Use of Deadly Force

 

INT. CONDO KITCHEN -- DAY

 

It's a peaceful Southern California morning.  TERESA RAMIREZ could pass for a relaxed housewife in her terry cloth robe as she dips a piece of toast into her coffee cup.

 

She spins around to grab the coffee pot for a refill and her robe falls open, exposing a uniform, badge and gun holster. 

 

The kitchen door swings wide as RITA RAMIREZ comes bustling into kitchen.  Rita's well-worn face looks as warm and delicious as the fragments of breakfast on her apron.

 

RITA

Better close that up before you drip onto your uniform.

 

TERESA

Save your lecturing for Jen, Mom.

 

Teresa grabs a piece of paper from the table and shakes it at her mother.

 

TERESA (CONT'D)

Have you seen this shit?

 

RITA

You didn't do much better, and I'd appreciate it if...

 

Teresa looks towards the closed kitchen door.

 

TERESA

She's going to get a lot more than that from me if these grades don't improve.

 

As if on cue, JENNIFER RAMIREZ pops open the swinging kitchen door with a smash of her hand.  She is dressed entirely in black. 

 

The only color on this budding teenage miniature copy of Teresa is Jennifer's vibrant blue eyes and a streak of orange in her shiny black hair.

 

Jennifer saunters up to the table and grabs the remaining toast from her mother's plate.  She uses the toast to point at the offending report.

 

JENNIFER

You've got to sign that, you know.

 

Teresa jumps up and slams her fist down on the report.

 

TERESA

There is no way I'm signing this shit!  Six "D"s!

 

JENNIFER

A "D" is passing.

 

TERESA

Is that all you want to do in life... pass?

 

JENNIFER

Worked for you, didn't it?

 

Teresa pulls off her robe and tosses it on the chair.  She tugs at her tight uniform shirt and straightens her badge.

 

TERESA

Get your grandmother to sign it, I'm late.

 

Teresa storms out of the room.  Jennifer sits down and finishes the piece of toast.  She takes a sip of her mother's leftover coffee.

 

JENNIFER

She said "shit" again.  You going to let her get away with that?

 

Rita takes the cup of coffee away from Jennifer and replaces it with a glass of juice.

 

RITA

If your grades don't start improving, you're going be living, eating, and breathing that word around here.

 

EXT. MONTERO BAY NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION -- DAY

 

Teresa sprints towards a door littered with warning signs.  Everything about this building says "stay away", but Teresa's focused expression let's us know that this is her destination.                                    

 

Her beefy partner, MALCOLM strains to keep up but has fallen behind.  Teresa looks back at his progress.

 

TERESA

Gotta lay off those fries, Mal.

 

It looks like too many ­french fries is just a fragment of his overeating problem.

 

MALCOLM

(puffing)

No prize for being first.

 

After a quick swipe of her security card, Teresa effortlessly throws the outer door open.

 

TERESA

Being first means you survive.

 

INT. STAIRWELL OF TSC (TECHNICAL SUPPORT CENTER) -- DAY

 

Teresa ignores the elevator and takes the steps down three at a time.  Malcolm comes through the same door, pauses at the top of the stairs and presses the down button for the elevator. 

 

Malcolm tilts a shoulder mounted radio close to his mouth. 

 

LMALCOLM

(into the radio)

Unit seven alpha in the TSC.

 

He bends over for a second to catch a gasp of air, careful to quickly let go of the microphone key to avoid exposing his breathlessness. 

 

CONTROL (O.S.)

(from the radio)

Work order shows the computer room.  Screaming is escalating.  Get down there now!

 

Malcolm looks longingly at the closed elevator door, sighs, and starts down the stairs one at a time, GRUNTING with each step.

 

MALCOLM

Three billion to build this shithouse and they couldn't get elevators that work...

 

INT. OUTSIDE COMPUTER ROOM -- DAY

 

Teresa is already down the steep stairwell and outside the computer room.  She quickly inserts her security card, but the door doesn't budge.

 

She throws her shoulder into the door, but now her lean figure works against her  - something is obstructing the door and it only opens a crack. 

 

Teresa can now hear the SCREAMING.

 

LIZ (O.S.)

Oh my God!

 

Teresa retrieves a small bottle from her breast pocket and squirts a stream of liquid through the crack and under the obstruction.  With another measured shove, the door slides open enough for Teresa to squeeze into the computer room.

 

INT. TSC COMPUTER ROOM -- DAY

 

Although the room is dimly lit, it doesn't take Teresa long to evaluate the situation. 

