“Homegrown” by Zac Brown Band blares from the speakers.
We see a crowd of roaring supporters, bathed in red, white, and
blue. Banners wave. Confetti rains. The future of New Jersey
politics is about to take the stage.
We see a large banner hanging over the stage: “Homegrown
Leadership, Jersey Roots: Penny Walsh for Governor!”
We see a long banquet table, laden with untouched food. JAMES
ROE, mid-fifties, scowls at a tray of Mac and cheese.
A STAFFER walks past James, but is halted by James as he grabs
his arm.
JAMES
I thought I told you no mac and
cheese. Get rid of it.
STAFFER
Sorry sir. I’ll take care of it.
INT. BACKSTAGE - CONTINUOUS
PENNY WALSH, polished, attractive, politician, 55 years old,
raises a glass of champagne to her staffers. James grabs a
glass of champagne and joins her.
PENNY
We did it!
JAMES
You did it. Are you ready
Governor?
PENNY
I’ve been ready for this my whole
life.
Penny hands her glass to a STAFFER and confidently strides to
the stage.
Genres:
["Political Drama","Character Study"]
Ratings
Scene
2 -
A Celebration Cut Short
INT. BANQUET HALL STAGE - CONTINUOUS
Penny pumps her fists victoriously. The crowd erupts, singing
along.
CROWD (singing)
HOMEGROWN!!
Penny waves and smiles at the adoring crowd. She motions to her
staffers in the wings to join her onstage.
INT. BACKSTAGE - CONTINUOUS
James watches Penny and takes a step towards the stage, but
suddenly senses something is wrong.
PENNY(V.O.)
They say what goes around comes
around.
INT. BANQUET HALL STAGE - CONTINUOUS
POP! Penny’s body violently jolts backwards. Time seems to
stand still as she collapses backwards to the ground.
Chaos erupts as the Governor’s security detail and State Police
surround Penny on the floor.
INT. BANQUET HALL AUDITORIUM - CONTINUOUS
Officers tackle someone we can’t see in the crowd.
INT. BANQUET HALL STAGE - CONTINUOUS
James runs to Penny, panicked.
JAMES
Penny!!
James is restrained by security.
Penny lies lifeless on the floor, eyes open, focusing in on the
twirling disco ball hanging directly above her.
PENNY (V.O.)
Making it to the top in Jersey
politics is a dirty game. And
nobody knows how to play that
dirty game better than me. It’s in
my DNA.
DISSOLVE TO:
Genres:
["Political Thriller","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
3 -
Skating into Adventure
INT. EAST END SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - DAY (1981)
A twirling disco ball hangs over the gymnasium.
We see a Wollensack record player, turntable spinning. “I Love
A Rainy Night” by Eddie Rabbit blasts in the gymnasium.
MR. MALAZDRA, the gym teacher, trying to look cool, stands next
to the record player, bopping his head to the music.
Penny Walsh, 13 years old, roller skates in the gymnasium with
her classmates. She’s wearing a rust colored velour shirt.
PENNY (V.O.)
I loved when we had roller skating
for gym. I always wore my favorite
velour shirt.
LAUREN
Penny, wait!!
Penny’s best friend, 13-year-old LAUREN HALVORSEN, skates to
Penny, grabbing her hand. They laugh, struggling to stay
upright.
PENNY (V.O.)
Lauren was my best friend and
always my partner in crime.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
INT. DRESSING ROOM - BAMBERGER’S DEPARTMENT STORE - DAY
Penny looks at her reflection in the mirror, she’s wearing the
same velour shirt. She tears off the tag, and quickly puts on
her sweatshirt hiding the shirt.
Penny exits her dressing room to meet Lauren, who is wearing a
large sweatshirt as well. They take a few steps and Penny spots
the SALES ASSOCIATE walking towards them.
Lauren looks away.
LAUREN
Oh shit...
Penny grabs Lauren’s arm.
PENNY
Chill.
Instead of running, Penny immediately pivots and walks right at
the sales associate.
SALES ASSOCIATE
Girls...are the clothes in the
fitting...
PENNY
...Ma’am, that woman just stuffed
something in her bag. I think she
stole something.
The associate sees a black woman with a toddler shopping for
baby clothes.
SALES ASSOCIATE
That’s not surprising. Thank you,
girls!
Penny and Lauren quickly walk away. The associate motions to a
SECURITY GUARD and points at the woman with the toddler.
END FLASHBACK.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
4 -
Field Day Reflections
INT. EAST END SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - DAY
The song ends. The girls skate to the bleachers and remove
their skates.
MR MALAZDRA
Everyone return your skates to the
cubbies. Have a great summer!
Lauren slings her skates over her shoulder and walks with Penny
to the cubbies.
PENNY (V.O.)
Lauren always had the nicest
things. She even had her own pair
of roller skates.
LAUREN
What time are you going to field
day?
PENNY
I’m helping my Dad at his booth so
I’ll be there early, like nine.
EXT. EAST END SCHOOL FIELD - DAY
The entire school field is set up for a massive carnival.
There’s a ferris wheel, roller coaster and assortment of
amusement rides. In the middle of the field is a giant circus
tent with pony rides and farm animals.
PENNY (V.O.)
Field day was a huge celebration
that marked the end of the school
year. It was a way to wrap things
up before the dog days of summer
kicked in.
EXT. FIELD DAY BOOTHS - CONTINUOUS
Penny’s dad, ED WALSH, 46 years old, works a voter registration
booth. Penny stands next to her dad, helping.
PENNY (V.O.)
My dad was the mayor of North
Plainfield and a former delegate
for Jimmy Carter. He really threw
himself into politics after my mom
was killed in a car accident when
I was ten.
FLASHBACK
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
5 -
Chaos and Confusion
INT. 1974 RED BUICK SKYLARK - DAY
BARBARA WALSH, Penny’s mom is driving entirely too fast. A pint
of Budweiser is jammed between her legs. She swerves as she
looks at a terrified Penny in the back seat.
PENNY (crying)
Please mommy! Stop!
BARBARA (slurring)
What are you, scared? Shut the
fuck up you spoiled little...
Suddenly, the Buick Skylark gets t-boned by a New Jersey
Transit bus. Penny flies through the air in slow motion, her
face being cut by shards of flying glass.
BACK TO SCENE
PENNY (V.O.)
So my dad, instead of dealing with
the grief, devoted all of his time
to being mayor, and to me. He was
definitely an important player in
Jersey politics.
A woman hands the voter registration card to Penny.
PENNY
Dad, which pile?
ED
Democrat or Republican?
Penny looks at the card in her hand.
PENNY
Republican.
Ed points to a pile.
ED
Right here.
PENNY
Why do you have two piles?
ED
Democrat registrations get handed
in.
Ed leans over and speaks closely to Penny, but his lips don’t
move.
ED (CONT’D)
(Whispering) Republican go to the
shredder.
PENNY
But those people think they’ve
registered to vote. What happens
when they go to vote on Election
Day and they’re not registered?
ED
That’s the whole point.
(whispering) You can shred them
when we get home. Don’t tell
anyone.
PENNY
I won’t.
Penny continues collecting voter registrations.
PENNY(V.O.)
My dad was the master at the
political whisper. Anything you
needed to say, but didn’t want
anyone else to hear, you
whispered, but didn’t move your
lips. It was like being a
ventriloquist.
Ed reaches into his pocket and pulls out two five dollar bills
and hands them to Penny.
ED
Here’s your weekly allowance, and
here’s an extra five bucks for the
rides. Go find Lauren and have
some fun.
PENNY
You sure? I don’t mind staying a
little longer.
ED
Go. You’ve earned it.
Penny takes the money and heads out of the booth, disappearing
into the crowd.
DISSOLVE TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Political","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
6 -
Beneath the Surface
EXT. EAST END SCHOOL FIELD - MORNING
Lauren and Penny ride their bikes through the school parking
lot, weaving through the debris and remnants of the festival.
A garbage truck rumbles up to a dumpster, flanked by
overflowing trash cans.
BILL HALVORSEN, late thirties, gold chain, slicked-back hair. A
little too put together for a guy slinging trash, hops off the
back.
He moves with practiced efficiency, heaving cans, dumping their
contents into the truck.
Penny waves.
Mr. Halvorsen nods, keeps working.
PENNY
Hi Mr. Halvorsen!
LAUREN
Hi Dad!
MR HALVORSEN
Hey girls. How do you like the new
bike?
LAUREN
It’s awesome dad!
PENNY (V.O.)
Lauren’s dad was in waste
management, or as I soon learned,
the drug business. That explains
all of Lauren’s bling. But I’ll
get to that in a bit.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
7 -
Curiosity in the Carnival Aftermath
EXT. SCHOOLYARD - CONTINUOUS
He grips the last garbage can, lifts the lid. A thick envelope—
taped to the underside.
He peels it off, tucks it into his waistband, and dumps the
last can.
He hops onto the back of the garbage truck as it rumbles out of
the schoolyard.
EXT. EAST END SCHOOL FIELD - CONTINUOUS
The carnival is gone—rides, booths, tents—nothing left but
trash.
Penny and Lauren weave their bikes through the debris, rolling
up to the monkey bars.
They ditch their bikes, hop onto the see-saw.
One by one, kids drift in.
EDDIE. ALLEN. JENNIFER. Thirteen, restless, looking for
something to do.
Jennifer kicks her kickstand, strolls to the swings, and starts
pumping.
Boredom settles in.
JENNIFER
Allen, give me a push.
ALLEN
Push yourself.
Allen hops on the swing next to Jennifer. He starts swinging.
ALLEN (CONT’D)
I can go higher than you.
Jennifer starts swinging, trying to beat Allen.
JIMMY ROE, 15, rolls up on a beat-up bike.
Long, scraggly blond hair. Dirty, worn clothes.
But his eyes—tired, distant—carry more weight than a kid his
age should.
Beneath the grime, there’s something else. A sharpness. Cleaned
up, he could turn heads.
Penny watches him a beat too long, then looks away, masking
whatever just flickered across her face.
PENNY
What are you doing here?
JIMMY
I’m waiting for someone.
EDDIE
You’re looking for that old guy
that sells weed.
ALLEN
His weed sucks. He cuts it with
too much oregano.
JIMMY
Like you know. You don’t even
smoke. He said he would be here
today.
LAUREN
(pointing)
Is that him?
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
8 -
A Suspicious Exchange
EXT. BASKETBALL COURTS - CONTINUOUS
ROGER, early twenties but worn beyond his years, approaches on
a beat-up Schwinn. A pink basket rattles on the front.
Jimmy meets Roger on the basketball court, a good fifty yards
from the playground.
EXT. PLAYGROUND - CONTINUOUS
Penny and Lauren see-saw, eyes locked on Jimmy and Roger’s
exchange.
EXT. BASKETBALL COURTS - CONTINUOUS
Jimmy hands Roger some cash.
Roger peels a thick wad from his pocket, folds Jimmy’s money
into it.
EXT. PLAYGROUND - CONTINUOUS
Penny sees the cash.
PENNY
(to herself)
Holy shit.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
9 -
The Bizarre Bargain
EXT. BASKETBALL COURTS - CONTINUOUS
Roger hands Jimmy a baggie.
They trade glances, then both look toward Penny, Lauren, and
the others.
Jimmy kicks off in the opposite direction. Roger pedals toward
the playground, casual but deliberate.
