“THE RECKONING”

SCRIPT BY HARRY CLANCY

FADE IN:

EXT. CITY STREETS - DAY

We see EMMA, a young and ambitious journalist, walking briskly

down a busy city street, clutching a file folder. She looks
focused and determined.

CUT TO:

INT. NEWSPAPER OFFICE - DAY

Emma enters the newsroom, where she works as a reporter at a

small newspaper. She greets her colleagues and heads straight
to her desk.

EDITOR
Hey Emma, got a minute?

EMMA
Sure, what's up?

EDITOR
I wanted to talk to you about the story you're working on.

EMMA
The government contract investigation? What about it?

EDITOR
I think it's time to move on from it. We're a small paper, and
we don't want to get in over our heads.

EMMA
But I've found some really interesting leads. I think there's
a lot more to this story than we initially thought.

EDITOR
I understand, but we have to be realistic. Let's focus on
other stories for now.

Emma nods, disappointed, but determined not to give up on the

story.
 CUT TO:

INT. EMMA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Emma is sitting at her laptop, scrolling through documents and

emails. Suddenly, she finds a lead that piques her interest.

EMMA (voiceover)
That's when I knew. There was something big going on.
Something they didn't want us to know.

CUT TO:

INT. NEWSPAPER OFFICE - DAY

Emma is typing away at her desk, completely focused on her

work.

COLLEAGUE
Hey Emma, did you hear the news? The government just awarded
that contract you've been investigating.

EMMA
What? That's not possible. I have evidence that proves it's a
front for corruption.

COLLEAGUE
Well, it looks like they don't care. They're pushing it
through anyway.

Emma knows that she has to act fast. She decides to take
matters into her own hands.

CUT TO:

INT. WHISTLEBLOWER'S APARTMENT - DAY

Emma is meeting with a whistleblower who has insider

information about the corruption. The whistleblower is visibly
nervous and afraid.

WHISTLEBLOWER
I don't know if I should be talking to you. I could get in a
lot of trouble.

EMMA
I understand, but this story needs to be told. People need to
know what's going on.
 WHISTLEBLOWER
Okay, okay. Here's what I know...

The whistleblower provides Emma with valuable information,

including names and dates.

CUT TO:

INT. HACKER'S APARTMENT - DAY

Emma is meeting with a hacker who can help her retrieve

documents and emails that have been deleted or hidden.

HACKER
I can do it, but it's not going to be easy. These guys are
good.

EMMA
I trust you. Let's do it.

CUT TO:

INT. POLITICAL INSIDER'S OFFICE - DAY

Emma is meeting with a political insider who has connections

to high-level government officials.

POLITICAL INSIDER
I can make some calls, but you need to be careful. These guys
play dirty.

EMMA
I know. But I have to do this.

CUT TO:

INT. NEWSPAPER OFFICE - DAY

Emma is typing furiously at her desk, piecing together the

puzzle. Suddenly, she sees it - the evidence she needs to
bring down the corrupt scheme.

EMMA
This is it. This is the smoking gun.

She quickly writes the article and sends it to her editor.

CUT TO:
INT. GOVERNMENT OFFICE - DAY

The corrupt officials are reading Emma's article, panic and

anger show on their faces.

CUT TO:

INT. NEWSPAPER OFFICE - DAY

Editor walks into Emma’s office holding a copy of her story.

EDITOR
Emma this is an amazing story but it is far too risky to
publish and pursue.

Emma looks at him suspiciously

EMMA
You want me to drop this story?

EDITOR
No, not at all. Just be careful. This is a very delicate
matter, and you don't know who you're dealing with.

EMMA
I know what I'm doing, Michael.

EDITOR
Just be careful, Emma. That's all I'm saying.

Emma nods and heads back to her desk, deep in thought. She
knows her editor is right, but she can't shake the feeling
that she's onto something big.

CUT TO:

INT. EMMA’S APARTMENT - EVENING

Emma in her apartment, surrounded by papers and notes. She's

on the phone with the hacker, trying to get more information.

EMMA (on the phone)

Can you get into their servers?

HACKER (on the other end)

It's going to take some time. Their security is pretty tight.

EMMA
 We don't have time. We need to get this story out there.

HACKER
I'll do what I can, but I can't guarantee anything.

EMMA
Okay, keep me posted.

Emma hangs up the phone and takes a deep breath. She knows
that if they're going to expose this corruption, they need to
act fast.

CUT TO:

a montage of Emma and her allies working together to uncover

the truth. They interview sources, sift through documents, and
hack into servers. They're making progress, but they're also
putting themselves in danger.

CUT TO:

INT. EMMA’S CAR - NIGHT

Emma sitting in her car, outside of her apartment. It's late

at night, and she's just finished an interview with a source.

She starts the car and begins to drive away, but she's quickly
surrounded by a group of men in black suits. They force her
car to a stop and drag her out.

Emma struggles and screams, but it's no use. They throw her
into a van and drive away.

CUT TO BLACK:

FADE IN:

Emma wakes up in a dark room, tied to a chair. She struggles

to break free, but the ropes are too tight.

A man walks in, dressed in a suit and tie.

MAN
Hello, Emma. I'm sorry for the rough treatment, but we
couldn't have you snooping around any longer.

EMMA
(strained) Who are you?
 MAN
Let's just say I have a vested interest in keeping this story
quiet.

EMMA (struggling)
You can't do this. You can't just kidnap me.

MAN
I'm afraid I already have. And I'm afraid you won't be leaving
here alive.

Emma's eyes widen in fear as the man pulls out a gun.

FADE TO BLACK:

END OF EPISODE 1.