TURBO Screenplay Episode 4 THE SNAKE EYES CHRONICLES by Robert Nerbovig Distribution, sale, duplication, or any other unauthorized use of this material in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved. FADE IN: 1 EXT. EAST LOS ANGELES - DAY                                                      1 A sweltering sun beats down on the gritty streets. Heat waves ripple off the pavement. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) (with a thick accent) Yo, check it. East L.A. ain't just about drive-bys and tacos, you feel me? Sometimes, shit gets real weird. Like Indiana Jones type weird. And our boy Moe? He's about to get schooled in some ancient history. 2 INT. MOE'S OFFICE - DAY                                                             2 MOE, a middle-aged man with a face that's seen better days, sits behind a cluttered desk. The door creaks open. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Enter the client. Lady's got more ice on her fingers than my primo's freezer. EVELYN THORNE, 60s, elegant but visibly shaken, steps in. MOE What can I do for you, ma'am? EVELYN (trembling) It's my son, Alistair. He's... he's missing. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Missing? In these parts, that usually means six feet under or halfway to TJ. But nah, this lady's got a different kinda problem. MOE Start from the beginning. EVELYN Alistair is an archaeologist. He was on an expedition in Guatemala, looking for a Mayan temple. He never came back. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Guatemala? Mayans? Damn, homie. This ain't no typical East L.A. gig. Moe's about to go all Tomb Raider on us. MOE (intrigued) And the authorities? EVELYN They've given up. But I know he's alive. I can feel it. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Mother's intuition, ese. Stronger than any gang tattoo, I tell you. MOE (nodding) I'll take the case, Mrs. Thorne. 3 MONTAGE - MOE INVESTIGATING                                                3 -- Moe in a dusty library, poring over ancient Mayan texts -- Moe in a smoky bar, talking to grizzled adventurers -- Moe examining a map of Guatemala GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Moe's going deep, homies. Deeper than any East L.A. tunnel. He's piecing together some Indiana Jones level shit. END MONTAGE 4 INT. MOE'S OFFICE - NIGHT                                                        4 Moe stands in front of a board covered in photos, maps, and string connections. MOE (to himself) A hidden temple... deadly traps... and a tribe protecting it all. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Sounds like a recipe for getting your ass handed to you on a Mayan platter. But Moe? He's all in, like a vato at his first dice game. 5 EXT. GUATEMALAN JUNGLE - DAY                                                 5 Moe, sweating through his shirt, hacks through dense vegetation with a machete. He's accompanied by a ragtag team: PROFESSOR RODRIGUEZ (Mayan translator), SERGEANT CRUZ (ex-military guide), and SNAKE (shady smuggler). GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Welcome to the jungle, baby. Makes East L.A. look like Disneyland. Moe's crew? They're about as trustworthy as a Tijuana cop. But in this green hell, they're all he's got. SNAKE (wiping sweat) We're getting close. I can feel it. PROFESSOR RODRIGUEZ (examining a stone) These markings... they speak of the hidden temple. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Hidden temple, hidden cash, hidden bodies. In my world, anything hidden usually means trouble. Suddenly, a GROWL echoes through the trees. Everyone freezes. SERGEANT CRUZ (whispering) Jaguar. Stay still. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Jaguars, vipers, mosquitos the size of Chiclets. Moe's dealin' with a whole new kind of gang out here. The group holds their breath as a sleek jaguar slinks past, barely visible in the underbrush. MOE (exhaling) Let's keep moving. Alistair's out there somewhere. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Moe's got cojones, I'll give him that. In this jungle, you're either predator or prey. And right now, our boy's looking mighty tasty to everything with teeth. The group pushes on, the dense jungle seeming to close in around them. FADE TO: 6 EXT. MAYAN RUINS - DAY                                                            6 The team emerges into a clearing. Before them stand the crumbling remains of an ancient Mayan city. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Holy frijoles! It's like stepping into another world. Makes the projects look like luxury condos. PROFESSOR RODRIGUEZ (in awe) Incredible. These ruins... they're not on any map. MOE Can you read the glyphs? PROFESSOR RODRIGUEZ nods, moving to a nearby stone pillar covered in intricate carvings. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Time for the egghead to earn his keep. In my hood, reading the wrong graffiti can get you shot. Here? It might get you eaten by some ancient Mayan boogeyman. PROFESSOR RODRIGUEZ (tracing the glyphs) It speaks of a great temple... hidden from the eyes of outsiders... protected by... oh my. MOE (tensely) Protected by what? PROFESSOR RODRIGUEZ (gravely) The spirits of the ancients themselves. