FADE IN:
EXT. ALANA’S APARTMENT – DAY (AROUND NOON)
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We see a black woman, ALANA, in bed with an eye mask hanging off her bonnet. She is in a weird position and her comforter is hanging off the edge of the bed. She is awoken by a loud alarm coming from her bedside table. She frantically looks for the phone using only her hand, but when she finally reaches her phone to turn off the alarm, it falls behind her bedside table.
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ALANA: (annoyed, groans) ugh, why?
She gets up and searches for the phone, finally finding it under her bed next to an empty bottle. She picks up the bottle and her phone.
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ALANA: (confused) What the hell happened last night?
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She heads to the bathroom and starts brushing her teeth and scrolls through her phone. Immediately a notification pops up. The notification says something along the lines of, “URGENT!! Audition scheduled for 4:30 PM!! #BIGGESTAUDITIONOFYOURLIFE #YOUGOTTHISGIRL #BLACKGIRLMAGIC.”
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ALANA: (while brushing) Oh shit!
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She scrambles. We see her getting ready (montage including brushing, showering, picking clothes, doing makeup, getting dressed) and once she is done, she is seen checking the bus schedule on her phone. She then grabs her purse, locks her apartment door, and heads for the corner store next to her building.
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ALANA: (a bell rings as she enters the store. She seems exhausted but ready to go) Hey Ernesto, what’s up, can I get the usual?
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The store is small but has everything a person could need. To the left, there is a register, a sandwich bar with a kitchen behind it. You can see the person preparing the order through a little window. Along the sandwich bar, leading to the register, there are all types of candy and chocolate. At the register, you see Ernesto, the owner of the corner store. Ernesto is like her older brother.
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ERNESTO: (light accent) Hey Lani, I’m doing my best, staying blessed ya know. (lauging) you seem excited though, anything new?
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ALANA: (laughing sarcastically) Ha, ha, ha. I know I look like shit, you don’t have to remind me hermano.
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ERNESTO: I’m just teasing, seriously, what’s up though? You look like you finna be on a movie set or something.
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Someone can be heard saying, “order’s up!” A bell is also rung at the same time as the words are said. Ernesto grabs the sandwich and hands it to Alana as they are talking. She grabs a five out of her purse and hands it to Ernesto.
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ALANA: I actually got called back to audition for Idol.
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ERNESTO: Amen, hallelujah, praise God! What!! That is amazing, wont he do it! Woo! That is so amazing girl! I am so happy for you! This is your moment!
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ALANA: (giggling, excited) Thank you!! I was surprised not gonna lie, but God come through every time!
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Alana checks the time and sees that it is almost 2pm.
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ALANA: Oh shoot, I have to go. I don’t want to miss my bus! Thank you for everything, I’ll see you later!! (blows kisses)
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ERNESTO: See you!! Break a leg mama! (pretends to catch kisses)
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The doorbell rings again as Alana leaves the store. On her way out she puts her drink into her bag and opens her sandwich. She takes a bite and checks google maps for her directions, and then turns on her favorite playlist. She has two more blocks before her stop and her bus comes around 2:15pm. While walking down the street, she suddenly, she hears a scream coming from an alleyway to her right. She stops dead in her tracks and pulls out her earphone.
ALANA: (concerned) What was that?
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Alana walks towards the alleyway and sees a man dragging a young woman, LUCY, into a van. Alana hides behind the closest wall and puts her sandwich into her bag.
ALANA: (shocked) Oh my God!
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Alana looks over the side to see what is happening. She sees the man walk into a building next to the car, so Alana runs towards the van and tries to open the back door, but it's locked. Through the window, we see a girl knocked out in the back of the van.
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ALANA: (frustrated) Come on, come on!
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Alana checks over her shoulder to make sure she isn’t seen. While looking around she spots a brick lying on the ground. As she goes for the brick, she hears a door opening. She runs back to where she was hiding before and peaks over the side. A man is seen getting to the car.
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ALANA: (frantically) No, no, no, no! What do I do, what do I do?
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Alana pulls out her phone and snaps a picture of the license plate. The car starts pulling off and suddenly, she sees her bus pull up.
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ALANA: Oh no, my audition!
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Alana runs to the bus and gets on right before the doors close. She pays using her phone and looks out the window to see the kidnapper’s car in front of the bus. Alana sits down in the first row and dials 911. The phone rings twice before she is connected with a call center agent.
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AGENT: Hello, 911, what’s your emergency?