EXT. PLAYGROUND - CONTINUOUS
Up close, Roger’s a mess—rotted teeth, greasy, uncombed hair.
Skinny. Dirty. The closer he gets, the worse he looks.
But that goofy smile stays plastered on his face.
ROGER
Welcome to my playground. For
those of you who don’t know me,
I’m Roger. I’m good pals with
Jimmy, and he said you may be
interested in what I’ve got.
PENNY
Whatever it is, hopefully it’s not
contagious.
She hops off the see-saw, approaches Roger.
The others fall in behind her, like she’s their shield against
whatever disease he’s carrying.
ROGER
Relax, kids. I won’t bite.
PENNY
How could you? You have no teeth.
Roger chuckles, unfazed.
ROGER
That’s funny. I like you…
PENNY
...Penny.
Roger nods, all business.
ROGER (CONT’D)
Penny, can I interest you or any
of you kids in a nickel bag?
PENNY
What’s a nickel bag?
ROGER
Five dollars gets you five joints.
He digs a baggie from his pocket, holds it up.
EDDIE
I heard your weed sucks. It’s all
oregano.
ALLEN
Dude, I just told you that.
ROGER
This is my finest stash. For my
potential new customers. One
hundred percent pure homegrown.
He dangles the bag.
Penny studies him.
The others fidget, unsure.
PENNY
Here.
Penny pulls a crisp five from her pocket, holds it out.
Roger grins—big, goofy, rotted teeth flashing. His filthy hand,
disgusting fingernails and all, snatches the bill.
He drops the weed into the pink basket, peels a wad of cash
from his pocket, wraps Penny’s five around it, then tucks it
away. He hands Penny the weed.
His eyes catch something in the distance.
He pedals off—slow, casual—like nothing’s wrong.
ROGER
It’s been a pleasure doing
business with you.
Penny picks up on Roger’s sudden nervousness. She turns to see
what spooked him.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
10 -
A Suspicious Encounter
EXT. SCHOOL PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS
An unmarked blue Dodge Diplomat pulls into the parking lot. All
of the kids turn and look at the car.
JENNIFER
Oh, shit. We’re busted.
PENNY
No. I got this. Lauren, let’s go.
Penny stuffs the weed into her pocket and instinctually pedals
over to the detective car. Lauren hops on her bicycle and
follows.
PENNY (V.O.)
My philosophy on life is to never
run away. If you see a problem,
confront it straight on.
INT. POLICE CAR - CONTINUOUS
Detective NORMAN JENKINS, mid forties, sits in the driver’s
seat. He watches Roger pedal away from the group as Lauren and
Penny approach the vehicle.
PENNY
Hi Officer Jenkins. Did you see
that guy?
NORMAN
Yea, I saw him. What did he want
with you kids?
PENNY
Nothing really. He said he was
looking for his friend.
Lauren looks at the ground.
LAUREN
His teeth were gross.
NORMAN
Looking for a friend?
(MORE)
NORMAN (CONT’D)
Stay away from him. He’s bad news.
Now get going home.
PENNY
Yes sir.
Penny and Lauren pedal away from the unmarked patrol car.
PENNY
Let’s go to my house. My grandpa
has rolling papers.
LAUREN
You know how to do it?
PENNY
My grandpa taught me. It’s easy.
Race ya!!
The two girls pedal away, racing down the quiet suburban
street.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
11 -
Rolling the Dice
INT. PENNY’S GARAGE - LATER
We see Penny’s hand yanking open a dusty drawer.
Rolling papers. Matches. The usual.
She grabs a pack, drops it on the desk. Dust scatters.
PENNY
Let's turn this nickel bag into a
dime bag and make some money.
LAUREN
How?
PENNY
I'll be right back.
Penny runs out of the garage. Lauren watches her through the
window.
INT. PENNY’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Penny calls out to check and see if her father is home.
PENNY
Dad? Are you here?
No response, Penny darts into the kitchen and opens a pantry
door.
Penny’s hand grabs a box of Tetley teabags from the shelf.
INT. GARAGE – CONTINUOUS
LAUREN
If you cut it too much, it won’t
work.
PENNY
It’ll still work.
Lauren doesn’t argue. She dumps the baggie, moves fast—like
she’s done this before. Papers lined up, ten in a row. She
sprinkles the weed, careful, precise.
Penny tears open a tea bag, shakes out the leaves, mixes them
in. A little stretch on the product.
She picks up the first paper, rolls tight. Hands steady. Like a
pro.
DISSOLVE TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
12 -
The Joint Negotiation
INT. GARAGE - LATER
Lauren licks the glue on the final paper and completes the
tenth joint. She places it down on the table next to nine other
perfectly rolled joints.
PENNY
Done. Let’s go.
LAUREN
Shouldn’t we smoke one? To see if
it works?
PENNY
You want to buy one?
LAUREN
You’re gonna charge me?
PENNY
I had to pay for the weed!
LAUREN
I’ll give you fifty cents. Half
and we both smoke it.
PENNY
OK.
Lauren hands two quarters to Penny.
PENNY (CONT’D)
We’ll smoke it after we sell.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
13 -
The Playground Deal
EXT. SCHOOL YARD - DAY
Penny and Lauren approach the monkey bars. Jennifer, Allen and
Eddie are there. A few other kids, all about the same age,
linger nearby.
PENNY
Hey Allen, You wanna try?
Penny holds up a perfectly rolled joint.
ALLEN
Is that the weed you bought from
Roger?
PENNY
Sure is. One dollar.
Allen looks over at Eddie and Jen.
ALLEN
Should we?
Eddie and Jen approach Allen.
JENNIFER
I’ve got a quarter.
EDDIE
I’ve got fifty cents.
Jennifer and Eddie look at Allen. Allen takes a dollar out of
his pocket. He takes the change from Jennifer and Eddie and
hands Penny the dollar.
ALLEN
Here.
Penny takes the dollar and hands Allen the joint.
ALLEN (CONT’D)
You got matches?
PENNY
Seriously? You want me to smoke it
for you, too?
Allen stupidly stares at Penny and shrugs his shoulders.
PENNY (CONT’D)
Anybody else?
CUT TO:
MONTAGE - SCHOOL YARD
A 12 year old girl hands Penny a dollar.
Penny hands the girl a perfectly rolled joint.
Lauren hands a dollar to Penny and Penny hands her a joint.
Lauren rides her bicycle over to the basketball court and hands
the joint to a teenage boy playing basketball.
Two twin brothers each hand Penny a dollar.
Penny passes over two joints to them.
Jimmy pedals his bicycle over to Penny.
END MONTAGE
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
14 -
Confrontation in the School Yard
EXT. SCHOOL YARD - CONTINUOUS
Jimmy pedals up to Penny and stops.
JIMMY
You have weed?
PENNY
Maybe.
JIMMY
Give me one.
PENNY
One dollar.
JIMMY
Fuck you. I know you cut it with
shit, and you only bought a nickel
bag from Roger. How do you have so
much to sell?
PENNY
Maybe Roger isn’t my only
supplier.
JIMMY
Bullshit.
PENNY
Fine. You can wait around for that
degenerate to show up, get your
weed from him.
Penny bikes away from Jimmy. He watches her bike over to
Lauren.
PENNY (CONT’D)
Let’s go. Stripes is playing at
Blue Star. I’m buying.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
15 -
A Carefree Moment in the Alley
EXT. BLUE STAR CINEMA - DAY
Penny and Lauren slide their bikes into the rack, lock up fast.
They take off, sneakers slapping pavement as they disappear
around to the alley behind the theater.
EXT. ALLEY BEHIND BLUE STAR - CONTINUOUS
Penny digs into her fanny pack, pulls out the joint and a Zippo
lighter.
She sparks up, takes a drag too hard. Coughs like she’s dying.
Hands it to Lauren.
Lauren inhales deep, trying to play it cool. Big mistake. She
chokes, eyes watering, but forces it down. Hands the joint
back.
LAUREN
Should we smoke the whole thing?
PENNY
I don’t think so. Two more hits.
See what happens.
They pass it back and forth, the alley swallowing their
laughter.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
16 -
Laughter in the Dark
INT. BLUE STAR CINEMA - LATER
Penny and Lauren are cracking up, stuffing their faces with
popcorn and candy. They can’t stop laughing.
INSERT - “STRIPES” PLAYING ON THE MOVIE SCREEN
FRANCES
I don’t like nobody touching me.
Now any of you homos touch me...
and I’ll kill ya.
HULKA
Lighten up, Frances. You’re all in
this together. One of these men
may save your life one of these
days, you understand that?
WINGER
Then again maybe one of us won’t.
BACK TO SCENE
INT. BLUE STAR CINEMA – CONTINUOUS
Lauren leans over, laughing, whispering something Penny can’t
even process.
The theater warps. Voices stretch. Penny stares at her fingers.
Back at the screen.
PENNY (V.O.)
We got so stoned off half a joint.
It was fun, until it wasn’t.
The screen distorts. The theater echoes, voices turning to
static.
PENNY (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Lack of control. I knew this
feeling. I’ve seen where it leads.
THEATER PATRON (O.S.)
Quiet down!
Lauren tries to hold it in, but bursts into uncontrollable
giggles.
LAUREN (gasping)
I peed my pants!
PENNY
No! Oh my God.
They clamp their hands over their mouths, stifling laughter as
the movie rolls on.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Comedy","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
17 -
A Dark Deal at the Hangover Club
INT. THE HANGOVER CLUB, NEWARK, NJ - DAY
The front door creaks open, spilling daylight into the dimly
lit strip club. Bill steps inside, blinking against the dark as
his eyes slowly adjust.
We see a smokey bar, surrounding a stage with a stripper pole
in the middle. Two dancers are on stage dancing to “Dazz” by
Brick for the scant patrons sitting at the bar.
Bill sees FAT TONY LUCCHESE at the end of the bar. Leisure
suit, slicked-back hair, the kind of guy who doesn’t need to
raise his voice to be heard. A snifter of Sambuca sits next to
an untouched espresso. The ashtray is filled to the brim with
cigarette butts.
Bill moves through the crowd to Fat Tony, slips a thick
envelope from his pocket and sets it beside Tony’s Sambuca.
BILL
Roger’s light.
Tony doesn’t flinch. He takes a drag from his cigarette, places
it in the dirty ashtray, and just taps the envelope with his
pinky ringed finger, slow, knowing.
FAT TONY
This is becoming a bad habit with
this guy.
A sip of Sambuca. His eyes lift, finally meeting Bill’s.
FAT TONY (CONT’D)
No one will miss him. You know
what to do.
BILL
Consider it done.
Bill turns, already moving. No more words needed.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
18 -
A Risky Proposition
EXT. SAM’S DELI - DAY
Penny and Lauren sit on the stoop at Sam’s Deli, a corner
grocery store. Roger approaches on the bicycle.
Penny gets up from the stoop and makes eye contact, waving
Roger over.
ROGER
(goofy smile)
Hello ladies.
PENNY
I need another nickel bag.
ROGER
So soon? I’m out of bags, but if
you want to follow me to my house
I can hook you up?
Penny and Lauren reluctantly look at each other and shrug their
shoulders.
PENNY
Don’t try anything weird.
Roger starts pedaling away.