 

A partially clad woman, LIZ is sprawled out on a table while a CO-WORKER performs way beyond his job description.  Liz spots Teresa.

 

LIZ

Oh my God!

 

CO-WORKER

Yes, yes!

 

LIZ

No!

 

Liz pushes her co-worker to the floor and points at Teresa who quickly rummages through a strewn pile of clothes.  Teresa holds up a blouse. 

 

Liz removes one hand from covering up her breasts to take it from Teresa.

 

LIZ (CONT'D)

It's not what it looks like...

 

Teresa finds what she's looking for.  She rips Liz's security badge off the blouse and drops the blouse to the floor.  Liz hops off the table and cowers next to her clothes.

 

Teresa marches over to the co-worker who is trying to get his pants on.  She spots her target and reaches for his crotch.  The frightened worker instinctively covers his precious parts as Teresa rips another security badge from his belt.

 

Malcolm finally reaches the room and strains to open the door a little further to grant entry to his massive frame.  He surveys the mess.

 

MALCOLM

This all happen before or after you got here?

 

Teresa walks over to a wall and removes a sound powered phone from it's plug.

 

TERESA

Sure, these two model employees were just sitting at their desks until I came in here and demanded they undress and have sex.

 

MALCOLM

I like it, but next time wait for me.

 

Teresa has the sound powered phone and badges and leaves the room abruptly. 

 

The two guilty workers are now dressed and waiting obediently in the corner.  Malcolm picks up a phone and dials a few numbers.

 

MALCOLM (CONT'D)

(into the phone)

Got a good one for you Control...

 

Malcolm walks over to the puddle by the door and picks up the empty bottle. 

 

MALCOLM (CONT'D)

...but first get someone down here to clean up a puddle of...

 

Malcolm smiles as he reads the label.

 

MALCOLM (CONT'D)

Baby oil.

 

INT. SECURITY CONTROL -- DAY

 

Teresa stomps into the control room and is greeted by a chorus of fellow security GUARDS.

 

GUARDS

Oh my God, Teresa, Yes!  Yes!

 

One of the larger guards, SAMMY, can't resist the scowl on Teresa's face.

 

SAMMY

How about we grab some baby oil and check out those new interns in admin?

 

Teresa reaches up and snatches his badge from his chest and tosses it on her desk along with the two badges and sound powered phone she collected from the TSC.

 

TERESA

Might as well add this to the pile...

 

She looks over at the sound powered phone and types a few keystrokes on a computer keyboard.

 

TERESA (CONT'D)

... and when I find the tech who left this plugged in, both of you will be regretting that you didn't at least get a good fuck before getting your asses fired.

 

A weathered veteran, CALVIN, who has been stuffed into a management-like suit ambles over to a fuming Teresa.  Calvin lays a comforting hand on Teresa's shoulder.

 

CALVIN

If you want to launch a formal complaint, let's get the paperwork started...

 

Calvin picks up Sammy's badge.

 

CALVIN (CONT'D)

...but who'd you rather have than Sammy watching your back in a pinch?

 

Teresa jots a few things down on a piece of paper.

 

TERESA

Just tell him to watch my back...

 

She tucks the note into her pocket.

 

TERESA (CONT'D)

...and not my ass.

 

Teresa grabs the sound powered phone and storms out the door.

 

INT. ADMINISTRATION BUILDING COMPUTER ROOM-- DAY

 

Teresa has stepped into "geekville".  In sharp contrast to the previous room of testosterone powered security guards, these WORKERS appear to be plugged into and communicating only with their computers. 

 

The only sound is the HUM coming from each computer's fan.

 

TERESA

Employee number 34798, Todd Milton!

 

Nobody turns around.

 

TERESA (CONT'D)

Milton!

 

Still no acknowledgment of Teresa's presence.  Teresa walks over to the first computer station and rips the power cord out of the monitor.  The screen goes black as a bespectacled COMPUTER PROGRAMMER looks up in shock.

 

COMPUTER PROGRAMMER

What the...?

 

TERESA

Todd Milton.  Which one?

 

The programmer squints and points at a fellow geek, TODD MILTON who is in the second row of terminals.  Todd leans back and studies Teresa with interest.

 

Teresa struts up to Todd's workstation and tosses the sound powered phone onto his keyboard.

 

TERESA (CONT'D)

Got a clue why I'm here, employee number 34798, Todd Milton?

 

Todd fakes an inspection of the phone.

 

TODD

Although, this is an analog device...

 

Todd turns it over.

 

TODD (CONT'D)

...my observation of you so far indicates a low processing speed which is predictable in lower life forms like rent-a-cops.

