CAST

CAST

Jack Bauer – Kiefer Sutherland
Audrey Raines – Kim Raver
Chase Edmunds – James Badge Dale
Chloe O'Brian - Mary Lynn Rajskub
Raymond St. Clare – Patrick Dempsey
Shari Rothenberg – Kate Mara

President James Heller – William Devane
National Security Advisor Jeremy McDaniels – Ronny Cox
Chief of Staff Brittany Parsons – Neve Campbell

Craig Chalker – Laurence Fishburne
Henry Whitaker – Edward Norton
Antoine Fisher – Michael Ealy (from "Sleeper Cell")

Jose Quintero DeLeon - Emilio Echevarria
Casey Winemiller – Ali Larter (Nikki/Jessica from "Heroes")

EPISODE 1

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN 10:00AM AND 11:00AM PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME ON THE CINCO DE MAYO, 2019

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (LATE AFTERNOON)

The scene opens with a late afternoon aerial view of the city of Cape Town set amid the Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain. The screen splits to show close-ups of modern high-rises and British colonial buildings, then a busy street and sidewalk, then the interior of a coffeeshop.

The scene changes to the inside of the coffeeshop where a man named PIETER VON BRIKEN (male, mid 30s, average looking person) pays for his coffee and heads toward his seat. In the background there is a European funk song playing as well as people chatting. Von Briken turns on his laptop and sets it on a table near the edge of the shop. He looks nervously around at the other customers and talks into his Blackberry. A program opens up on his laptop screen, showing the logo for TransAfrika Bank written in English and Afrikaans.

"Okay, ready to receive," Von Briken says in a South African accent.
An American-accented voice answers. "Done."
"Good, your files will be sent momentarily."

Pieter checks his account on the TransAfrika Bank website and sees his account filling up in both U.S. Dollars, simulteanously converted into South African Rand. He opens up a different program and codes appear all over the screen. He types in some commands and a display shows information being sent.

"Very well. As agreed we've arranged for you to leave the country. Head to the main train station and board the express to Johannesburg. Stop by the fitness club where we last met. Your locker will have your new passport as well as your plane ticket to Nairobi."

Pieter looks outside and sees two men on a street corner eyeing him constantly. "I think somebody's watching me. I need to go now."
"Lose them and be careful. Call me from Johannesburg."

Pieter leaves the coffeeshop and rushes through the crowded streets, tripping over some wares displayed by a street vendor in tribal clothing who curses at him in Afrikaans. The men tracking Pieter dash across the street and into a station of the Cape Town Metrorail, going down escalators into the subway system. The men stop pursuing.

A train pulls into the station and there is a dash to the platform and a rush of commuters walk off of the modern train and at the same time another train arrives on the opposite platform which is mostly open except for areas with public telephones and electronic advertisements set amid seats. We see the waves of commuters envelop Pieter. One by one the trains leave and the platform becomes less crowded. We then see Pieter slumped on a seat, blood dripping onto the floor and some bullet holes in his chest.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

We see the back of the head of the American man talking to Pieter in the previous scene. He leaves a darkened spot and emerges in the cab of a moving truck driving on a wide freeway heading into Los Angeles. We then see this man is CHASE EDMUNDS.

"The transmission's complete. Everything we need is right there," Chase says. The driver of the moving truck, HENRY WHITAKER, nods.
"Not that we need any proof to know we're doing the right thing today," Henry replies. "I only wish we did this years ago."
"Damn straight," adds ANTOINE FISHER, the black man sitting in the passenger seat. "It's about friggin' time the people of this country got a wake-up call. After today, people will finally get the guts to act and show people whose country this is."

Chase looks out at the Southern California landscape passing by as the truck follows the Interstate signs for Los Angeles. He takes out his pistol and checks it and then does the same to a K7 Avenger assault rifle also stocked in the truck.

"Check with our other teams. Make sure all the preparations have been made," Henry orders.
"Right away," Chase replies. The scene changes to the outside and we see the Mayflower moving truck following the signs toward Los Angeles.

CTU LOS ANGELES

CTU is buzzing with activity. Chloe O'Brien's workstation is seen and there is a large screen above showing live Fox News Channel coverage. A reporter is standing with the Los Angeles skyline in the background and then screen also shows maps of the region and a helicopter landing on the building.

"…protests are already underway nationwide, including here in Los Angeles as Congress is expected to vote today on a new bill denying birthright citizenship to the children of illegal aliens. Violence has already been reported in Griffith Park between demonstrators and police."