ROGER
1879 Brook Ave. The house with the
lime green door. Stay a block
behind me.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
19 -
A Tense Exchange
EXT. ROGER’S HOUSE – MOMENTS LATER
A knock on the lime green door.
It swings open. Roger stands there, a wall of stale cigarette
smoke rolling out behind him.
ROGER
Anybody follow you?
PENNY
No.
ROGER
Get in.
Penny and Lauren step inside. Roger sticks his head out, scans
the street, then ducks back in, slamming the door shut.
INT. ROGER’S KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS
Roger motions to the table by the window.
Penny and Lauren don’t move. No room to sit—chairs buried under
newspapers, pizza boxes, garbage.
Penny takes it in. Eyes the tiny bedroom off to the side.
Filthy mattress, piles of clothes.
Lauren presses herself against the wall, eyes darting.
ROGER
Wait here.
INT. ROGER’S LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Roger kneels, shoves aside a grimy coffee table. Peels back a
disgusting area rug, revealing a trap door.
He glances toward the kitchen—nobody watching.
Except Penny. She catches the whole thing in the reflection of
a glass cabinet.
INT. ROGER’S KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS
Penny and Lauren wait.
LAUREN (whispering)
It smells disgusting in here.
Penny shushes her, then casually unlatches the window next to
the table.
Lauren stares, confused, then jumps as Roger reappears.
He digs into a paper bag, pulls out a baggie of weed, tosses it
to Penny.
ROGER
Here you go.
Penny fishes out a five-dollar bill, hands it over.
ROGER (CONT’D)
If you get tired of that, I got
other stuff… black beauties,
ludes…
PENNY
Good to know.
Roger cracks the door, checks the street.
ROGER
Now get out. I got more business
to take care of.
Penny and Lauren don’t argue. They step out into the fresh air,
fast.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
20 -
Risky Decisions
EXT. ROGER’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Penny and Lauren hop on their bicycles and quickly pedal away.
EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS
Lauren flies down the street, grinning, breathless. Penny right
behind her.
LAUREN
Oh, man! That was crazy! I can’t
believe we did that.
PENNY
I’m gonna go back after he leaves
and steal his stash.
LAUREN
What?? Are you crazy?
PENNY
He’ll never suspect us.
LAUREN
Us?? No way, I’m not going back
there.
PENNY
He keeps all his shit in the floor
in the living room. I’m gonna
climb through the kitchen window.
I’ll do it tomorrow afternoon
after he leaves his house.
Lauren stops her bicycle. Penny stops next to her.
LAUREN
Do you have any idea who you’re
dealing with? My dad says Roger is
a huge scum bag with ties to the
Newark mob. You do something like
that and fuck with these people,
they are gonna find you and kill
you.
PENNY
How does your dad know that?
LAUREN
I don’t know..he just knows.
Lauren looks down at her sneaker. She starts fidgeting with the
laces.
PENNY (V.O.)
And that was the first time Lauren
ever lied to me.
LAUREN
He’ll know it was you!
PENNY
The only way he’ll know is if
someone tells him. And that ain’t
happening. He’s too stupid to
figure it out.
As Penny and Lauren argue the point, Roger can be seen in the
background leaving his house. Penny and Lauren see this.
PENNY (CONT’D)
He’s leaving. I’m going now.
LAUREN
Penny!!
Penny kicks off, pedaling hard in the opposite direction.
Lauren watches her go, shakes her head, then turns her bike the
other way.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
21 -
Caught in the Act
EXT. ROGER’S STREET – MOMENTS LATER
Penny stashes her bike behind a hedge, eyes locked on the house
with the green door.
She moves fast, cutting into the side yard.
PENNY (V.O.)
In hindsight, maybe I should’ve
listened to Lauren.
She pries open the window, hauls herself up, and slips inside.
INT. ROGER’S KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS
Penny lands hard on the dirty floor. Quickly pushes up, closes
the window.
She moves to the front door, peeks out.
PENNY (V.O.)
But if I had, my life wouldn’t
have turned out the way it did.
EXT. ROGER’S STREET – CONTINUOUS
Penny’s POV—empty street, quiet.
INT. ROGER’S HOUSE – CONTINUOUS
She moves fast, into the living room, peeling back the filthy
rug.
The hatch creaks as she pulls it open. Penny reaches in, yanks
out two paper bags.
She rips one open, eyes widen. Wads of cash.
The second bag, bricks of weed.
A beat. Then, she’s on her feet, moving.
INT. ROGER’S KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS
Penny yanks open cabinets, rummages. Grabs a garbage bag,
hurries back.
INT. ROGER’S LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS
She shoves the two paper bags into the garbage bag, seals it
up.
The hatch closes. Rug back in place.
She turns to leave. FREEZES.
A car door slams outside.
Penny drops, heart hammering. Voices, Roger. Another man.
She spins, desperate. No way out. No place to hide, except
behind the couch.
She grabs the garbage bag and dives behind it, curls tight,
barely breathing.
Genres:
["Crime","Thriller","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
22 -
The Final Confrontation
INT. ROGER’S KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS
The front door swings open.
Roger steps in first, tense. Behind him lurks Bill and BABY
JOHN, early twenties, built like a wrecking ball and Bill’s
muscle.
BILL
You better not come up light this
time.
ROGER
It’s all good. I swear.
INT. ROGER’S LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Penny huddles behind the couch, peeking through a gap.
Roger drops to his knees, pulls back the rug.
Bill and Baby John hover, silent, scary.
ROGER
Boss is gonna be very happy...
He reaches in, hand comes up empty.
His body stiffens. Panicking.
ROGER (CONT’D)
Wait a second… everything’s gone…
Bill sighs, shakes his head.
BILL
Roger, Roger, Roger. You think I’m
a schnook?
Roger whips his head up, desperate.
Baby John pulls a rope from his pocket, starts wrapping it
around his hands.
ROGER
WAIT!! Two girls—from East End
School. They must’ve seen my
stash… Baby John… please!
BILL
What girls?
ROGER
One was named Penny. I don’t know
the other girl’s name.
Penny presses herself deeper into the couch, barely breathing.
BILL
Penny? What were they doing here?
ROGER
Buying another nickel bag!
Bill stares at Roger. A long, quiet beat.
Then he looks at Baby John, gives him a nod.
Rope snaps tight around Roger’s throat.
He thrashes, feet kicking, hands clawing. Struggles. Gurgles.
Twenty seconds. Then nothing.
Baby John lets go.
Roger’s body collapses with a thud.
His lifeless eyes land on Penny’s.
She stares back, frozen. Horrified.
BILL
Come back when it’s dark. Bag him
up. Toss him in the trash. I’ll
pick him up with the truck, take
him to the landfill with the rest
of the garbage. And make sure you
don’t leave any prints.
BABY JOHN
What about the girls?
BILL
Probably another bullshit excuse.
Money’s long gone. Let’s go.
Penny listens as they walk out.
Two car doors slam.
Engine starts. Fades.
Silence.
PENNY (V.O.)
Watching Baby John snuff the life
out of Roger… let’s just say, in
that moment, I knew, power is
everything
She uncurls from behind the couch, eyes locked on Roger’s
corpse.
Penny grabs the bag, moves to the kitchen window.
Slides it open. Climbs out.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
23 -
Hiding in Plain Sight
EXT. STREET - LATER
Penny pedals as fast as she can. She tears into her driveway,
runs into the side basement door.
INT. PENNY’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Penny flies down the basement steps and runs over to a hole in
the wall, revealing a crawl space that is under a portion of
the house.
PENNY (V.O.)
I knew Bill would be coming for
me, so I needed to come up with a
plan to stay alive. I just wasn’t
sure if that plan included Lauren.
She tosses the bag inside the crawl and heads back up the
basement steps to the outside.
EXT. PENNY’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Penny jumps on her bicycle and pedals out to the street. She
takes a deep breath and tries to calm herself. She continues in
the direction of East End School.
EXT. PLAYGROUND – MOMENTS LATER
Penny rolls up to the playground.
Lauren swings lazily next to Jennifer.
Penny hops off her bicycle, heads for the monkey bars.
Lauren drops from the swing, runs over.
LAUREN
Well??
PENNY
I got cold feet. You were right.
Bad idea.
LAUREN
Really? So where were you this
whole time?
PENNY
Ran home. Had to go to the
bathroom, then my dad made me
unload the dishwasher. I hate
doing that.
Lauren grabs onto the monkey bars, swings her legs, not looking
at Penny.
LAUREN
At least you have a dishwasher. I
hate doing the dishes.
PENNY (V.O.)
She knows I’m full of shit. Lauren
always looks away when she’s
scared, nervous, or lying. It’s
her tell.
LAUREN
Speaking of, I gotta go. My mom
wants me home by five to help with
dinner. You wanna eat over? We’re
having chicken parm.
PENNY
Nah. My dad wants me home too.
I’ll ride with you.
Lauren drops from the monkey bars, they hop back on their
bikes.
They pedal off together.
PENNY (V.O.)
I had to stay close to Lauren for
my own safety. But I sure as hell
wasn’t staying for dinner.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
24 -
Unsettling Encounters
EXT. STREET - LATER
Penny and Lauren bike towards their houses. A big, red 1981
Cadillac Coupe Deville drives towards the girls.
LAUREN
There’s my Dad! He got a new car.
Bill pulls up next to the girls. He’s smoking a cigarette as he
rolls down the power window.
LAUREN (CONT’D)
It’s got power windows. Isn’t that
cool? Hi Dad!
BILL
Hi girls.
PENNY
Hi Mr. Halvorsen. Nice car.
BILL
Were are you girls coming from?
Lauren and Penny, in unison, say “playground.”
LAUREN
I’m heading home to help Mom with
dinner.
BILL
Bring Penny with you. It’s chicken
parm night.
Bill smiles at Penny, looking her directly in the eyes. Penny,
fearless, directly meets his gaze.
PENNY
I can’t. My dad is waiting for me.
A beat.
She plasters on a fake smile, keeps her voice even.
PENNY (CONT’D)
Well, gotta go. And great car!
LAUREN
Call me later!
Penny drives off, pedaling away fast.
Lauren lingers next to the car.
BILL
Everything ok? You girls behaving
yourselves?
LAUREN
Yea. Everything’s good. I’ll race
you home!
She takes off toward her house.
Bill doesn’t follow—just watches Penny, disappearing down the
street.
EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS
Penny feels Bill’s stare burning into her back.
She turns into her empty driveway, stops. Looks back.
Bill’s Caddy creeps down the street, slow. Watching.
She doesn’t go inside. Instead, she pivots—heads toward City
Hall.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
25 -
Desperate Plea
EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS
Penny rides past an old Victorian, now chopped into apartments.
Two police cruisers sit out front.
A woman’s voice cuts through the air—loud, furious.
EXT. FRONT PORCH - CONTINUOUS
MARY ROE, mid-thirties, frazzled, worn down in her Howard
Johnson’s waitress uniform, waves an eviction notice in the
air.
Jimmy stands beside her, shoulders tight, head low.
OFFICER ROCCO, early twenties, baby-faced but hard-eyed, stands
firm.
MARY
I told the landlord he’ll have his
money tomorrow! Jesus Christ, I’m
on my way to work right now, and
you two are gonna get me fired for
being late! What am I supposed to
do with my kid? My deadbeat ex
doesn’t give me shit!
