Sonder, Episode 1: Masks

8/12/2019 Sonder, Episode 1: Masks

1/21

SonderEpisode 1: "Masks"

By

David Padilla


2/21

OVER BLACK

Fingers can be heard nervously tapping on a table

Sonder

n. the realization that each random passerby is living alife as vivid and complex as your own, populated with theirown ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inheritedcraziness. An epic story that continues invisibly around youlike an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaboratepassageways to thousands of other lives that youll neverknow existed, in which you might appear only once, as anextra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of trafficpassing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.

INT. DANIELS KITCHEN - EARLY MORNING

The morning sun has just begun to break through the windows.DANIEL sits, brooding in the middle of the room at theTABLE. Hes a 30-something year old with weary eyes, dressedonly in a pair of BOXER SHORTS and enveloped by the plume ofsmoke billowing out of the CIGARETTE in his mouth; its redtip dances in the darkness as he drags from it

A cheap FLIP CELL PHONE sits in the middle of the table. Hecant take his eyes off it, and continues the incessantfinger tapping

INT. HALEYS BEDROOM - THE PREVIOUS NIGHT

Daniel is gathering up a small PILE of HALEYS CLOTHES andputting them into a hamper. Haley is in her PJs and getsinto bed. Daniel goes over and starts tucking her in

HALEYCan you tell me a story tonight?

Daniel sits

DANIELOk. I have an idea. Why dont Wemake up our own story? How doesthat sound? Ill start and we cankeep adding to it or changing it,yeah?

HALEYOk!


3/21


4/21

3.

NEWS ANCHOR (O.S)Arizonas Legislature has passed acontroversial bill that would allowbusiness owners, as long as theyassert their religious beliefs, todeny service to gay and lesbian

customers...

Gene stops eating his cereal and pays closer attention tothe newscast

NEWS ANCHOR (CONTINUED)...The bill, passed by a 33-27 voteThursday, now goes to Gov. JanBrewer, a Republican who vetoedsimilar legislation last year buthas expressed the right of businessowners to deny servi-

He changes the channel. Another news station

ANOTHER NEWS ANCHOR...This is not about any form ofdiscrimination. It is not aboutputting a straight man ahead of agay man or a gay man ahead of astraight man. It is aboutre-enforcing and protectingAmerican values of decency andcivility.

He changes the channel one last time, an INFOMERCIAL comes

on, nothing interesting, but he keeps it on, and eats hiscereal.

INT. DANIELS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Daniel sits on his bed as he puts his black PANTS. Behindhim, we see his QUEEN-SIZED BED, the SHEETS only rustled onone side. Methodically and masterfully, he ties a SKINNYBLACK TIE around the collar of his crisp white SHIRT, andcontinues dressing himself. He grabs a BLACK HOODIE off hisbed and carries it on one arm

He walks out into the hallway of his house and approachesone of the doors, opening it slowly, revealing HALEY, his5-year old daughter, sleeping peacefully, snuggled byPRINCESS BLANKETS and STUFFED ANIMALS. He watches her for asecond, and a smile finds its way onto Daniels troubled mug

On Haleys NIGHTSTAND is a PICTURE FRAME of her, Daniel, andher mother


5/21

4.

He makes his way to her bed and gently shakes her

DANIELHaley, time to wake up.

She stirs

DANIEL (CONTINUED)Brush your teeth and get ready,its time for school.

INT. DANIELS BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER

As Haleys brushing her teeth in the mirror, she asks herdad...

HALEYCan I have pig tails today?

DANIELI dont know if I can buy real pigtails this early.

HALEYI meant for my hair, daddy!

DANIELOh yeah, I can do that.

(Kitchen)

Daniel tries making pig tails on Haley as she eats hercereal. They dont turn out very well, and he restarts them,but then the DOORBELL rings. He looks at his watch.

DANIELUh-oh, grandmas here early. Iguess thats good. Tell her youwant the pig tails, ok? Here, Imgonna go now, give me a kiss

He leans in and gives her a raspberry on her cheek, shelaughs

Daniel walks toward the door and opens it, revealing Sarah(50s) Haleys grandma. He gives her a quick hug

DANIELMorning, Sarah.


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5.

SARAHDanny. Heading out for the day?

DANIELUnfortunately. Ive got a pile ofwork waiting for me at the office,

if I dont start early Ill bethere all day. Its already almost7:00 so I should get going

SARAHI see...