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ALANA: Hi, yes, I just um, I just witnessed a kidnapping. I was on the corner of Norwood and Old York when I saw a girl get dragged into one of those white vans!! I have the license plate and I tried to help, but now I’m just not sure what to do.
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AGENT: That is okay, thank you for calling to report. You did the right thing! I am going to need that license plate number and any other information you can give me about what happened. Were you able to see the guys face?
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ALANA: I was not but he was definitely a white guy with blonde hair. The girl looked as if she was only 14 or 15, coming home from school or something. She had her hair in box braids and a bright pink bookbag. I tried to get her out, but they drove off before I could help.
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Alana shares a few more details, including the license plate number she has. She also mentions that the kidnapper is driving a few cars ahead of her.
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AGENT: Okay thank you, we will get someone down there as soon as we can-
ALANA: (shocked, cutting off the agent) Oh my goodness they’re stopping at this gas station!
She pulls the line to indicate she would like to get off at the next stop. A ding can be heard as she pulls it. The bus screeches and comes to a semi hard stop as the bus stop was only a few feet away and the driver was about to pass it.
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ALANA: Thank you!
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She jumps off the bus. The agent can be heard calling for Alana to answer.
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AGENT: Ma’am, Ma’am, hello? Do not go after them, just stay out. What gas station is it? I never got your name!
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ALANA: It’s the Shells on east Ave, my name is Alana Mykosi, and he’s going inside!! This my chance to help her!
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AGENT: Thank you. I have alerted authorities and they should arrive shortly, as I said before, do not go after them. This man may be dangerous!
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ALANA: He could leave any minute! I know its crazy, but I just keep thinking. If that was me, would I want someone to wait on authorities, or take the chance to save me, I would want them to save me!
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AGENT: Alana, please do not do this, first responders will be there sho-
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ALANA: I’m hanging up now.
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Alana hangs up the phone and tries to formulate a plan to save this girl who she does not know.
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ALANA: (to herself) What am I even doing, the audition is in an hour, I should just let the police handle this.
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She looks into the gas station and sees the guy in line for the register. She looks around and does not see any police in sight.
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ALANA: Come on, come on! Where are yall? (to herself) If he leaves, there is like a 10% change of them finding her. I have to go now.
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She looks around for a rock or a brick, something that will help her smash the window and help this child. She spots a rock, grabs it and runs to the van. Once she gets there, she hides and looks over the edge to peak into the gas station. There are only two people in front of the kidnapper. He is basically next in line.
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ALANA: (to herself) You got this. 1.. 2.. 3.. (you can hear the window smash and shatter as Alana gets off the excess glass.)
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Alana smashes the window and climbs into the van and sees Lucy tied up and gagged. She shakes Lucy a bit and Lucy gets up frightened.
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ALANA: (untying Lucy) It's okay, I'm here to help you.
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LUCY: (crying) Thank you, thank you so much. I was on my way home and this random guy started shouting weird stuff at my friends and me. I told him to leave us alone and he grabbed me! I told them to run, I hope that they are okay!
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Alana helps Lucy out of the van, and they run towards the street. Just as they get to the cross walk, the guy is seen leaving the store and walking to his van.
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KIDNAPPER: (shocked/confused/frantic) What the hell? Hey! Stop!
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He runs after the girls and they begin running as well. The girls run across the street, obstructing traffic. Cars are beeping and stopping suddenly. The guy runs between the startled cars and suddenly, the police pull up and surround the kidnapper. The siren screams as the police arrive on the scene.
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POLICE OFFICER 1: Stop right there! Hands where I can see them!
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Police cars also surround Alana and Lucy. One ambulance can be seen. The kidnapper drops to his knees and officers detain him. Alana and Lucy are wrapped with blankets and checked out by the on site medical team. After checking to see if everything is alright, the Police chief thanks Alana for her help. She checks the time and sees that it is only 4 pm.
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POLICE OFFICER 2: Is there anything we can do for you?
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ALANA: (smiling) Actually…
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CUT TO: THE IDOL AUDITION BULDING
Alana is seen pulling up in a police car, rushing into the building, and getting backstage. She sees one of the stage managers.
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ALANA: Hi! I am Alana M, I am here for the call back audition!
STAGE MANAGER: (flipping though clipboard) You are the luckiest person alive right now, you go on in 20.
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ALANA: (grateful) Thank you 20!
Alana is seen getting ready with hair and makeup. The scene then cuts to the stage and the judges. They call her name and Alana comes out and sees Lucy and some of the officers waiting to cheer her on.
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EXT. IDOL AUDITION BUILDING
FADE OUT.