OFFICER ROCCO
Mary, I can put this off for forty
eight hours, but that’s it. We
will be back with the Sheriff if
you’re not caught up by then.
That’s the best I can do.
MARY
Just let me get goin’ to work
already!
Genres:
["Drama","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
26 -
A Moment of Escape
EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS
Penny watches as the two police officers walk back to their
cars and drive away. Jimmy stands next to his mom, who is
reeling.
JIMMY
What are we gonna do?
Mary turns, sudden, slaps Jimmy. Hard.
He flinches, pressing a hand to his cheek.
MARY
We?? What are WE gonna do? I wish
you were never born. You’re the
reason I’m in this situation.
She crumples the eviction notice, tosses it, then storms
inside.
Jimmy stares at the ground, nursing his cheek. Then glances up—
sees Penny watching.
JIMMY
Oh, great.
Penny bikes over to Jimmy.
PENNY
You ok?
JIMMY
What do you think?
Penny hops off of her bicycle and picks up the crumpled piece
of paper.
INSERT - EVICTION NOTICE
Notice reads, “As of June 28, 1981, the past due rent in the
amount of $874 is due.”
BACK TO SCENE
JIMMY (CONT’D)
And what are you doing here?
PENNY
I was on my way to see my dad. I
didn’t want to go home by myself.
The front door swings open again.
Mary steps out, purse in hand, cigarette dangling from her
lips.
She spots Penny. Eyes her up and down.
MARY
Penny Walsh. What do you want.
PENNY
Just saying hi to Jimmy.
Mary takes a long drag of her cigarette.
MARY
Start packing up your shit. I
have to figure out where we’re
going. There’s a box of mac and
cheese for dinner.
Mary walks down the stoop and gets into a beat-up 1976 Ford
Pinto. She drives off.
JIMMY
I’m so sick of mac and cheese. Why
don’t you want to go home?
Penny ignores the question.
PENNY
(Looking at notice) What are you
gonna do?
JIMMY
What we always do. Crash with some
of my mom’s loser friends until we
find another shit hole to get
thrown out of.
PENNY
That sucks.
JIMMY
At least your mom died. Mine’s a
fucking nightmare.
PENNY (V.O.)
Jimmy always had a way of cutting
through the bull shit and calling
things for what they were.
Penny gets on her bicycle.
JIMMY
Hey, do you have any weed?
Penny stops and takes a half smoked joint out of her pocket and
hands it to Jimmy.
PENNY
Here. Take it. I’m done with this
shit.
JIMMY
Thanks.
Jimmy takes the joint as Penny bikes away.
EXT. STREET – CONTINUOUS
Jimmy lights up.
Penny watches him take a drag, then—
PENNY
You should be, too.
Jimmy pauses, exhales smoke.
JIMMY
Be what?
PENNY
More than this. More than…all of
it.
Jimmy studies her, like maybe for the first time.
Penny doesn’t wait for an answer. She bikes off, pedaling into
the night.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
27 -
A Father's Concern
INT. MAYOR’S OFFICE - LATER
Mayor Ed Walsh sits at his desk in city hall. Detective Norman
Jenkins is finishing up a meeting with him and gets up from his
chair.
NORMAN
I’ll let you know when the sting
is all set up. This guy Roger is a
small fish in a big pond. But
we’ll get him.
ED
Keep me posted.
Penny pokes her head into the office.
PENNY
Hi Dad. Hi Detective Jenkins.
ED
Penny! We were just talking about
you kids. Do you know some guy
named Roger? He’s been hanging
around the playground the past few
weeks.
PENNY
Yea, he’s a real dirtbag. He was
there the other day, when you
pulled up, remember?
NORMAN
You said he was looking for
someone. Do you know who he was
looking for?
PENNY
Um, I think it was someone named
John.
NORMAN
Baby John?
PENNY (V.O.)
Shit, that was a screw up. I
should’ve said Steve or Paul.
Penny is caught off guard.
PENNY
Yea, Baby John.
Norman looks at Ed.
NORMAN
That’s our guy.
PENNY
What’s up?
Ed gets up from his desk and walks over to Penny.
ED
I want you and Lauren to stay away
from the playground for a few
days. Some stuff is going on and I
don’t need you getting in the
middle of it, understood?
PENNY
Yes sir.
ED
What are you doing here?
PENNY
Can we get a pizza at Alfonso’s?
ED
Pepperoni?
Penny nods with approval.
ED (CONT’D)
Norm, can you grab Penny’s bicycle
and throw it in the K9 truck? Get
Rocco to drop it off at the house.
NORMAN
Sure thing, boss.
ED
Let’s go.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
28 -
Dinner Tensions
INT. LAUREN’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Lauren, her nine-year-old sister, KRISTEN, their mother,
MAUREEN, mid-thirties, and Bill sit at the dinner table.
Maureen, drenched in tacky jewelry, smokes as she eats.
KRISTEN
I don’t like the chicken. It’s too
veiny.
MAUREEN
Then eat your pasta.
LAUREN
The chicken’s the best part.
Lauren reaches for Kristen’s plate. Kristen swats her hand,
knocks over her water, soaking herself and the floor.
MAUREEN
Girls! Knock it off!
She pushes up from the table, heads to the kitchen.
Kristen storms off.
KRISTEN
Feels like I wet my pants!
Lauren and Bill keep eating.
BILL
So what were you and Penny up to
today?
LAUREN
Nothing. Just hanging out.
BILL
Why were you at Roger’s house?
Lauren stiffens.
BILL (CONT’D)
I told you to stay away from that
guy.
LAUREN
Dad, I swear, I don’t know who
you’re talking about.
Bill stops eating. Looks her dead in the eyes.
LAUREN (CONT’D)
Oh wait… you mean that gross guy
with the pink basket? We saw him
there the day after Field Day.
BILL
You ever been to his house?
LAUREN
No… well, just once. But I swear,
we’re never going back. Ever.
BILL
Did you take anything?
LAUREN
No!
BILL
What about Penny?
Lauren hesitates.
LAUREN
I don’t think so, but I don’t know
for sure. I swear it. She wanted
to go back and steal his stash,
but I told her not to.
Maureen returns to the table. Kristen follows, now in dry
clothes.
MAUREEN
More chicken?
BILL
I’m good. It was delicious.
He stands.
MAUREEN
Where you going?
BILL
Bowling. Meeting the boys at
Somerset Rec.
He heads for the door.
MAUREEN
Bill!
He stops, turns.
MAUREEN (CONT’D)
Your bowling ball?
Bill grabs the bag by the door, heads out.
Lauren lets out a long breath.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
29 -
A Slice of Tension
INT. ED’S CAR - NIGHT
Ed sits in the driver’s seat, car idling in front of Alfonso’s
Pizzeria. Penny opens the front passenger door and hops in with
the pizza. She sets it on her lap for a moment, but then
quickly lifts the box.
PENNY
It’s hot!
ED
Wait a minute.
ED reaches in the back seat and grabs a jacket. He puts it on
Penny’s lap.
ED
Try now.
Penny lowers the pizza onto her lap.
PENNY
Better.
ED
That smells good.
EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS
Ed puts the car in drive and pulls forward to the traffic
light. Bill is stopped at the intersection, going in the
opposite direction.
INT. ED’S CAR - CONTINUOUS
Ed looks at the Cadillac stopped at the light.
ED (CONT’D)
Wow. Look at that Caddy.
Penny knows exactly who it is driving the car.
PENNY
That’s Mr. Halvorsen’s new car. It
has power windows.
Bill drives past Ed and Penny in the opposite direction. Penny
puts her arm up to block her face.
ED
Pretty fancy ride for a garbage
man.
PENNY
You think?
Ed looks over at his daughter sensing something is off.
ED
Something wrong?
PENNY
No. I’m just hungry. And thirsty.
Penny smiles at her dad.
ED
Me too. We’re almost home.
Genres:
["Drama","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
30 -
Counting the Cost
INT. PENNY’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Penny closes the nearly empty pizza box, clears the table.
Ed walks into the living room, grabs the TV channel box—
tethered to the set by a long cable.
He clicks the TV on, settles into his favorite chair.
INSERT – TV SCREEN
The ticking clock. Opening credits of 60 Minutes.
BACK TO SCENE
Penny peeks around the corner.
PENNY
I’m gonna go downstairs and do
some laundry.
ED
OK. I’ll be here.
She heads for the basement door.
INT. BASEMENT – CONTINUOUS
Penny hurries down the stairs, stops at the landing.
Checks the side door—locked.
She continues down, crosses to the crawl space. Reaches in.
Pulls out the bag.
At the folding table, she dumps the cash out—stacks of bills
hitting the surface.
Then— the phone rings.
She grabs it fast.
SPLIT SCREEN
PENNY
Hello?
LAUREN (urgent, hushed)
My dad knows we were at Roger’s
house.
PENNY
How?
LAUREN
He started asking me all sorts of
questions. I couldn’t lie.
PENNY
What kinds of questions?
LAUREN
Like if we took anything.
PENNY
That’s weird. Why would he ask us
that? And how does he know Roger?
LAUREN
Are you sure you didn’t go back
there?
PENNY
No way. Got too creeped out. I’d
never go back there.
(beat)
I’m done with this whole weed
thing. I just wanna forget we ever
went there. Deal?
LAUREN
Deal.
PENNY
Good. If he asks again, stick to
the story. Which is the truth. We
were there once. That’s it.
LAUREN
Got it.
MAUREEN (O.S.)
Lauren! Dishes!
LAUREN
I gotta go. Bye.
PENNY
Bye.
Penny hangs up.
BACK TO SCENE
She stares at the cash.
A long beat.
She pulls the crumpled eviction notice from her pocket, smooths
it out.
Starts counting.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
31 -
A Routine Turned Tragic
EXT. STREET – DAY
Bill drives the garbage truck down the block, stopping house to
house.
His helper moves fast, lifting cans, dumping them with ease.
They pull up in front of Roger’s house.
Bill climbs out, grips the heavy can, helps hoist it into the
truck.
He hits the compactor switch. Metal groans. Trash crushes.
Bill hops back in, shifts into drive, keeps moving.
EXT. TOWN LANDFILL – LATER
Bill steers the truck into the dump, backs it toward the trash
pile.
He climbs out, hits the hydraulic lever.
Trash spills out, sliding down the heap.
Bill jumps back in, pulls forward.
A front loader rolls in behind him.
INT. FRONT LOADER – CONTINUOUS
MACK, the front loader operator, shifts into drive, moves in.
The metal shovel rises high, tilts, dumps trash onto the pile.
Something catches his eye.
Mack freezes. Stares.
A hand.
Pale. Still. Sitting at the top of the heap.
MACK
What the fuck…
He leans forward, stomach tightening.
MACK (CONT’D)
Oh God… not again.
He grabs his radio.
MACK (CONT’D)
We got a Code 7.
EXT. TOWN LANDFILL – LATER
The dump buzzes with detectives and uniformed cops.
Forensic techs comb through the trash pile—gloved hands
sifting, cameras flashing, evidence bagged and tagged.
Norman, sharp, unshakable, stands at the base of the heap,
watching it all unfold.
A car pulls in fast.
Ed steps out, moves straight to Norman.
NORMAN
Well, we found Roger. Forensics is
on the way to his house on Brook
Ave.
ED
Damn. He was our only leverage for
taking down Lucchese.
He scans the scene, hands on hips.