 

Teresa reaches out for his security badge and rips it off his shirt.  She looks closely at it.  It's a Mickey Mouse Club card.  She tosses it in the trash can.

 

Teresa points to a patch on her arm and pats her fully equipped gun belt.

 

TERESA

This shit look like rent-a-cop gear to you?

 

She leans in eye level to him and stares into his eyes.

 

TERESA (CONT'D)

Do I look like a "who gives a fuck" rent-a-cop to you?  Answer me, you moron!  I'll make it easy for you.

 

She holds up a finger.

 

TERESA (CONT'D)

One finger for no.

 

She holds up another finger.

 

TERESA (CONT'D)

Two fingers for yes.

 

Todd holds up just his middle finger.  She grabs him roughly by the arm and yanks him out of his chair.  He pops upright with surprising agility.  Teresa starts to drag him out the door.

 

TERESA (CONT'D)

If you're so smart, let's go see if you know what "use of deadly force" means.

 

As the two head for the door, Todd surprises everyone by smiling and holding up two fingers towards his alarmed co-workers.  He's enjoying the ride.

 

INT. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES -- DAY

 

This is an office full of people who had their sense of humor  surgically removed.  The frisky co-workers caught previously in a moment of ecstasy and Todd sit in a waiting area.

 

They watch Teresa inside a glassed-in office across the room.

 

TODD

So, what are you two in for?

 

Liz looks over at her partner in passion.

 

LIZ

Gross miscalculation.  How about you?

 

TODD

I think I've been randomly selected as the dog that she's going to take her rotten day out on.

 

INT. JIM HOVEL'S OFFICE DAY

 

Teresa leans across Jim Hovel's desk and is visibly upset.

 

TERESA

None of them?

 

Jim leans back in his chair, providing a safe distance from Teresa's wrath.

 

JIM

The guy you caught with his pants down is a control room operator.  Any idea how much it costs us to train them?

 

TERESA

What the hell should that matter?  He was in a secured area.

 

JIM

He's got enough clearance to be there.

 

TERESA

Not doing what he was doing.  No one has clearance for that.

 

Jim smiles.

 

JIM

Except Cunningham and this order comes right from him.  The operator and the geek get a warning.

 

Teresa looks out at the guilty trio.

 

TERESA

What about hot lips?

 

Jim moves close to his desk opens up a file.

 

JIM

The chick?  She's a clerk.  Escort her out.

 

TERESA

The guy gets off?  That geek who left the phone plugged in too?

 

JIM

You'd never have known about the couple in the TSC if he hadn't. Rumor is that he wrote half of the test simulations for the plant.

 

TERESA

This sucks.  Someone could have been hurt.

 

JIM

Slipping on some baby oil?

 

Jim leans back in his chair and puts his hands behind his head.

 

JIM (CONT'D)

Lots of jokes going around about the reason why you had a bottle of baby oil in your pocket.  Want to let me in on your secret?

 

Teresa glares at him.

 

TERESA

We done here?

 

JIM

Send the boys in here and escort the chick out of the plant.

 

TERESA

Alpha security doesn't do escorts, call a rent-a-cop.

 

Jim gets up and stands firmly in front of her.  He looks her directly in the eyes.

 

JIM

Alpha does whatever admin tells them to do.  Escort the chick out of my plant.

 

He politely opens the door for her.

 

JIM (CONT'D)

Like my Daddy always said, "you catch 'em, you clean 'em."

 

EXT. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES -- DAY

 

Teresa helps Liz carry her two boxes of personal items towards the security exit.  Liz is bites her lip to hold back tears as Teresa maintains a stone face.

 

LIZ

I've been here since the first days of construction.

 

Teresa keeps her eyes firmly on the exit gate.

 

LIZ (CONT'D)

Never late a day, always first to get my work done.

 

Teresa looks down for a moment to the contents of the box.

 

TERESA

Your kids?

 

LIZ

Don't know how I'll support them.  I've worked here twenty years.  Who will hire me at my age?

 

They've reach the exit.  Teresa sets the box she's been carrying on top of Liz's box.  It crushes a plant.

 

TERESA

Good luck.

 

LIZ

That's it?  You got me fired!

 

Teresa looks the furious woman directly in the eyes.

 

TERESA

You got yourself fired.

 

Teresa turns and heads back towards the security building.  She kicks at an imaginary rock.

 

INT. SECURITY CONTROL -- DAY

 

Calvin sits at his desk and flips through a thick personnel file.  Teresa stands on the other side of the desk with her arms crossed.

 

CALVIN

It takes more than the top "qual" scores to make sergeant.