Turning around to continue walking, Daniel hurriedly says toher...

DANIELYoure a lifesaver, Sarah. Withoutyou, my life would crumble.

Sarah goes inside and Daniel walks down the block to hiscar. As hes pulling the keys from his pocket, heaccidentally steps in a puddle, ruining his shoes.

DANIELGod dammit.

He quickly runs back into his house to change his shoes, thecamera reveals a STREET SIGN that says:

"NO PARKING

MONDAY

7AM-10AM"

INT. GENES LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Genes standing near his couch putting on a JACKET. HisBACKPACK is on the couch behind him, next to his empty bowlof cereal. He grabs his jacket, puts his bowl back, andwalks towards and out the DOOR.

INT/EXT. DANIELS ROOM/HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Daniel quickly changes his shoes, and when he comes backout, he runs out his front door just in time to see a TOWTRUCK pulling his car away. Knowing its too late, hewatches hopelessly as it drives off into the distance


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6.

EXT. BUS STOP - 7:15 AM

Daniels staring at his watch. Next to him is Gene, sittingwith a somber expression on his face and writing in aJOURNAL. Daniel takes notice, and strikes up a conversation

DANIELAre you writing for pleasure or forschool?

beat.

DANIEL (CONTINUED)Both?

GENENeither

DANIEL

Neither?

GENEYeah, neither

DANIELWhy neither?

GENEBecause I dont have any homework,nor do I take any pleasure out ofwriting about my life

Daniels taken by surprise with this statement, which hasnow created an awkward pause

beat.

DANIELIm sorry. I didnt mean to pry oranything.

beatI dont know you, and Im ahypocrite because I never take myown advice, Someone once told me ithelps if you slow things down, andtake in the big picture. Somethings will always be out of yourcontrol, but you wont enjoy lifeuntil you learn to take control ofthe things you can. Dont be afraidto be yourself and write your ownstory... Just make sure its a good

(MORE)


8/21

7.

DANIEL (contd)one. I dont know if that helps,but thats all Ive got.

A BUS pulls up, and Daniel gets up and boards it. Gene staysbehind.

INT. BUS - CONTINUOUS

The early morning rush is all too obvious inside the bus.Daniel steps in and and puts his money in the receptacle.

He makes his way through the slew of DEAD-FACED COMMUTERSand takes one of the few remaining seats. Once again, hechecks his watch. 7:20

The bus begins to move

It arrives at its first stop, and the majority of the peopleon it step off

As the wall of people in front of him disperse and exit thebus, they reveal a WOMAN, roughly Daniels age to be sittingacross from him

She is very pretty, dressed sharply in a FLATTERINGBUTTON-UP SHIRT and PENCIL SKIRT (to her shirt there is a"GSM" PRESS I.D. clipped). Shes reading a copy ofDaytripper by Fbio Moon and Gabriel B

The book--and then she--catches Daniels eye. He breaks

eye-contact, but remains captivated. He looks back up to her

DANIEL(to her)

"The more we wait, the moreeverything and everyone looks likea grain of sand"...

She looks up at him

WOMAN(caught off guard)

Does that work?

DANIELWhat?

WOMANHoping women will be impressed thatyou read the same books?


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8.

DANIELThat all depends on if they finishmy quote for me

She finishes the line

WOMAN(This guys kind ofdouchey...but cute...)

"The more we wait, the moreeverything and everyone looks likea grain of sand escaping betweenour fingers"

beat

she laughs

DANIEL

Its not everyday I meet someonewhos reading my favorite book. ImDan.

WOMANMia, its nice to meet you.

He notices the press pass on her shirt

DANIELYou work for GSM? I work not toofar from there at the financialfirm

MIAI know where that is. What do youdo?

DANIELI deal with bank accounts, monetaryreacquisition, financials. All thestuff that keeps the worldspinning.

The bus slows down along with the ding indicating it hasarrived at its next stop. Daniel gets up to leave.

DANIELAnd Im off. I gotta tell ya thisis one of my better bus ridingexperiences. I hope we can shareanother sometime.

Mia smiles and reaches for her BAG.


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9.

She pulls out a BUSINESS CARD and a PEN and writes hernumber down on it.