ED (CONT’D)
We need to find something, or my
reelection bid is going to shit.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
32 -
Shadows at the Playground
EXT. PLAYGROUND - DAY
Penny and Lauren are swinging on the swings. The usual kids are
hanging by the wall, smoking cigarettes. A few boys play hoops.
Jimmy Roe drives up on his bicycle and stops by the swings.
JIMMY
You guys hear about Roger?
LAUREN
No. What?
JIMMY
He’s dead. They found his body in
the landfill.
LAUREN
Holy shit!
JIMMY
The cops are at your house right
now talking to your dad because it
was his garbage route that dumped
him.
PENNY(to Lauren)
Maybe that’s why he asked you
about Roger?
LAUREN
My dad has nothing to do with
this.
Lauren, annoyed, jumps off of the swing.
Penny goes after her.
PENNY
I didn’t say he did.
Lauren jumps on her bicycle and pedals off.
PENNY (CONT’D)
Lauren! I better go after her.
Jimmy grabs Penny’s arm as she walks by him.
JIMMY
Wait. Someone paid my mom’s back
rent.
PENNY
That’s good.
JIMMY
Was that you?
Penny shakes Jimmy off of her.
PENNY
What if it was?
JIMMY
Why did you do that? And where did
you get the money?
PENNY
I need to go after Lauren...
Penny looks away for a moment trying to steady herself. She’s
about to pedal away when Jimmy more gently touches her arm.
She stops.
JIMMY
Thanks. I owe you one.
Penny and Jimmy lock eyes.
PENNY
Come to my house after 9 pm. The
side door. Make sure nobody sees
you.
Penny hops on her bike and pedals away.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
33 -
Tensions Unraveled
EXT. LAUREN’S HOUSE – MOMENTS LATER
Lauren pulls up fast, skidding to a stop. Norman’s blue Dodge
Diplomat sits parked out front.
She jumps off her bike, runs inside.
Penny arrives just as Lauren disappears inside. She doesn’t
follow right away. Watches. Thinking.
INT. LAUREN’S HOUSE – CONTINUOUS
Bill Halvorsen sits at the table with Detective Norman Jenkins.
A mugshot book lies open between them. Bill flips through the
pages, feigning interest.
BILL
...they all look the same. I can’t
tell.
He looks up, casual smile.
BILL (CONT’D)
Hi, Lauren… hey, Penny.
Penny stands in the doorway behind Lauren.
Lauren frowns.
LAUREN
Dad, what’s going on?
BILL
That creep Roger got whacked.
NORMAN
Your dad’s trying to help us out.
(MORE)
NORMAN (CONT’D)
He called to let us know he saw
someone near Roger’s house on his
morning run. Might be our guy.
PENNY (V.O.)
This guy was good. I couldn’t
believe this was my best friend’s
dad. Dangerous.
BILL
He was moving fast. Hoodie up.
Looked like trouble. Didn’t get a
good look at his face.
PENNY
Any other clues?
NORMAN
We lifted some prints on the
window, but they’re from a kid.
We’re running it through the
database just in case we find a
match, but I doubt a kid took out
Roger and stuffed him in a garbage
can.
BILL
Well, at least it’s one less piece
of scum on the street.
He glances at Penny. Just for a second.
BILL (CONT’D)
See, girls? That’s why you stay
away from guys like that.
Norman closes the mugshot book, stands.
NORMAN
Thanks, Bill. Appreciate your
help.
Bill walks him to the door.
BILL
I just wish there was more I could
do.
Norman pauses. Thinks.
NORMAN
Actually, can you keep your eyes
open for a guy named John? Maybe
Baby John?
(beat)
NORMAN (CONT’D)
We think he’s a soldier in the
Lucchese crime family out of
Newark. Roger was involved with
him somehow.
Penny freezes. Blood drains from her face.
Bill notices. A slow, knowing smile spreads across his lips.
BILL
Huh. I’ll keep my ears open. Bye,
Norm.
Norman nods and steps out.
Penny keeps her expression blank. Tries to.
BILL (CONT’D)
Lauren, get my keys? They’re by
the couch.
LAUREN
Sure.
She walks off. Penny tries to go after her.
Bill steps in front of her.
BILL (quiet, smooth)
I know it was you.
PENNY (shrugs, cool)
What was me?
BILL
This doesn’t have to get ugly.
Leave the stash and the money in
the playground dumpster. We forget
all about it.
PENNY
We? Forget about what? (Leans in,
political whisper) How you killed
Roger?
Bill squints at her. Studying. Calculating.
BILL
I didn’t kill anybody.
Penny takes a slow step forward. Holds his gaze.
PENNY
No, you didn’t. You just gave the
order.
(beat)
PENNY (CONT’D)
Be careful, Bill. Don’t threaten
me. I know people, too.
Lauren walks in, sensing the tension.
LAUREN
I can’t find your keys. What’s
going on?
Bill reaches into his pocket.
BILL
Oh. They were in my pocket the
whole time.
(grins, like it’s nothing.)
BILL (CONT’D)
Sorry, hun.
He grabs his jacket, heads for the door.
LAUREN
Where you going?
BILL
Union meeting. Tell your mother
I’ll be late.
Bill walks out.
Lauren turns to Penny.
LAUREN
What’s going on?
PENNY
He keeps pressing me about Roger.
Like we know something.
LAUREN
Well…do you?
PENNY (sharp)
I know what you know.
(beat)
PENNY (CONT’D)
Maybe you should ask why he cares
so much.
Maureen pokes her head in.
MAUREEN
Where’s your father?
LAUREN
Union meeting.
MAUREEN (muttering)
Son of a bitch.
She storms out.
Lauren turns back to Penny. Eyes narrowing.
LAUREN
You know what I think? I think you
went back to Roger’s and stole the
stash.
PENNY (low, cutting)
And I think your dad’s a dealer
for those scumbags in Newark. And
Roger was his mule.
Lauren stares at her. A long, cold beat.
LAUREN
And what if he was? That’s his
business, not ours.
PENNY
Lauren, your dad is a soldier for
Lucchese. A killer. I did go back.
I saw what they did to Roger.
Lauren stiffens.
LAUREN
So then you know what they’re
capable of. Just give back what
you stole. It’ll be over. Don’t
fuck with my dad’s business.
Penny backs up, shaking her head.
PENNY
I saw them kill Roger. You’re ok
with that?
LAUREN
Would you rather them kill you?
PENNY (V.O.)
The words and reality of the
situation stung like a swarm of
yellow jackets. Turns out blood
really is thicker than water.
Penny backs up. Shaking her head, she walks out the door.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
34 -
Unease at Dusk
EXT. LAUREN’S HOUSE – CONTINUOUS
The sun sets, casting long shadows across the street.
Penny grabs her bike, mounts it, then stops.
She scans the street. Something feels wrong.
She turns, heads around back.
Behind the house, she finds the broken fence that separates
Lauren’s yard from the neighbor’s.
She lifts her bike, hoists it over. Climbs over after it.
Hops on and pedals off down the next street.
EXT. STREET – CONTINUOUS
Penny pedals fast. Alert. Paranoid.
She glances back, nothing. But her nerves stay sharp.
A car engine hums behind her. Headlights sweep over her back.
She veers toward the curb, pedaling slow. Waits.
The car passes. Not Bill.
She exhales.
Turns into her driveway. Ditches the bike. Heads for the side
door.
Disappears inside.
Genres:
["Thriller","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
35 -
Anxiety in the Basement
INT. BASEMENT LANDING – CONTINUOUS
Penny steps in, locks the deadbolt behind her.
She leans against the door, breath catching in her chest.
Then, a knock.
She jolts.
It’s Jimmy.
She opens the door.
PENNY
Wait downstairs.
Jimmy slips past her, heads downstairs.
Penny moves the opposite direction, up to the kitchen.
INT. PENNY’S HOUSE – CONTINUOUS
She passes through the quiet kitchen.
Ed is passed out in his recliner, TV murmuring in the
background.
ON THE TELEVISION — A rerun of T.J. Hooker plays.
HOOKER (TV)
There’s a right way to do this,
Romano. You don’t get justice by
bending the law.
ROMANO (TV)
Then what do you do when the law
bends you?
HOOKER (TV)
You stand up. You don’t fold.
Penny glances at the screen, the irony humorous.
She doesn’t stop. She turns and heads back down the stairs.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
36 -
Desperate Alliances
INT. BASEMENT – CONTINUOUS
Penny meets Jimmy at the bottom.
Then heads to the crawl space. Reaches in. Pulls out the bag.
At the folding table, she dumps the contents. Cash and weed
spread across the surface.
JIMMY
What the fuck?
PENNY
I stole it. From Roger.
JIMMY
Why are you telling me this?
PENNY
Cause I need your help.
She holds up a thick wad of bills.
PENNY (CONT’D)
There’s 5K here, in this wad
alone. That’s enough for rent for
a year. It’s yours, and there’s
plenty more if you help me take
him down...
JIMMY
Who?
PENNY
Bill Halvorsen.
JIMMY
Are you shitting me?
PENNY
He killed Roger...well, he ordered
this guy, Baby John, to kill
Roger.
JIMMY
How the hell do you know that?
PENNY
Because I saw it happen. I went to
Roger’s house and was in the
middle of stealing his stash when
Roger showed up with Bill and Baby
John. I was hiding behind the
couch when they whacked him.
JIMMY
Holy shit.
PENNY
Before Roger died, he told Bill
that I was there earlier buying a
nickel bag. Doesn’t take a genius
to figure out who stole
everything.
JIMMY
What about Lauren?
PENNY
She knows exactly what her dad is
and she’ll never go against her
own father. I’m screwed. Bill’s
gonna take me out no matter what,
even if I don’t rat on him. I’m a
loose end.
JIMMY
So that’s how you paid my rent?
With stolen drug money??
PENNY
Basically, yea. I felt bad for
you. You could do something with
your life, besides being a loser.
I think you...I think you’re
special.
Penny looks away.
PENNY (CONT’D)
Not special like retarded, but
just, you know, smarter than the
rest. A survivor.
Jimmy studies Penny. He nods his head.
JIMMY
What do you need me to do?
PENNY
I need loyalty, Jimmy. If I’m
gonna survive, I need people who
won’t panic, who won’t betray me.
I want to go into politics, like
my dad. But I want to be more than
just the mayor of North
Plainfield. I want to be Governor,
and maybe someday President. But I
can’t be connected to a murder.
She hands him the wad of cash.
JIMMY
What’s the next move?
PENNY
Stay put until I figure that out.
JIMMY
I can do that.
CUT TO:
INT. PENNY’S LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
A hand rustling Ed’s shoulder, waking him up.
PENNY (V.O.)
But first I have to tell my dad.
ED
What’s wrong?
PENNY
I know who killed Roger.
ED
How?
PENNY
Because I was there when it
happened.
Genres:
["Crime","Thriller","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
37 -
A Dangerous Plan at Howard Johnson's
INT. HOWARD JOHNSON’S - NIGHT
Penny and Ed walk into Howard Johnson’s. They join Norman at a
nearby booth. A waitress immediately comes over with two menus.
ED
I’ll just get a coffee.
PENNY
Can I have a grilled frankfort
with sherbet and a chocolate milk?
The waitress leaves.
ED
I’m surprised you have an
appetite.