"The White House seems certain things are going to explode today," Ray commented, glancing at the office of CTU Director CRAIG CHALKER, a black man in his early 40s wearing a fashionable suit with a light blue tie, sitting in his office talking into his phone.
"Well Senator Anderson's real smart, choosing to choose this very day to vote on this bill. I'm pretty sure he's doing this just to p people off and get that effect and now DeLeon's announcing a surprise visit. We should be prepared for a problem but not inviting one."
"This is gonna boil over sooner or later," Ray said softly.

"Well you know all those past bad days we've had here? They all started out normal. And today we're starting with a bad feeling. Just great," she said unhappily.
"Ok, well, Chloe, I'm gonna give my latest analysis to Craig about the deployment of our reserve units around Valencia and Simi Valley. Hopefully he approves diverting some resources from Ridgecrest and Victorville."

SANTA ANA HIGH SCHOOL, ANAHEIM, ORANGE COUNTY

We see police cruisers in the parking lot and on the street in front of a large high school building where large numbers of kids are protesting. Bottles, soda cans, and trash are being thrown, the demonstrations centered on the flagpole where students carrying the U.S. and Mexican flags are wrestling with each other and shouting profanity. We see an SUV with football players flying American and Confederate flags being pelted by rocks by illegal students and a blonde cheerleader being harassed at her locker by illegal girls." We then see a reporter standing in front of the school with police in the background.

"Now reporting live from Santa Ana High School in Anaheim where police reinforcements are arriving following a partial student walkout against the Congressional bill…"

The blonde cheerleader, CAITLIN, is seen being around her locker and several anchor baby girls are there surrounding her. One of them slams her locker and flicks her hair. "Hey I need to get there, one of the Mexican girls say.
"Yo, this is gonna be our school now anyway. This entire city is ours, you gringos can go to hell," another one says in a thick Mexican accent and the rest laugh.

A Mexican American student, SAM GIRON, shoves his way through the Mexican crowd and wraps his arms around Caitlin.
"Hey you coconut," one of the anchor babies yells, "Make sure your gringa b girlfriend don't get in my way." Another scene shows the SUV with the Confederate flags stopped by illegal students, the football players going out and fighting them.

Sam escorts Caitlin to a classroom, tells her to wait for him and past the cafeteria when a tall anchor baby, RODRIGO SUAREZ, calls him over.
"Hey, mi primo, what are you doing? You going to class?" he asks his cousin Sam in a mean, threatening tone.
Sam does not answer at first, then says in an American accent, "Please leave me out of this, Rodrigo, the SATs are in…."

"Did you hear that?" one of Rodrigo's friends says laughing wildly. The group of tough looking illegals and anchor babies follow in the taunting ridicule.
"You going to class along with your American girlfriend?" Rodrigo asks again. "You think you're an American like those gringos? You'll always be a mojado like us. Yeah you were born here but think about the others who will not be so lucky anymore. Your parents are mojados. Your sister is mojada. My parents are mojados. And you going to CLASS like NOTHING is happening?"

"My family came here because we believe in the American Dream, in American values, not like you. You're a fing embarrassment and sometimes I swear I wish you weren't my cousin."
"You sound like James Heller. Do you just sit in your room and watch Fox News and Ann Coulter all day?" an anchor baby yells, punching the table next to him, causing Sam to flinch. "You could be Heller's speechwriter you know."

"That going to change sooner or later today," Rodrigo replies in his menacing accent, "You're going to find your rightful place in this world."

Someone turns up the volume on the TV in the cafeteria.

"In many ways, what is happening here in this former vintage Orange County community now wracked by illegal immigration reflects the larger reality across Southern California. Open brawls have broken out at local PTA meetings as illegal immigrant parents have pushed for the renaming of the school to honor the Mexican commanding general in the Mexican War and Texas Revolution…"

"Yeah, you hear that Sam?" an anchor baby says. "SANTA ANA! Who killed all those gringo scum in the Alamo. Davy Crockett is burning in hell like the perrro he is!"
The other illegals and anchor babies cheer on, several of them shouting "Si Se Puede" and "Viva Aztlan!". Sam ignores them and leaves but he looks very uneasy. Police officers are going through the school but there is not enough of them.

Sam ignores hateful glances from many of the illegals in the hallway as he enters the room where Caitlin is sitting alone. He goes over a sits next to her, rubbing her shoulders.

STORAGE FACILITY

We see the moving truck with Chase, Henry, and Antoine driving down the freeway and another screen armed men opening up the gates to a storage facility. A man who appears the leader of the group answers his beeper.

"Danny, it's me," Chase says, "How's everything going on your end."
"We're ready to lock and load," Danny says.
"Make sure the guns are armed right for our attack," Chase says, "Henry made it clear how he wants it done."
"I know," Danny replies, "Everything's on schedule."

