Illegal
Shhh!
A successful L.A. fashion model from Eastern Europe has a secret – she’s undocumented.
That’s not all. Because of her legal presence issues she has to work for a drug cartel.
Wrong…
“Wrong place, wrong time. If she dies here and now, that’s what the headlines would say, she thought to herself.
Even now, though, in the eyes of mortal danger, she thought she was still safer than anywhere back in her home country.”
INT. INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TERMINAL.
Getting off the plane that just landed from Mexico is a tall slinky GIRL, wearing a vivid communist red dress. She couldn’t stand out more in the crowd of casually dressed passengers. Big black sunglasses and a silk scarf around her head unable to conceal a concerned look on her face. A small carry-on in her hands, swaying like a pendulum with each step, as she’s in a rush. Actually, no - she’s in A RUSH.
Shoulders straight, head held high, lips tightened, she moves as fast as she can without showing how much she wants to run.
Another ten yards, and a dark sign hovering near the ceiling caught her eye. Stick figures of a man and woman – the universal restroom symbol, not requiring any translation. This was exactly what she is so desperately looking for.
Hurry! Drugs travel fast through the blood stream. She needs to get them out of her system.
CLOSE UP OF THE BABY’S FACE
Red, still covered in a mushy mix of blood and placenta,
smooched face. Even as far as newborns go, it’s not a cute
baby. It opens up it’s tiny mouth for another loud cry.
We freeze the image before the sound kicks in.
GIRL (V.O.)
Ok, so this ugly little face right
here is me. I know, I know, I’ve
come a long way... But come on, I
never told you I was gonna be a
model.
FAST-PACED ANIMATION DEPICTS A PLANE TAKING OFF IN THE LAND OF SNOW AND MISERY, HEADING WEST TO THE LAND OF SUNSHINE AND PALM TREES.
NATASHA (V.O.)
Stacy introduced me to the true LA lifestyle…
INT. VEGAN RESTAURANT
Natasha and Stacy examine the menu suspiciously.
CLOSE UP of the MENU : “Enjoy our brand new VEGAN, gluten-free, soy-free, sugar-free, antibiotic-free, low carb ORGANIC menu!”
NATASHA
Is there anything to enjoy? What are they serving? Ice cubes? Vegetarian meat smoothies?
“NATASHA
But I never see you work! How do
you pay your rent?
STACY
Oh, you’re so funny. Unlike you, I
don’t have to work everyday, silly.
I land a few good gigs here and
there, and I get good residuals.
NATASHA
Like, from commercials?
STACY
Yeah, like from commercials. Listen, I’m
telling you, you should do this as
well. Use my social to get paid.”
Suddenly, a BLACK SUV appears behind her car, as it’s getting off the freeway and merging into the narrow street.
The driver is beyond aggressive. He honks at Natasha and tries to pass her, ignoring the fact that there’s only one lane of traffic.
Natasha tries to see the face of the driver through the rearview mirror. It’s a freaking junkie looking piece of white trash. He yells something at her from his car, indistinguishable.
<…continued…>
NATASHA
What the...
The junkie is fast. In a split of a second he’s right next to Natasha’s car. His blistered dirty hand slides through the window and grabs Natasha by the hair. She screams.
JUNKIE
GIMME THAT FUCKING PHONE, YOU CUNT!
He smacks her head against the steering wheel. This opens up a gash in her lip, blood flies out.
<…continued…>
Quick reach - she clicks her glove compartment open. There it is - her swiss knife, her only hope to get out of this alive. Natasha grabs the knife and thrusts the blade right into the junkie’s hand, nailing it down to the steering wheel.
<…continued…>
BAM! BAM!
Natasha pulls out the keys and opens up the trunk of the SUV, ready to stick the junkie guy’s body inside.
What she sees makes her stop right there.
The van is filled with white packages, and Natasha is ready to swear on her mother’s life that it’s not salt or baking soda that’s inside. Her eyes expand. How did this escalate so quickly?
NATASHA
(still not believing her eyes)
Holy fuck...
Trying to make sure that her eyes aren’t deceiving her, Natasha grabs one of packages and slices it open with a quick sharp move. White powder pours out like a waterfall.
NATASHA (CONT’D)
Fuck...FUCK FUCK!!!
She covers her mouth with her hands. Some of the powder sticks to her lips, mixing up with blood. Natasha spits it out.
Her heart racing away, her mind working fast, planning, plotting.
Natasha scans the street with her eyes again - still no one around. There’s only one solution to this. Or so she thinks. Bad idea.
EXT. FREEWAY
As Natasha is making her way back, she tries calms down. She thinks she has a plan that can be the answer to all of her problems. Or rather…the beginning of them all.
Camera pans out to a wide view of Los Angeles.
NATASHA (V.O.)
Back then... I thought it was a
blessing in disguise. Little did I know...