PENNY
Could be my last meal.
NORMAN
This is serious. Penny, I’m not
sure you realize what a mess
you’re in.
PENNY
I know. Mr. Halvorsen is a scary
dude. But I don’t think he’ll tell
anyone about me because if he
does, his own daughter is screwed.
He’s just gonna kill me. You gotta
arrest him.
NORMAN
We can’t just go around arresting
people. We need cause. Tell me
exactly what happened.
Penny hesitates, looking at her dad.
ED
Tell him.
PENNY
Remember the day after field day,
when you saw Roger at the
playground? That’s when I bought
the first nickel bag from Roger. I
saw all of the money Roger was
making, so I figured I could do
the same. Lauren and I went back
to my house and we decided to cut
the weed with tea, and then we
sold ten joints to other kids for
a dollar. We doubled our money
like that.
ED
So you decided to go into the drug
dealing business??
PENNY
Yea, but we needed more weed. So
when we saw Roger at Sam’s the
next day, we asked him for another
nickel bag, but he didn’t have any
on him. So we followed him back to
his house. When we were there, I
saw where he kept his stash hidden
in the floor. After we left, I
told Lauren that we should go back
and steal his stash. Lauren warned
me about Roger, she said her dad
told her that he had ties to the
Newark mob, but I didn’t listen. I
went back on my own, climbed
through the kitchen window..
NORMAN
Those are your prints?
PENNY
Yup. And as I was about to leave,
that’s when Roger came back with
Mr. Halvorsen and Baby John. So I
hid behind the couch and that’s
when it happened.
NORMAN
Mr. Halvorsen killed Roger?
PENNY
No, He gave Baby John the order.
He killed him. And then they left
the body and were gonna come back
later to throw him out with the
trash.
ED
What the hell were you thinking?
What do we do?
PENNY
He’s gonna kill me like he killed
Roger. But not until I drop
Roger’s stash in the dumpster at
East End school. So let’s give him
what he wants.
The waitress comes back with the coffee and food and places it
on the table. Penny takes a bite of her Frankfurt.
ED
You can’t have any ties to this.
No way. Norman, you need to get
rid of those prints.
NORMAN
Hang on, Ed. Penny’s right. We can
stake out the school and when Bill
grabs the stash, we pinch him.
ED
There’s no fucking way Penny is
getting involved. Nobody can know
she had anything to do with this.
PENNY
I have someone who’ll do the drop
for me. And he’s willing to admit
that he was the one who stole the
stash. He can be your witness to
get these guys.
ED
Who? And why would somebody do
this for you?
PENNY
I helped him out.
NORMAN
What did you do?
Penny continues eating.
ED
Penny! What did you do? We need to
know everything.
PENNY
When I took the stash, there was
also a significant amount of cash.
I paid the back rent Jimmy’s mom
owed. So now he owes me.
Ed and Norman look at each other, incredulous.
NORMAN
Alright. If he’s willing to take
the drop and the heat, we can work
with that.
PENNY
He won’t talk. He’s solid.
NORMAN
Let’s hope so. ‘Cause if he slips,
you both go down. What’s next.
PENNY
We need to head home so I can call
Bill, tell him I’m dropping the
stash.
ED
Let’s go.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
38 -
A Father's Concern
INT. SOMERSET REC - LATER
BARTENDER answers the phone.
BARTENDER
Somerset Rec...hang on. Bill! Your
daughter’s on the phone.
Bill walks over from the bowling area and grabs the phone.
BILL
Hey hun. What’s up?
SPLIT SCREEN
Penny is in her kitchen, talks into the phone. Norman, Ed and
Jimmy watch and listen
PENNY
It’s Penny. I’m making the drop
tonight after my dad falls asleep.
BILL
That’s a smart move. Then we can
put this behind us.
PENNY
If I see anyone, especially that
Baby John guy, it’s off.
BILL
Don’t worry. You’ll be safe. You
have my word.
BACK TO SCENE
Bill hangs up the phone.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
39 -
The Sting Operation
INT. PENNY’S HOUSE – CONTINUOUS
Penny hangs up the phone.
NORMAN
Let me set up the sting. You
understand you’re getting
arrested. You know what you need
to do and say?
ED
Penny cannot be connected to this.
JIMMY
I got this, just don’t let my mom
kill me.
EXT. EAST END SCHOOL – NIGHT
Deserted. Still. A light wind moves the empty swings.
In the background, on Penny’s bicycle, Jimmy rolls into the
parking lot.
He’s wearing a dark hoodie, pulled tight over his head making
him unrecognizable.
He pedals slowly, eyes scanning the lot.
A plastic grocery bag hangs from his handlebars — heavy,
awkward.
He rides to the back of the school where the green dumpster
sits, half-shrouded in shadow.
Jimmy stops. Listens.
No one.
He hops off the bike and lifts the lid of the dumpster. It
creaks louder than usual.
He pauses, takes one last look around.
Then quickly drops the bag in.
SLAM. Lid closed.
Back on the bike, he rides away — not fast, not slow. Just
steady. Controlled.
As he turns the corner and disappears into the night...
From across the lot, a pair of headlights flick on.
Genres:
["Crime","Thriller","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
40 -
Caught in the Act
EXT. EAST END SCHOOL – LATE NIGHT
The same dumpster. Still. Quiet.
A red Cadillac Coupe Deville rolls into the lot. Engine humming
low.
It pulls around to the back.
Bill steps out. Gloves on. He moves like a man who’s done this
before.
He heads straight for the dumpster. Pops the lid. Digs in.
Pulls out the bag. Opens it just enough to see inside,
confirms the product.
Suddenly...
FLOODLIGHTS ignite the lot.
Two unmarked cars screech in from both sides.
Norman and two detectives jump out, guns drawn.
NORMAN
Hands in the air, Bill! Right now!
Bill drops the bag.
Raises his hands, calm.
Almost smirking.
NORMAN (CONT’D)
Step away from the dumpster.
Bill obeys — slow and smooth. Like it’s not his first time
being caught.
NORMAN
On your knees. Hands behind your
head.
Bill drops to his knees. Eyes forward. That smirk’s gone.
Genres:
["Crime","Thriller","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
41 -
Fear and Truth
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET – MINUTES LATER
Jimmy rides his bike down a dark, quiet block. Hood still up.
Almost home.
Then...
RED AND BLUE LIGHTS.
A squad car cuts him off at the curb. Another pulls in behind
him.
TWO PLAIN CLOTHES DETECTIVES step out.
DETECTIVE 1
Off the bike, kid. Hands where we
can see ‘em.
Jimmy sighs, stops.
INT. POLICE STATION – INTERROGATION ROOM – NIGHT
A metal table. Fluorescent lights buzz overhead.
Jimmy sits across from Norman and two FBI agents, AGENT LEDECKI
and AGENT SIMMS — both mid-40s, suits tight, faces blank.
Jimmy keeps his hoodie on. Hands clasped in front of him. Calm.
SIMMS
Let’s go over this one more time.
How did you know Roger?
Jimmy shrugs, annoyed.
JIMMY
I already told you. I’d get my
weed from Roger at the playground.
I saw how much money he made. I
figured I could do the same.
LEDECKI
So you just happened to know where
he kept it?
JIMMY
I followed him home one day to buy
some more. I saw him stash it in
the living room floor. I came back
later. Took it. That’s it.
NORMAN
You broke into the house?
JIMMY
Through the kitchen window.
SIMMS
Why didn’t you run when you heard
them coming?
Jimmy leans forward, voice steady.
JIMMY
There was no time. I was already
inside when he showed up. So I
panicked. Hid behind the couch.
Because he wasn’t alone. That’s
when I saw Bill Halvorsen and some
other guy come in with him.
LEDECKI
Describe what you saw.
Jimmy’s eyes shift — not lying, just rearranging the truth.
JIMMY
Roger was on his knees, looking in
the trap door thing in the floor.
He panicked, because the stash was
gone, he blamed it on some girls
who were there earlier. That they
must have stolen the cash and
drugs. But Bill wasn’t buying it.
He gave the order to that big guy.
Next thing I know, Roger’s on the
floor, dead. I didn’t breathe. I
didn’t move. They just left him
there.
(MORE)
JIMMY (CONT’D)
Said they’d come back for the body
later and put him out with the
trash.
The agents exchange a glance. Norman stays quiet.
LEDECKI
You said he was looking for cash
and the drugs, but there was no
cash in the dumpster drop. What’d
you do with the cash?
JIMMY
I already told you, there was no
cash, just the weed.
SIMMS
Why didn’t you come forward?
JIMMY
Because I don’t want to end up in
a trash heap at the dump like
Roger.
The two agents stand, look at Norman.
LEDECKI
Can we step outside?
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
42 -
A Dangerous Revelation
INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Norman stands, arms folded, listening.
SIMMS
Roger was informing for us. And
now he’s dead, our case is shit
against Lucchese without him.
NORMAN
He was an informant? Holy shit.
What about the kid?
LEDECKI
We’ve been watching Roger for a
while, and we’ve seen the two of
them interact quite a bit. He
might be telling the truth.
NORMAN
I think so, too.
SIMMS
Either way, he’s useless to us.
You can cut him loose or do
whatever you want with him.
NORMAN
Do you think he’s in any danger?
SIMMS
I wouldn’t want to bet on him
living to see his sixteenth
birthday.
The FBI agents leave. Norman goes back in the room.
NORMAN
You’re in the clear. But we need
to keep you under wraps for a
while. For your own protection.
JIMMY
What are you gonna do with me?
NORMAN
I have an idea.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
43 -
Protective Custody
INT. POLICE STATION – HALLWAY – NIGHT
A North Plainfield Police officer walks Jimmy down the corridor
in handcuffs.
No dramatics. No resistance.
They reach the admin area, passing by Ed’s office.
PENNY sits just inside the open door. Pale. Waiting.
Jimmy glances over, Penny looks up.
They lock eyes.
Jimmy gives her a quick small smile.
She smiles back — heart pounding, proud of Jimmy.
INT. POLICE STATION HOLDING AREA - CONTINUOUS
The officer sits Jimmy in a cold metal chair, The DESK SERGEANT
sits behind the counter.
GUARD
Your arraignment’s tomorrow.
(MORE)
GUARD (CONT’D)
Might want to try and get some
sleep.
Jimmy says nothing. Dead-eyed. Done.
Norman steps into the holding area.
NORMAN
He’s coming with me.
DESK SERGEANT
On what authority?
NORMAN
Protective custody. Orders from
the top.
He flashes a signed transfer order.
DESK SERGEANT
He’s all yours.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
44 -
Loyalty Under the Stars
EXT. ROUTE 22 WEST - NIGHT
Norman’s cruiser drives down the highway.
INT. BLUE DODGE DIPLOMAT - CONTINUOUS
The light of other vehicles hits Jimmy’s face as he stares out
the window, silent.
NORMAN
You know this is only temporary.
We just want to keep you safe
until all of this blows over.
JIMMY
How do you know it’s gonna blow
over?
NORMAN
I don’t. Maybe you should have
thought about that before you
stuck your neck out for Penny.
Jimmy looks at Norman.
JIMMY
I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
NORMAN
Wow, someone’s got a crush.