Danny walks back into the warehouse where about a half dozen men are gathered. "Just got in contact with Chase and Henry. We're heading out now. Jenny, you take your team and come with me for the main assault, Victor, you're responsible for the perimeter team. Let's move!"

The men and women gathered in the facility prepare their weapons and get into separate vehicles, an ice cream truck and a minivan, heading out of the storage facility. Danny personally goes into an ammunition closet and takes out several grenades and heads to the ice cream truck as another man starts to drive.

CTU / WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON, D.C.

Another scene shows a view of Washington, D.C. and the Pentagon on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. The news continues in CTU Director Craig Chalker's office.

Reporter is talking while scenes show a Spanish-style colonial building and a helicopter landing. "…fears that tensions will only escalate as Mexican Foreign Minister JOSE QUINTERO DELEON arrives in Los Angeles this morning for a surprise visit. Minister DeLeon, has garnered intense controversy on both sides of the border for his statements claiming Mexicans have a "right of return" to parts of the United States…"

PRESIDENT JAMES HELLER is gathered at a table along with VICE PRESIDENT PETER RICARDO-SANCHEZ, National Security Advisor JEREMY MCDANIELS, Presidential Chief of Staff BRITTANY PARSONS, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, AIR FORCE GENERAL HAROLD BERNSTEIN.

"Craig, the President's ready for you," Shari Rothenberg says from the office, brushing back her beautiful red hair. Craig Chalker nods. "Good morning, Mr. President."

James Heller nods. "I've decided to raise the terrorist alert level in Los Angeles to Red today, and levels in Arizona and Texas to Orange as a precautionary measure. It's my understanding that the situation in Los Angeles is likely to deteriorate into….into worse violence than we've already seen this morning, especially as Congress is already in session today and the bill is expected to pass by noon. My advisors here are recommending a pre-emptive declaration of martial law in Southern California. I want to make you aware of this fact so when this transition happens, things will happen more smoothly."

"We cannot overemphasize the importance of the situation over there in LA," Brittany, an attractive brunette in her late 20s, adds. "Our domestic intelligence sources have picked up increased chatter from a wide variety of suspected militant organizations. White supremacists, gang members, vigilante factions, you name it., especially in the past week. Of course that's something you are aware of"
Craig and Shari look confused and shocked. "Mr. President, Ms. Parsons, CTU understands the stakes are high today and we are prepared to counter any threat, from radical groups anywhere on the political spectrum. Sorry for saying so, but I'm confused by the level of alarm."

James looks sad. "General Bernstein?"
The General speaks to Chalker in the videoconference. "Mr. Chalker, I've gone over your file. After your team foiled the Al-Qaeda attack on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, you gave up a promotion to return to Los Angeles."
"Yes sir, General, LA is my home. I was born here, I grew up here, and I felt my services would be needed here."

"That's what I'm worried about," Bernstein whispered to Heller, then spoke to Chalker in a grave tone. "Son, please allow me to speak frankly."
"Of course, sir," Chalker replies.
"It's not going to be a pretty day today," Bernstein finally says then pauses for several seconds, "Pentagon analysis does not give a very hopeful outlook and I've been here before. I was in Bosnia with the Sarajevo embassy when the factional fighting broke out. Back then, everyone knew things were going to hit the fan, except my Bosnian friends – Serbs, Croats, Muslims- they just didn't want to believe it," he said sadly. "You never want to believe it could happen to your home."

President Heller finally said, "What happens in the next few hours will be critical. If Los Angeles tears itself apart, the rest of the nation will follow."

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

The scene opens with a view of a modern glass office park with snow-capped Mt. Charleston and other desert mountains in the far distance then changes to a spacious office area with views to the outside. The end of the song "You're Still the One" by Shania Twain plays and we see Audrey carrying some manila folders as she goes through a door into Jack's office.

"And that was our coffee break dedication, an all-time favorite by Shania Twain, from Audrey to Jack, both in Millennium Services over in Summerlin," the radio DJ says.
"Wow, what a surprise," Jack says blushing as he touches Audrey's fingertips with his and leans forward for a kiss, sweeping her off her feet. "You certainly never cease to amaze me."

She smiled sweetly. "I really mean that, Jack. I just love you more and more every day. Even now, after all these years, I can't believe how we managed to be together after all that we've been through."
"I know, Audrey," Jack says, "Trust me, I know." He looks around the spacious office and at the beautiful corporate campus outside. "It's like a dream you hope you never wake up from. Every day I wake up next to you, we drop our kids off at school, we walk in here, I have to remind myself that I'm NOT dreaming, that it's real."

