The Contract

FADE IN:

Firefighter of the Decade BROCK WILKINS (30s), stares at a plaque on the wall, his chest puffs out.

INSERT PLAQUE: US Firefighters Association - Most Lives Saved. Peter Harris - Retired - Two hundred eleven.

An ALARM sounds. Brock rushes off.

EXT. WINDING ROAD THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS - NIGHT

A firetruck zooms down a winding, tree lined road. Lights flash, siren BLARES.

A SLICK MAN in a black suit watches the firetruck scream past. He checks his watch, flashes a wicked grin.

A timer runs backwards from fifteen minutes.

EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

At the edge of town, a three story apartment building burns. CIVILIANS rush out.

The firetruck pulls to a stop. FIREFIGHTERS hop out, get to work.

Brock grabs the hose line, connects it to a fire hydrant, cranks the valve open.

He checks his watch. A timer runs, twelve minutes.

Firefighters #1 and #2 hang on to the hose, pressure builds. They lean forward, unleash the water into the heart of the flames.

Brock rushes into the apartment building.

INT. APARTMENT LOBBY - NIGHT

Lieutenant JAMES KNIGHT calls out orders in the smoky lobby.

JAMES -- Get a second hose line in here ASAP.

FIREFIGHTER #3 -- Yes, sir.

Firefighter #3 sprints outside.

Slick relaxes in the lounge area with his feet up, feet crossed. He stares at Brock, taps on his watch.

James grabs Brock and pulls him close, stares into his eyes.

JAMES -- How ya feeling about this one?

Brock stares back, eyes full of energy, and a bit defiant.

BROCK -- Lucky as ever, sir.

JAMES -- Then do your thing. Room three sixteen is unaccounted for.

Brock glances towards the empty lounge, rushes to the stairs.

INT. APARTMENT - THIRD FLOOR HALL - NIGHT

Brock hurries along the third floor hall, settles in before room three sixteen. He SMASHES in the door.

INT. APARTMENT - ROOM 316 - NIGHT

SALLY JENKINS (80s) stands at the stove sniffing the air.

Brock rushes to her side.

BROCK -- Mrs. Jenkins, are you okay?

Sally jumps, startled at the intrusion.

SALLY -- I think I might have burned my dinner but I don't remember cooking.

BROCK -- Ma'am, the building's on fire, we have to go.

SALLY -- Did you know April is my favorite month?

Sally winks at Brock, points at a Firefighters Calendar.

The calendar displays the month of April. Brock's bare, muscular chest and million dollar smile stare back at them.

Brock sweeps her up in his arms, beams at her.

BROCK -- It's October, ma'am.

Brock whisks her out of the room.

EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

Brock hustles from the smoke filled lobby onto the street, Mrs. Jenkins in his arms. He hands her off to paramedics.

Reporters SNAP photos. The crowd CHEERS.

Brock glares at the ROARING inferno. James steps up to him.

JAMES -- Second and third floors clear. Fourth is out of reach.

At a fourth floor corner window, a woman holds a baby in arms, SCREAMS for help.

Brock and James spot her.

JAMES -- Jesus Christ... she's got a kid.

Brock checks his watch. Four and a half minutes.

Brock secures his oxygen mask, dashes into the building.

INT. APARTMENT - FOURTH FLOOR HALL - NIGHT

Brock stares into impassible flames.

His watch reads two minutes.

He strolls into the fire, flames avoid him like a plague.

Slick leans against a door jamb.

SLICK -- Tick tock tick tock.

INT. APARTMENT - FOURTH FLOOR CORNER ROOM - NIGHT

Brock CRASHES his way into the room. Flames erupt behind him, seals off his escape. Rafters fall down around him.

Heavy smoke blocks his vision.

BROCK -- Hello, is anyone here?

A golden glow on the ceiling shines. Smoke flees its touch.

Beneath the glow in the midst of total chaos, a WOMAN lies still on the floor. In her arms, a bundled up wet blanket.

His watch reads ninety seconds.

Brock checks the woman for a pulse. He grabs the bundle, hears the MUFFLED CRIES of an infant.

Flames swirl around him. He clutches the child to his chest, sprints for the open window.

EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - SUMMERSVILLE, NC - NIGHT

A ball of fire in the shape of a man bursts from the window. It CRASHES onto a parked car.

Glass explodes from the impact. The roof of the car caves in.

The fireball rolls off the car onto the street.

Firefighters hose it down. Smoke and steam whiz out in anger.

Brock lurches to his feet, rips off his charred helmet.

He hands the bundle to James with a wink, walks past James towards the firetruck.

James unwraps the bundle, the child WAILS.

The crowd erupts in CHEERS of jubilation.

CROWD -- Brock! Brock! Brock! Brock!

Brock walks past the firetruck. He removes his gear piece by piece, dropping them along the road.

The cheers fade away.

Brock's checks his watch, it shows a thirty second countdown.

He spies the Slick Man, waiting... watching at a bend in the winding road.

EXT. WINDING ROAD THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS - NIGHT

BEEP BEEP BEEP! Brock turns off his alarm, extends his hand.

Slick shakes Brock's hand.

BROCK -- A deal's a deal. I'm ready.

SLICK -- It's already done.

Slick points behind Brock. Brock turns.

Brock's lifeless body lies still at the edge of town.

SLICK -- No pain this time. Consider it style points.

BROCK -- How many did I save?

Slick pulls a ledger from his jacket pocket, checks it. He sneers.

SLICK -- Two hundred and twelve.

BROCK -- New record. And a fair trade if you ask me.

SLICK -- But you still lose. Shall we go?

Brock and the Slick Man stroll down the road, footsteps in sync.

SLICK -- I'm surprised you never begged for redemption.

A circle of golden light opens above them. A brilliant flash blinds the Devil, he shields his eyes.

BROCK (off screen) -- Didn't I?

The circle blinks out.

The Slick Man stands alone.

Slick -- Fuck.

FADE OUT.

THE END