JIMMY
Penny is the first person in my
life that ever gave a shit about
me. I’ll be loyal to her forever.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
45 -
A Warm Welcome
EXT. NORMAN’S MOTHER’S HOUSE - NIGHT
Norman’s MOTHER, a very spry early 70’s, all kindness and no
bullshit, opens the front door.
MOTHER
Get in here.
A modest but warm kitchen. Framed photos. A crocheted afghan
over the couch.
MOTHER (CONT’D)
You didn’t say he was this skinny.
NORMAN
Ma, this is Jimmy.
She cups Jimmy’s face, then turns to stir a pot on the stove.
MOTHER
You like meatballs? Sit. You’re
eating.
Jimmy glances at Norman. Norman nods.
Jimmy sits. Mother makes a plate and places it in front of him.
He takes a forkful, his eyes widen.
JIMMY
Oh my God, this is so good.
MOTHER
When you’re finished, we can watch
a movie. Superman is on HBO.
NORMAN
I gotta get back. Lock the doors.
MOTHER
We’ll be fine.
Norman leaves.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
46 -
Confrontation in the Kitchen
INT. WALSH KITCHEN – NIGHT
The kitchen is dim. Just the overhead stove light is on. Penny
sits at the table, arms crossed, her legs pulled in tight.
Ed stands by the sink, staring out the window. A half-drunk
glass of scotch in hand.
Norman knocks, then enters through the side door.
NORMAN
We may have a problem.
ED
Bill?
Norman nods.
NORMAN
Feds are pulling him in. They’re
gonna squeeze him hard. Murder
charge. Trafficking. Everything.
PENNY
You think he’ll talk?
NORMAN
I think he’ll flip to save his own
ass.
Penny’s breath catches. She stiffens but doesn’t blink.
PENNY
He knows it was me, confronted me
after you left. He told me if I
dropped the stash, he’d “forget
all about it.”
ED
You tell him it was you?
PENNY
I told him I saw him give the
order to kill Roger. So, yea.
Norman leans forward, serious.
NORMAN
If he gives up your name, they
dig. They connect dots. Jimmy. The
rent money. The stash. The window
prints. All of it.
ED
And if they start looking at you..
Ed turns from the window. Puts the scotch down. Looks at her.
ED (CONT’D)
I can protect you from the cops.
(beat)
I can’t protect you from the feds.
Silence. Penny holds his gaze. Listening, processing.
NORMAN
I’ve got a guy at County who could
do it quiet. Make it look like an
inmate-on-inmate thing.
ED
We clean this up now, and no one
ever finds the dirt.
He looks at Penny. Waiting for her to agree to it.
She doesn’t.
PENNY
No.
ED
No?
PENNY
Let’s let the dirty people do the
dirty work for us.
Ed and Norman exchange a look.
PENNY (CONT’D)
(reading off a folded page)
Saw in the Star-Ledger this
morning... Lucchese’s gonna be at
the Basilica on Sunday. Baptism
for some cousin’s kid.
She drops the page on the table.
PENNY (CONT’D)
We don’t need to risk your badge
or Dad’s job. I’ll talk to him
myself.
ED
Jesus, Penny—
PENNY
What?
(MORE)
PENNY (CONT’D)
I’m not asking him to do anything
he doesn’t already do for a
living.
NORMAN
How are you getting to Newark? We
can’t risk being tagged.
PENNY
I’ll take the bus and a taxi. I’ve
done it before. It’s a public bus,
and a church, in broad daylight.
I’ll be fine.
ED
Your mother would’ve called you a
little monster for this.
PENNY
She called me worse for much less.
A long, bitter pause.
PENNY (CONT’D)
And she was wrong about
everything.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
47 -
A Deal in the Shadows
EXT. BASILICA OF THE SACRED HEART – NEWARK – SUNDAY
MORNING
Crowds file in. Floral dresses, suits, baby-blue ribbons. A
BAPTISM banner flutters in the breeze.
Penny stands off to the side near a statue of Saint Michael.
She watches the front steps. Clutches a small envelope.
Lucchese exits the church with a small entourage, suits,
sunglasses, quiet muscle. He kisses cheeks. Smiles. Holds a
baby. Hands it off to the godparents.
As he turns, Penny steps up behind him, taps his shoulder.
Lucchese turns, looks down at Penny.
PENNY
It’s not for the collection plate.
She hands him the envelope, he knows by the weight what’s in
it.
LUCCHESE
Then what’s it for?
PENNY
A favor. For now. Loyalty, for
later.
Lucchese raises a brow, intrigued.
PENNY (CONT’D)
Bill Halvorsen’s in federal
custody. Singing like a canary.
They’re putting him in witness
protection. Unless someone stops
it.
Lucchese studies her. The baby screams somewhere behind them.
PENNY (CONT’D)
He’s sloppy. He’s dangerous. You
could do better. I did my part
bringing him down. Now I’m asking
you to finish it.
Lucchese glances at the envelope.
LUCCHESE
What’s this buy?
PENNY
A clean street. A message. And me.
LUCCHESE
You?
PENNY
I’m going places. You’ll want
someone there who picks up the
phone when you call.
Lucchese chuckles, small and low. He nods once, like she just
passed a test.
He reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a slim silver
pen. Offers it to her.
LUCCHESE
This pen can sign many futures.
She hesitates, then takes it.
LUCCHESE (CONT’D)
Tell your old man to keep his
hands clean. This one’s on the
house. (Beat) But favors... like
respect...they ain’t free forever.
He walks away.
Penny watches him go, alone in the crowd of celebration. She
doesn’t smile.
But she knows she just made her first real deal. She looks down
at the pen in her hand.
And finally pockets it.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
48 -
Bargaining for Survival
INT. FBI INTERROGATION ROOM – NIGHT
Bill sits slouched in a metal chair, cigarette smoldering
between two fingers. His jacket’s off, sleeves rolled up.
Across from him, Ledecki and Simms sit and study Bill.
Behind mirrored glass, Norman watches silently.
LEDECKI
We’re not here about your garbage
route, Bill. We’re here about what
you dumped on your garbage route.
BILL
(scoffs)
I didn’t dump anybody.
LEDECKI
But someone in your truck did. A
guy named Roger is real dead. Now
you can take the fall, or you can
give us someone worth trading for
life in prison.
Bill stares at the folder. Silent.
LEDECKI (CONT’D)
We know you were using Roger. We
know you were the middleman. What
we don’t know is how far up this
thing goes.
Bill takes a drag. Exhales slow.
BILL
Lucchese doesn’t get his hands
dirty. You want him, you’re gonna
need more than some dead burnout
in a trash heap.
SIMMS
So give us more. You know you’re a
dead man either way.
(MORE)
SIMMS (CONT’D)
And what about your wife and your
two precious daughters. You think
they’ll have a good life when
you’re in the tank? Give us
Lucchese, and we talk witness
protection. New name. New state.
Clean slate.
A long beat.
Bill leans in.
BILL
You want Lucchese? Then you need
to look at who’s protecting him.
The Mayor’s kid. Penny Walsh.
SIMMS
(sits back, confused)
Come again?
BILL
That conniving bitch was tight
with Roger. She stole his stash.
Probably set him up. She’s in
deep, and Daddy’s cleaning it all
up behind the scenes.
Simms exchanges a look with Ledecki.
LEDECKI
You’re telling me the Mayor’s
daughter is involved in a drug
ring tied to Fat Tony Lucchese?
BILL
That’s what I’m saying.
Simms leans forward.
SIMMS
You give us names. Places. Times.
Anything that implicates Lucchese
we’ll get you a deal.
Bill nods, eyes cold.
BILL
I want papers signed. Witness
protection for me and my family.
Someplace warm. I’m not going down
for this alone. I’ll get you what
you need.
Genres:
["Crime","Thriller","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
49 -
A Dangerous Revelation
INT. OBSERVATION ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Norman turns from the glass, face grim. He grabs the phone from
the wall and dials a number.
NORMAN
(into phone)
He just gave up Penny.
INT. MAYOR’S OFFICE – DAY
Ed paces as Norman finishes relaying the story. Ed runs a hand
through his hair.
ED
He gave up my daughter?
NORMAN
Didn’t even blink.
ED
Shit. What’s the Bureau doing?
NORMAN
It was a complete bullshit story,
their still trying to make sense
of it. They want Lucchese. Bill’s
just their ticket. But Penny’s
name’s on the record now.
Ed stops pacing. Looks at Norman.
ED
We need to shut him up. Before he
talks again. Stick him in the
county lockup.
NORMAN
Hear from Penny yet?
ED
She called from Newark, said it’s
done.
Norman nods once. Calm. Cold.
NORMAN
Ok. I guess we wait.
They say nothing more. The silence does the work.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
50 -
Fractured Bonds
EXT. MOUNTAIN AVENUE – DAY
The NJ Transit bus hisses as it pulls away from the curb.
Penny unlocks her bike. Swings her leg over and starts pedaling
down the block.
She glides past East End School, the playground half full, kids
chasing each other across cracked blacktop.
She slows. Sees Lauren, alone by the fence. Just watching.
Penny veers off. Coasts to a stop.
EXT. PLAYGROUND – CONTINUOUS
Penny walks her bike toward her.
PENNY
You okay?
Lauren doesn’t look at her.
LAUREN
You got what you wanted. Don’t act
like you care.
PENNY
I didn’t want this. Not like this.
LAUREN
Yeah? What’d you want, me to thank
you?
A long beat. Penny tries to find the right words. There aren’t
any.
PENNY
We were friends.
Lauren finally looks at her.
LAUREN
Well, my dad’s in jail, my sister
doesn’t understand what’s going on
and my mom hasn’t stopped
crying...I don’t think we’re
friends anymore.
Lauren stands up and meets Penny, face to face.
LAUREN (CONT’D)
I told you not to go back to
Rogers house, but you just
wouldn’t listen. It’s done and our
lives will never be the same.
PENNY
I’m sorry, I wish I could take it
back.
LAUREN
Spare me. My dad’s gonna find a
way to take you down. And I’ll be
there, enjoying every minute of
it.
She turns. Walks away without another word.
Penny stands there, bike between her hands, holding onto
something that’s already gone.
She doesn’t follow.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
51 -
Betrayal in the Lockup
INT. COUNTY LOCKUP – NIGHT
A CORRECTIONS OFFICER, mid-30s, blank face, steady stride,
walks with purpose down a concrete corridor. No clipboard. No
keys jangling. Just a folded bed sheet tucked under his arm.
He stops at a CELL.
Inside: Bill, lying on his back on a thin mattress, hands
behind his head, staring at the ceiling like he’s watching
something only he can see.
The CO unlocks the door. Doesn’t speak.
Bill turns his head.
BILL
Bit late for a snack, isn’t it?
OFFICER (Monotone)
Got some fresh sheets for you.
Bill sits up, rubbing one eye.
BILL
Any word about the transfer? I
gave ‘em everything.
OFFICER
Yeah. They sent this over.
The CO pulls a folded slip of paper from his pocket. Hands it
to Bill.
INSERT – PAPER
One word in bold, block letters: RAT.
BACK TO SCENE
Bill tries to lunge, but is too late.
A flash of metal, a hypodermic needle jams into Bill’s neck. He
flinches.
Then freezes.
Vecuronium hits fast. His limbs lock up. Eyes wide, breath
shallow. Still fully aware.
The CO moves fast.
He yanks the sheet open. Wraps it around Bill’s neck. Loops it
through the metal bar above the door.