She hands it to Daniel

MIA

Why hope? Lets make it happen

Speechless and utterly captivated, Daniel takes the card,and walks away with a stupid smile on his face, finding ithard to break eye contact with her.

EXT. BUS STOP OUTSIDE BANK - 7:40 AM

Daniel walks off the bus. He looks at his watch again, andthen back up. Deep breath, Across the street from the busstop and directly in front of him is The Rock Valley CreditUnion

He makes a bee-line towards it, each step becoming fasterthan the last. He puts on the black hoodie

Halfway to his walk there, a VAN pulls up in front of theentrance. Theres a MAN in the drivers seat, he tossesDaniel an EMPTY BACKPACK, which Daniel catches withoutbreaking step

Daniels brisk pace turns into a run. As he passes the van,he pulls out a SKI MASK from his chest pocket, and a gunthat was tucked into the waistband of his slacks. He runsinto the bank

INT. ROCK VALLEY CREDIT UNION - CONTINUOUS

Two rounds blast out of Daniels pistol and into the ceiling

Screams ring throughout the bank. He yells...

DANIELEveryone shut the fuck up!

...And the entire building falls silent. The people freezein fear and stare at him

DANIEL (CONTINUED)(more calmly)

...and get on the floor

ONE OF THE TELLERS is frozen in shock. He looks down andslowly reaches under the counter for the silent alarm


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10.

He looks back up. Daniel is looking at him, the barrel ofhis gun pointing right in-between his eyes. He speaks again,much softer now, reasoning with the teller...

DANIELThis money belongs to the bank.

Your life belongs to you. Dont bestupid

The man puts his hands on the table. Daniel tosses him thebackpack

DANIEL(to the teller)

Fill that up. Non-consecutive,unmarked bills. Dont be stupid,dont try to be a hero. Whats yourname?

TELLERRobert.

Daniel Grabs him by the tie

DANIEL(to the other tellers)

Ladies and gentlemen! Robert herewill be collecting all the moneyfor me in this here backpack. Idlike for all of you to take outyour drivers licenses and cellphones and put them in the front

pocket. If you dont, you will dieand no one fucking wants that,right?

As he speaks, everyone begins pulling out their IDs and CELLPHONES.

As they do so, Robert empties the REGISTERS and fills thebackpack with the money.

Daniel pulls out one of the IDs and holds it up in the air

DANIEL (CONTINUED)I will know where you live, ifanything goes wrong today you wontforget, because I wont let you.

Robert hands the bag back to Daniel. He examines thecontents. No good.


12/21

11.

DANIELWheres the rest?

ROBERTThats all we had. I swear

He presses the gun up to his face.

DANIELWheres the rest of the fuckingmoney?!

ROBERTIt... It just got picked up. EveryMonday at 7:30, in an armored car.

He stares at him for a second, the barrel of his gun stillplaced between his eyes, but concedes.

DANIELFuck. Fuck!

He lowers his weapon and hurries towards the exit

EXT. BANK PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS

Daniel rushes out of the bank.

Just outside the bank is a trash can

He quickly opens the front pocket of the backpack and dumps

the IDs and phones into it

He then opens up the back doors of the black van waitingthere. He gets in, and the van takes off

INT. VAN - CONTINUOUS

Sitting in the speeding van, heart racing, breathingrapidly, Daniel takes the ski mask off in defeat

The sound of a police radio crackles into existence. Thedriver turns it up on the SCANNER. Daniel lifts his head upto listen

POLICE DISPATCHAll units, please be advised,theres a report of an armedrobbery at the Rock Valley CreditUnion.


13/21

12.

He holds the black hoodie out the window of the moving vanand lets it fly off into the street

POLICE DISPATCH (CONTINUED)Suspect is armed and wearing a skimask and a black hoodie

DANIEL(to the driver)

Just take me to the office

The driver watches Daniel through the rear-view mirror

Daniel loses it and starts punching the side of the van in afrustrated frenzy

EXT. GENES HIGH SCHOOL - CONTINUOUS

Genes on the floor. He gets two blows to the ribs andcoughs up a little blood. He looks up at his assailant, somehigh school punk in a cutoff T-shirt. His friend stands inthe background, acting as lookout.

PUNKI better not see you out here again

The punk spits on the ground near Gene and backs away

PUNKHappy first day of school. Fuckingfaggot

As they leave, Gene gets himself up--being used to this--and dusts himself off, wiping the blood from his lip.