There is a knock on the door and a young employee in his early 20s enters after Audrey calls for him to come in.
"The client's all set up for the videoconference from Charlotte. Folks at Davenport say they're ready whenever you are," the man announces.
"Thanks, just gonna be a couple more minutes," Audrey says. As the man closes the door, she begins to fix Jack's tie. "Oh, Jack. At least with this, I'm spoiling you too much. Now let's not keep the client waiting."

They walked through a large office area with cubibles and dozens of staff members and a large logo for "Millennium Services" on the wall and into a videoconference suite. Jack pushes some buttons and the videoconference screen shows an attractive young blond woman in decidedly casual clothes sitting in her Charlotte office.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Bauer. Hi there Audrey. I'm Casey Winemiller, project coordinator, Davenport Associates Charlotte branch" she says with a smile. "So how was your vacation?"
"Really relaxing. The Greek islands were amazing," Audrey replied brightly.
"I know," Casey replied, "Robbie and I went there for our honeymoon. I honestly can't believe it's been two years already. Robbie's now working with the aquarium as a marine vet and this company's doing pretty well. You know that feeling, not believing how lucky you are?"
"All the time," Jack replies. He turns to Audrey. "She turned Behrooz around?"
"Girls have a certain effect," Audrey says, "Maybe if women ran the world things wouldn't be so messed up."

MEXICAN CONSULATE, WEST LOS ANGELES

We see a view of a Spanish hacienda-type building set amid the stylish condos and office buildings of upscale West LA. Foreign Minister Jose Quintero DeLeon smiles as he scans the large crowd of demonstrators below and the streets lined with riot police. Many members of the crowd were waving Mexicans flags and the flags of other foreign countries and carrying radical signs like "Si Se Puede", "Estamos mojados (We're Illegal) So What?" and "This is Our Land, Not Gringos'".

"The security has been boosted up as you have ordered," AMBASSADOR MIGUEL FUENTES says. Split screens show Chase and his men in the cab of the truck, the crowd of illegal demonstrators, DeLeon nodding to Lopez and going toward the balcony and some American men putting on ski masks and preparing a rocket launcher with armor piercing shells, also an aerial view of the Mexican Consulate grounds.

"Viva Mexico!" DeLeon shouts waving his arms. "Viva La Raza! Viva Aztlan!"
"Viva La Raza! Si Se Puede!" the large crowd screams then DeLeon beings to speak.

"When our ancestors came here two hundreds years ago, this was all one land, our land. WE DID NOT CROSS THE BORDERS," DeLeon repeats louder, "The border crossed us!" to the roar of the crowd. "Some of you have been here for weeks, some for years," he says in Spanish, "But standing here today, you have proven that despite being surrounded by American decadence, you have not forgotten your homeland, or the spirit of our Aztec ancestrors!"

"VIVA AZTLAN!" the crowd shouts. "VIVA DE LEON! VIVA MEXICO! SI SE PUEDE!"
"The racist gringos who control the U.S. Congress wants to pass racist new denying us our rights, but we will not back down, we will not surrenders, because they will never force us off land that is rightfully ours!"

Suddenly a rocket whooshes through the morning sky and the Mexican helicopter on the roof explodes in a fiery fireball, its turning rotors flying through the air and slamming into outhouses on the complex and into the ground kicking up dust, showering the area with flaming debris. Then a second rocket detonates by a doorway as Mexican soldiers pour out, sending mangled bodies sailing through the air.

"Minister! Take cover!" consul Fuentes shouts, grabbing him. "Securidad! Aqui! Ahora!"
Then the crowd scatters as two Jeeps drive past, armed American men on them.

"Go! Let's move!" Henry shouts looking at Chase and Antoine who have determined expressions on their face. The LAPD units maintaining order are now moving in amid the scattering screaming crowd. Three police cruisers pull up outside a garage entrance and the cops go out with weapons drawn. Suddenly gunfire rings out from Chase's men, killing three officers. A grenade launcher is fired and detonates on some parked cars near more LAPD officers.

Gunfire comes from Chase's men and soon all the police around the area are down or fleeing. The camera shows Chase again with rage on his face as the truck speeds toward the gates of the consulate, Mexican soldiers standing in the gate and firing at them with MP5 submachine guns.

….11:00 AM

NOTE: Casey Winemiller, the videoconference client, is a major character in Because You're You. She's a girl that Behrooz Araz meets in witness protection and later falls in love with. To think of it, she's the only "normal" character in ANY of my stories!