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Spirits? Nah, homie. The only spirits in East L.A. come in a bottle. But out here? I'm starting to believe. Suddenly, a piercing SHRIEK cuts through the air. The team whirls around to see dozens of painted warriors emerging from the jungle, spears and blowguns at the ready. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Oh snap! Looks like the welcoming committee's here. And they ain't rolling out no red carpet, ese. MOE (raising his hands) Easy now. We come in peace. SNAKE (panicking) Screw this! I'm out! As SNAKE turns to run, a dart whistles through the air, striking him in the neck. He crumples to the ground. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) First rule of the streets: never show fear. Snake just learned that jungle rule number one ain't much different. The warriors close in, their faces grim and unyielding. MOE (to Professor Rodriguez) Tell them we're looking for a friend. A lost explorer. PROFESSOR RODRIGUEZ begins speaking in rapid Mayan dialect. The warriors exchange glances, their expressions unreadable. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) This is it, homies. Make or break time. In the barrio, this is when you find out if you're getting jumped in... or just jumped. The lead warrior steps forward, his gaze fixed on Moe. WARRIOR LEADER (in broken English) You... come. Others... stay. MOE nods, glancing back at his team before following the warrior into the dense jungle. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Moe's taking a walk on the wild side now. In East L.A., following a stranger usually means you're about to get robbed. Out here? Who knows. But one thing's for sure - our boy's in deeper than a gopher in the Hoover Dam. FADE TO BLACK. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Strap in, ese. This jungle adventure's just getting started. And trust me, it's gonna be wilder than a quinceanera after the parents leave. FADE OUT. FADE IN: 7 EXT. DENSE JUNGLE - DAY                                                          7 Moe follows the Warrior Leader through the thick foliage. Sweat drips down his face, his clothes cling to his body. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Moe's deeper in the jungle than a tick on a street dog's ass. One wrong move and he's gonna be the main course at a cannibal cookout. Suddenly, the jungle gives way to a clearing. A massive Mayan temple looms before them, its stone face weathered but still magnificent. MOE (in awe) Holy... GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Holy is right, homie. This joint's bigger than the biggest crack house in East L.A. And probably just as dangerous. The Warrior Leader gestures for Moe to follow him up the temple steps. 8 INT. MAYAN TEMPLE - DAY                                                          8 Moe enters the cool, dark interior of the temple. His eyes adjust to see intricate carvings and faded murals on the walls. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Man, this place makes the Metropolitan look like a swap meet. But Moe ain't here for no art appreciation class. Suddenly, a figure emerges from the shadows. It's ALISTAIR THORNE, looking disheveled but very much alive. ALISTAIR (surprised) Who... who are you? MOE Name's Moe. Your mother sent me. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Bingo! Moe hit the jackpot faster than a lucky slot in Vegas. But in this game, the house always wins. ALISTAIR (excited) My mother? Is she here? How did you find me? Before Moe can answer, more warriors appear, surrounding them. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Uh-oh. Looks like the welcome wagon just turned into a firing squad. In the barrio, this is when you start prayin' to La Virgen de Guadalupe. The Warrior Leader steps forward, speaking in his native tongue. Alistair listens, then turns to Moe. ALISTAIR They want to know why you've come. They... they think you're here to steal their treasures. MOE (firmly) Tell them I'm just here for you. No treasure hunting, no artifact stealing. Just a simple rescue mission. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Simple rescue mission? In East L.A., maybe. Out here? It's like trying to snatch a steak from a hungry pitbull. Alistair translates. The warriors confer among themselves, their expressions guarded. ALISTAIR (to Moe) It's not that simple. I... I've learned so much from them. Their culture, their history. It's invaluable. MOE (exasperated) Kid, your mother's worried sick. We need to get you home. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Mama's boy's gone native. In my hood, we call that Stockholm syndrome. Except instead of bank robbers, it's a bunch of spear-chucking Mayans. Suddenly, commotion erupts outside. The warriors rush to the temple entrance, weapons ready. 9 EXT. MAYAN TEMPLE - DAY                                                          9 Moe and Alistair follow the warriors outside to see Evelyn Thorne, flanked by Professor Rodriguez and Sergeant Cruz, approaching the temple. GANG MEMBER (V.O.) Well, slap my abuela and call her granny! Mama bear's come to the rescue. This is about to get more dramatic than a telenovela finale. This site is designed and maintained by: Robert Nerbovig