INT. CLASSROOM - MINUTES LATER

All the seats are filled except one. The door opens and Genewalks in, A few STUDENTS take notice, but most are stuck inpre-class gossip, their phones, or books. One takes notice alittle more than the others. Its another boy. Gene takeshis seat and gets himself settled. They make eye contact fora little more than normal, and break.

Gene looks behind the boy, its the Punk from before, whoconnects the dots, and gives Gene a nod that says "Hesgonna get it, too"

Gene looks away


14/21

13.

INT. G&P ACCOUNTING FIRM - LATER THAT MORNING

Daniels sitting at a DESK, typing away at a COMPUTER andcrunching numbers on a CALCULATOR. He stops working, as iftorn away by some stray thought or feeling. He pauses inthought

He pulls out the card that Mia gave him from his breastpocket. He pulls out his cell and texts her, "hey" and wesee the faintest smile force its way onto his face, but itsbroken by the ringing of his DESK PHONE.

He picks it up.

DANIEL(dead)

G&P accounting.

VOICE

You came up short.

Daniel looks to see if anyones around

DANIEL(speaking very softly)

It wasnt my fault, I got backedup, there were--

VOICEI dont give a fuck. You came upshort and I gave you anopportunity. I gave you an

opportunity to make things rightbetween us. Now I will make themright, Daniel.

INT. DANIELS LIVING ROOM - THAT NIGHT

Daniels pacing back and forth. He goes to the window andpeeps through the blinds. Nothing. He resumes his pacing.

His doorbell rings. He slowly approaches the door andreaches for his PISTOL hidden in his waistband under hisSWEATER, gripping it gently. He looks through his peepholeand lets go of the gun, hiding it again. He turns around toyell...

DANIELHaley, grandmas here!

Haley comes out. Daniel opens the door. Sarahs there.


15/21

14.

SARAHIs everything alright?

DANIELYeah, yeah, its fine. Everythingsfine. just...I got called to an

conference in the city for work.Everythings ok but they just needme to go over as soon as possibleto meet. Thanks for coming out solate, Im sorry.

SARAHDan, its no problem. Ill take thelittle stinker any time.

Daniel grabs a small DUFFEL BAG by the doorway and hands itto Sarah

DANIELThis is enough stuff for tonightand for tomorrow morning. Ill gether when I get out.

He kneels down to get at eye-level with Haley

DANIELIll see you later, sweetie, okay?I gotta go back to work now. Yougonna be good for grandma?

Haley nods enthusiastically

DANIELGive me a kiss.

She gives Daniel a raspberry on his cheek. He gets up towatch them go. After he closes the door, he gets a phonecall. Its Mia. He looks out the window to check ifeverythings clear, and he answers

DANIELYeah?

MIA (O.S)Daniel? Its Mia, from the bus whoreads books.

DANIELMia! Hey!


16/21

15.

MIA (O.S)I wasnt able to get back to yourtext all day, so I figured Idcall. I know its a little late,but I just got out of work andwanted to know if you wanted to go

grab some coffee or something?

Daniel shuts his eyes in frustration

DANIELCoffee? I can do coffee.

EXT. DANIELS HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

We see Daniel walking out of his house and into his car. Hepulls out and drives away. After he does so, a car parkednot-too far away turns on and pulls away after him

EXT. COFFEE SHOP - LATER THAT NIGHT

Daniel walks up to the front window of the coffee shop. Itsquaint, small, and dimly lit. He looks in and sees Miathere, sitting alone, waiting.

MIA (O.S)(laughing)

Shes beautiful.

INT. COFFEE SHOP - SOME HOURS LATER

The two sit across from each other, four empty mugslittering their small table. Daniels holding a wallet-sizedphotograph of Haley up for Mia to see. He laughs with her asshe looks at it.

DANIEL(proud)

Thanks. She thinks so too. If Idont tell her once a day, shellfind a way to get it out of me.

MIAHow old is she?

DANIELFive. Going on six in April


17/21

16.

EXT. CITY STREETS - LATER THAT NIGHT

Daniel and Mia are walking the city sidewalks as theycontinue talking and flirting.

MIA

...Like one of these guys I workwith--Glenn, I think his nameis--the other day he tells me, andIm not joking here, I had anintrospective round table meetingwith myself at every year of mylife, and found out that myproblems are coming from my 3 yearold self and my 17 year old self.I shit you not.