Bill tries to speak. He can’t. Eyes terrified.
OFFICER
Fat Tony sends his best.
(leans in close)
You fucking rat.
The CO pulls down on the sheet. Hard. Lifts Bill off the
mattress.
Bill’s legs twitch. Then kick. Then nothing.
Fast. Brutal. Held long enough to make it look convincing.
The CO lets him hang there.
Grabs the “RAT” note from the floor and stuffs it in his
pocket.
Looks around the cell, pushes the mattress back properly
against the wall, erases any signs of a struggle. He walks out
of the cell, shutting the door behind him.
Genres:
["Crime","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
52 -
Chaos and Confrontation
INT. LOCKUP – MOMENTS LATER
ALARMS BLARE. Radios crackle. Officers shout over each other. A
medic runs down the hall.
Two COs reach Bill’s cell. Look in.
Bill hangs from the door. Lifeless. Face purple.
No one says a word.
INT. PENNY’S HOUSE – DAY
Ed and Penny sit at the table, eating bowls of cereal.
ED
Pass the juice.
A knock on the door.
PENNY
I got it.
Penny gets up from the table
INT/EXT. PENNY’S HOUSE – CONTINUOUS
Penny swings the door open—
LAUREN is on the porch. Tears streak her face. She’s shaking,
seething.
Before Penny can speak..WHAM.
Lauren lunges, slamming Penny back into the house.
INT. FOYER – CONTINUOUS
The two CRASH to the floor.
Lauren straddles Penny, swinging wildly.
LAUREN
You did this! You evil bitch!
PENNY
What are you talking about?! Get
off me!
Fists fly. Penny shields her face.
Then..
ED barrels in from the hallway, grabs Lauren off Penny, and
tosses her like a rag doll out the door.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
53 -
Chaos on the Porch
EXT. WALSH FRONT PORCH – CONTINUOUS
Lauren stumbles onto the steps.
Penny and Ed follow fast — Penny’s lip is bleeding.
LAUREN
My dad is dead!
(screaming)
They found him hanging in his
cell. He would never do that.
Never. You set him up!
Lauren is screaming at the top of her lungs. Neighbors hear the
commotion and start paying attention.
PENNY
Lauren..Jesus..I didn’t know. I
swear to God.
ED
Something happened to Bill?
LAUREN
Don’t play dumb!
(pointing at them both)
Fuck you..both of you are fucking
evil. I swear, I’ll kill you
myself. One day. You’re dead.
A police cruiser pulls up to the house. An OFFICER jumps out
ED
Go home, Lauren. Walk away while
you still can.
LAUREN
Go home? You’ve destroyed my home.
One last stare at Penny — cold, hateful.
Lauren picks up her bicycle as the officer is about to detain
her.
Ed waves the police officer off. Lauren bikes away.
Penny stands still on the porch, chest heaving, blood on her
lip.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
54 -
Unresolved Tensions
INT. MAYOR’S OFFICE – LATER
Dim light spills from Ed’s desk lamp. A police scanner murmurs
quietly in the corner.
Penny sits in a leather chair, legs curled up beneath her,
Norman stands near the window, eyes on the street.
INSERT - STREET
News trucks and reporters pack up their gear and load in from a
previous press conference.
BACK TO SCENE
Ed paces behind his desk.
NORMAN
It’s already making the rounds.
County’s calling it a suicide. No
autopsy pushback. Feds are backing
off.
ED
(sits, relieved)
Good. That chapter’s closed. I’m
glad we didn’t have to make that
call.
He looks over at Penny. She’s quiet. Too quiet.
ED (CONT’D)
The press conference went well and
once the media sets the
narrative...it’s done.
PENNY
(softly)
Nothing’s done. Lauren’s not gonna
let this go.
Ed studies her. Penny touches her split lip, wincing.
ED
Press has Bill pegged as a lone
wolf. No one’s digging. Look, this
is just politics. Sometimes you
win, sometimes you lose.
The room falls into a heavy silence.
Penny stands.
PENNY (CONT’D)
You taught me how to survive, Dad.
So did Mom. Now I just have to
figure out how to live with it.
She walks to the door.
ED
Penny..
She turns. He wants to say something comforting. But there’s
nothing left to say.
PENNY
Let’s just go home.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
55 -
Community Under Siege: The Fallout of a Drug Crisis
INT. WALSH LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
A TV glows in the corner. The local news is on.
ANCHORWOMAN (V.O.)
In a stunning development, North
Plainfield Police have made a
major breakthrough in the ongoing
investigation into the death of
local teenager Roger Serrano.
ON SCREEN: Mugshot of Bill Halvorsen, overlaid with the words:
DRUG KINGPIN DEAD IN JAIL.
ANCHORWOMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Authorities now confirm that
sanitation worker Bill Halvorsen
was the primary supplier in a
growing drug ring operating out of
Somerset County. Halvorsen was
arrested last week after police
caught him attempting to retrieve
narcotics from a school dumpster.
Cut to footage of East End School cordoned off with police
tape.
ANCHORWOMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Officials say Halvorsen may have
been responsible for the death of
19-year-old Roger Serrano, whose
body was found dumped in the
landfill last month.
Ed stands near the TV, drink in hand, unreadable.
ANCHORWOMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Halvorsen was discovered dead in
his jail cell earlier today.
Police say it appears to be a
suicide by hanging.
Cut to a press conference — Mayor Ed Walsh at the podium.
Flashes fire from cameras.
MAYOR WALSH (ON TV)
We’ve lost too many young people
to drugs. But this administration
made a promise to clean up our
streets—and we delivered.
Cut back to the anchor.
ANCHORWOMAN (V.O.)
North Plainfield police and Mayor
Walsh are being praised for their
swift action and community
leadership.
The screen fades into a campaign-style montage of Ed shaking
hands, hugging concerned mothers, placing flowers on a
memorial.
ANCHORWOMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Sources inside Town Hall say the
Mayor’s approval rating has jumped
significantly following the
arrests.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
56 -
Reflections of a Hero
INT. PENNY’S BEDROOM – CONTINUOUS
Penny lies in her bed, staring at the ceiling
She doesn’t smile. Doesn’t blink.
Just watches as the world eats the story she wrote.
PENNY (V.O.)
Funny thing about heroes. Most of
the time, they’re not heroes at
all, they’re just the last guy
standing.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. HILTON HOTEL BANQUET HALL FLOOR - NIGHT (2024)
“Homegrown” by Zac Brown Band blares from the speakers.
We see a banquet waitress, and follow her making her way
through the crowd. She carries a tray in her right hand.
She weaves through the crowd, confetti raining down and landing
on her salt and pepper hair.
She looks up at the banner hanging over the stage: “Homegrown
Leadership, Jersey Roots: Penny Walsh for Governor!”
She looks to the wings of the stage. She sees Penny Walsh,
James Roe and other staffers toasting, celebrating with a glass
of champagne.
Genres:
["Drama","Political Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
57 -
Victory and Resentment
INT. BACKSTAGE - CONTINUOUS
Penny, 55 years old and the newly elected Governor of New
Jersey raises a glass of champagne to her staffers. James grabs
a glass of champagne and joins her.
PENNY
We did it!
JAMES
You did it. Are you ready
Governor?
PENNY
I’ve been ready for this my whole
life.
Penny hands her glass to a STAFFER and confidently strides to
the stage.
INT. BANQUET HALL FLOOR – CONTINUOUS
The server stops.
We finally see her face — Lauren Halvorsen. Eyes brimming with
rage.
Shoulders rigid. Lips pressed to a thin, white line.
She stares up at the woman basking in cheers.
Penny steps onto the stage, waving to the crowd like a queen
claiming her throne.
The crowd erupts in unison.
CROWD (singing)
HOMEGROWN!!
Penny grins. She motions for her team to join her. Joy, pride,
victory, everything she ever wanted, right there in the
spotlight.
Genres:
["Drama","Political","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
58 -
A Celebration Turned Tragedy
INT. BACKSTAGE – CONTINUOUS
James claps. For a second, he’s just proud.
Then something flickers in the crowd, wrong.
He squints. His eyes land on Lauren.
Frozen in place.
Empty tray in her hand.
Then, the tray drops revealing a black hand gun.
JAMES
PENNY!!
INT. BANQUET HALL FLOOR – CONTINUOUS
Lauren moves fast, with terrifying ease.
She raises the weapon. Squeezes the trigger.
CRACK.
Lauren watches as the bullet strikes Penny dead in the chest.
Her body collapses backwards.
INT. BACKSTAGE – CONTINUOUS
James breaks into a sprint.
Too late.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
59 -
Rise of the Unbreakable
INT. BANQUET HALL FLOOR – CONTINUOUS
Penny jerks back, the impact like a wrecking ball.
Her body hits the stage with a sickening thud. Limbs slack.
The room erupts — panic, screaming, people stampeding for
cover.
Security dives at Lauren. She doesn’t run. She stands there,
watching.
Letting it all settle. A satisfied smirk on her face.
INT. BANQUET HALL STAGE – CONTINUOUS
James pushes past security and staffers.
Drops to his knees beside Penny.
JAMES
Penny!! Penny! Oh my god. Say
something!
She’s still. Eyes wide, fixed on the disco ball, spinning
silently above her — a flash from childhood.
A seeming eternity passes, but nothing. Penny lies motionless.
James looks over his shoulder at the guards on the banquet hall
floor. They have Lauren, on her feet. She makes eye contact
with James. Her revenge complete.
Then..A sharp gasp from Penny.
Her chest rises. She clutches at her shirt and rips it open.
A BULLETPROOF VEST. Dented, bruised, but intact.
JAMES
Oh thank god!
PENNY
Get me up.
JAMES
Stay down, just wait. You’re okay.
PENNY
...No, Jimmy, get me up. Now!
James nods
JAMES (to guard)
Help me.
INT. BANQUET HALL FLOOR – CONTINUOUS
Lauren can’t believe what she is seeing. The smirk vanishes
from her face. Penny stands on stage before her. Larger than
life.
She glares at Lauren, raises a clenched fist into the air, not
in defiance, but in survival. In dominance.
LAUREN
No!!
Lauren thrashes against the guards, screaming, shaking,
unraveling.
They drag her away, kicking through the falling confetti.
Penny stands alone now, haloed in confetti, in light, in power.
Alive. Unbreakable.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
60 -
The Weight of Power
INT. GOVERNOR’S MANSION – NIGHT
Penny sits in the Governor’s mansion living room, reading
glasses on, papers spread across the coffee table. A fire
cracks in the hearth.
Jimmy’s at the other end of the sofa, flipping through a
folder. It’s late. Quiet.
A light knock at the door.
STATE TROOPER (O.S.)
Governor, something just came for
you.
PENNY
Come in.
The trooper enters, holding a small, black, velvet box.
PENNY (CONT’D)
Thank you.
He sets it down and leaves.
Penny waits. Looks at it for a long beat. Then picks it up.
The box is lined in velvet. Inside: A sleek gold fountain pen,
heavy in her hand. Elegant. Impossibly expensive.
Tucked beneath it — a single ivory card. No seal. Just four
handwritten words:
“Ti ricordi il favore?” (Do you remember the favor)?
She stares at the card.
JIMMY
Nice pen. Whose it from?
She gets up and walks over to the mantle. She sets the open box
on the mantle beside a framed photo of her and her father.