porch pirate smirks as paramedics tend to him.
INT. HOLDING CELL – NIGHT
Robert sits alone in a cold gray cell.
On the wall:
“CALIFORNIA: SAFER COMMUNITIES THROUGH SMART JUSTICE.”
He lets out a single sarcastic laugh.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
8 -
Defiance in the Courtroom
INT. COURTHOUSE HALLWAY – DAY
Robert, handcuffed, walks past a TV:
NEWS ANCHOR (ON TV)
Governor reports violent crime at historic lows—
Volume cuts as he’s led into—
ACT III
INT. COURTROOM – DAY
Packed courtroom. Reporters. Residents. Phones recording.
ASSISTANT DA KAREN LOPEZ (40s, sharp, ambitious) rises with a smug junior prosecutor.
CLERK
Case of The People of California vs. Robert Harrison.
Correction—there is a related civil filing:
Robert Harrison vs. The State of California.
Murmur through room.
Robert is confused.
JUDGE
We’ll address the civil matter later.
Junior Prosecutor stands.
JUNIOR PROSECUTOR
Your Honor, the defendant created a weaponized ambush designed to electrocute, assault,
and incapacitate an unsuspecting citizen—
ROBERT
(low)
Unsuspecting thief.
PUBLIC DEFENDER
Whispering—
Please… don’t help.
JUNIOR PROSECUTOR
In a state working to reduce violence, Mr. Harrison rejected compliance and embraced
vigilantism.
Judge turns to Robert.
JUDGE
How do you plead?
Public Defender rises—but Robert stops them with a hand.
ROBERT
Not guilty.
ADA Lopez steps forward like she’s stepping onto a stage.
LOPEZ
Your Honor, the People also request the court remind Mr. Harrison of what it means to live
in this state.
She looks directly at Robert.
LOPEZ (CONT’D)
Here in California…
you don’t decide who the criminal is.
The law does.
And you will comply, Mr. Harrison.
The room grows still.
All eyes on Robert.
Lisa and Abby watch, terrified.
Robert breathes in slowly.
ROBERT
I’ve complied with everything since we moved here.
Beat.
ROBERT (CONT’D)
But if the law can’t tell the difference
between a thief
and a father protecting his kid…
He steps forward slightly.
ROBERT (CONT’D)
…then maybe the law’s the one
that needs to comply.
Shock ripples through the courtroom.
Judge slams gavel.
JUDGE
Enough! Bail set at fifty thousand dollars.
No weapons. No defensive devices.
Next hearing in two weeks.
Lopez smirks, satisfied.
LOPEZ
(to herself)
Robert will comply.
Robert is cuffed again.
As he’s led out, he locks eyes with Abby.
She raises a small, trembling hand.
He gives the faintest reassuring smile.
But behind his eyes?
War.
CUT TO BLACK.
SUPER: ROBERT WILL COMPLY
SUPER: COMING SOON – THE FEATURE FILM
END OF SHORT FILM SCRIPT