They share a laugh

MIAyeah. Im a magnet for the weirdones

They stop walking. They arrived at her car and she turnsplayfully to face him. Her eyes locked into his gaze.

MIABut I had a good time tonight.Thanks for that. I hope we can doit again some time

Daniel grabs her and they kiss.

DANIELWhy hope?

She gets in her car and he watches her drive away. He walksaway, and when he does, the car from earlier pulls out of aspot and goes in her direction

INT. DANIELS BEDROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT

Daniels laying in bed asleep. His phone begins to ring,displaying Mias name. He wakes up and answers it

DANIELHello?

Mias crying


18/21

17.

MIADaniel! Help me I dont know whatsgoing on! I dont-

The phones taken from her

DANIEL

Mia?!

The voice from before takes over

VOICEMias here

DANIELYou motherfucker! She did nothing!This isnt about her!

VOICEIf you want to get her, come to the

warehouses at sunrise

EXT. GENES HIGH SCHOOL - NEXT MORNING

A somber orange sun is suspended in the sky a few degreesabove the horizon

Genes sitting alone outside on the bleachers eating abagel. There are a couple of kids on the bleachers, too,hanging out, eating, talking

The PUNK that beat him up before approaches him

PUNKGet up. I thought I told you youwerent allowed here.

Beat.

PUNKDid I stutter or something? Get up.

EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT - CONTINUOUS

Daniels car pulls up on an old street in the industrialsection of a city.

Down the street, standing, is Alfonso, with Mia on her kneesnext to him, crying and bound, with a black sack over herface.

Daniel begins walking down the road.


19/21

18.

He arrives at where Alfonso is standing, and they look ateach other for a moment, not saying anything. Mias cryingcan be heard through the sack

Alfonso pulls out a pistol from his jacket, and signalsDaniel, who then raises his shirt to show hes not hidingany weapons. He points it at him

ALFONSOGet on your knees

Alfonso directs his attention to his gun

ALFONSOThis is a Glock 22. It can hold amagazine of 15 bullets

Alfonso cocks the pistol and walks behind Daniel as thoughto shoot, but then removes the magazine, and puts it inDaniels hand

ALFONSOYou have one...

He pulls another gun from under his waistband

ALFONSO... Its nothing personal, but youthreatened the stability of mybusiness. My livelihood. Im justgetting things sorted. Make thingsright.

DANIELThis is my problem. Not hers. Youdeal with-

ALFONSO(cutting him off)

As much as it would please me toend this in a simpler manner, Icant. Despite your recentmissteps, youre still too valuablean asset to me. My hands have beentied and Im forced to have to

teach you a lesson rather than ridmyself of you, so heres yourlesson: if you fuck with me, Illfuck with you back, and this iswhat it feels like.

He points at Mia. Daniel, hands shaking, sweat pouring,looks at the gun, picks it up, looks at Alfonso, and sticksit in his mouth. His eyes close and his hands shake.


20/21

19.

ALFONSOIf you kill yourself, how would youknow I wouldnt just kill her righthere?

Daniel is unmoved

ALFONSOAnd what about Haley?

He opens his eyes, and slowly pulls the pistol out of hismouth, tears welling up in his eyes at the realization ofwhat he has to do

ALFONSOTheres only one way out of this,Daniel.

Daniel looks at the gun. Time slows to a near stop. He

closes his eyes

GENE (V.O)Someone once told me it helps ifyou slow things down a bit, andtake in the big picture. Somethings will always be out of yourcontrol, but you wont enjoy lifeuntil you learn to take control ofthe things you can...

PUNK (O.S)I said get up

EXT. GENES HIGH SCHOOL - CONTINUOUS

Were back with Gene at the bleachers.

Gene gets up...Reluctantly at first, but then stands hisground. Hes not backing down from this fight

GENE (V.O)Dont be afraid to be yourself

EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT - BACK TO PRESENT TIME

Mia cries muffled sobs through the bag thats still over herface

Were back to Daniel pointing the gun at her. A tear makesits way down his cheek.


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20.

ALFONSOWell?

Beat

GENE (V.O)

Take your advice every once in awhile and write your own story...Just make sure its a good one.

Daniel shuts his eyes.

BLACK

THE END

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Sonder, Episode 1: Masks