THE MATRIX V.3.03

EPSIODE 1 REDLINE

BY ROBERT ‘CHOI’ BOEHM

b4483@alltel.net

FADE IN ON:

EXT. VACENT CITY STREETS NIGHT.

We hear the revving of the engine; the shifting of the gears as the screen slowly fades in on the passenger’s side of the door. The camera zooms out, the car is revealed, a 3000GT VR-4 races forward at blazing speeds. We hear the tires start to squeal as the car drifts around a turn and start to accelerate again. The car makes a second drift that leads on to the interstate. The camera slowly pulls away revealing a city in the distance. The camera pans up showing a three quarter moon directly in the apex of the sky. The camera quickly turns around and pans downward revealing inner-city streets and diving down into them. A yellow MR-2 Spyder sits at a stop light one crosses in font of it, but otherwise the streets are vacant. The Red 3000GT drives into the picture pulling right up beside the Spyder and revs his engine as the window rolls down. Carnan, a man in his early thirties, pulls a fold of money out of his shirt pocket and flashes it toward the Spyder. The Spyder sits idle for a moment and revs it’s engine in return. Arbiter nods, rolls up the window, and then focuses his attention at the streetlight. The camera pulls back in-between the two cars and focuses on the street light. We see the glow of the yellow light, hearing the engines increase their tone, then green. The clutches drop and the GT speeds forward. The Spyder makes a right turn fishtailing around it and speeds down the street

ARBITER
What the…

The GT makes a 270º turn and speeds after the Spyder. The two cars race through the city streets, swerving through the minimal traffic, and cutting a few people off at the intersections. The Spyder leads the GT to a warehouse where we see numerous import cars and are greeted with thumping techno music. The Spyder parks after the last car, the GT follows her lead. A man known as Vincent (tall, dark facial hair, bald head) walks over to the cars.

VINCENT
Look what the cat dragged in.

Satin, a young woman, 25, steps out of the spyder.

VINCENT
Some ketchup to go with your mustard Satin?

SATIN
Better than that lemon you dragged in last week. At least I come color coordinated.

Arbiter steps out of his car. Vincent turns his attention toward him.

VINCENT
Hey, can you race?

ARBITER
I don’t know. Can you make lame-ass jokes?

Vincent smirks.

VINCENT
Very well, you know what a scavenger race is?

ARBITER
Yeah, you collect different tags around the city. The first one back wins.

VINCENT
Good. Names’ Vincent. How you doing? This is Satin

Arbiter nods to them both.

ARBITER
Arbiter

VINCENT
Welcome to The Redline Clan Arbiter. It five bills to play. The maps are over there.

Vincent motions over to an RX7 and its owner, Luc. There is currently an exchange going on with other drivers.

SATIN
Oh great, I almost forgot. Luc’s got map duty this week.

The three drivers start to walk over to the RX7

ARBITER
What’s up with this Luc guy?

VINCENT
That’s his RX7 over there; He’s one of the best of us.

SATIN
Last time he had map duty; He put a checkpoint right outside of the police station.

Arbiter give a sight smirk.

ARBITER
Sounds like my kinda racer.

Arbiter, Satin, and Vincent walk up to Luc just as Luc finishes business with some other drivers.

LUC
Welcome back friends. Ready for another action packed scavenge?

SATIN
You bet. I picked up a noob along the way. Luc, this is Arbiter.

LUC
Welcome to The Redline Clan Arbiter. We only have one rule. Don’t come back with a tale.

ARBITER
Sounds simple enough.

LUC
Got the five bills?

Arbiter takes the money from his shirt pocket and tosses it on the table. Satin and Vincent do the same. Luc takes the money, placing it in a bag and pulling out three maps, giving them the each respective driver.

LUC
Excellent, The race begins in about ten minutes from now. Enjoy.

Arbiter, Vincent, and Satin depart from Luc and begin to walk back to their cars.

VINCENT
Its study time, so if you’ll excuse me.

Vincent returns to his car, and begins to examine the map.

SATIN
I’ll see you out on the track.

ARBITER
Good luck.

SATIN
That’s something I never seem to run out of.

Arbiter and Satin return to their cars and begin to look over the map.

Arbiter takes a cell phone and an earpiece out of his pocket. Placing the earpiece over his ear, he holds down “4” on his cell phone.

PHASE (V.O.)
Operator.

ARBITER
What do you make of this map?

PHASE (V.O.)
I’d take Beta, then Omega, and Delta followed by Zulu and Alpha. It’s a round about way, but it keeps you off of the interstate.

ARBITER
I think I’m gona take Zulu and Alpha then Beta, Delta and Omega. I’ll be able to hit my NOS down I-918

PHASE (V.O.)
Are you crazy?

ARBITER
Other drivers will take the interstate. The agents will think nothing of it and traffic is light. Besides I have a feeling that our target will take this route.

PHASE (V.O.)
I’ve had a bad feeling about this target ever since day one. Too old too attached.

ARBITER
I don’t care what you say Phase. You haven’t see the ability like I have. I’ve never seen anybody have the ability to control a car like that. Normally the body is the only thing the mind can control. This one seems to have control over the car. Amazing things can be done with that mind, and I’m going to free it.

PHASE (V.O.)
More like capture it.

ARBITER
Watch your mouth Phase. Do you have the waypoints programmed into the computer yet?

PHASE (V.O.)
Yea.

ARBITER
Good, it looks like were about to start.

To Be Continued…