Near midnight.
The only light comes from a LAPTOP on a dining table.
MANFRED DEXTER (50s) sits alone, tense, immaculate.
On-screen: a VIDEO CHAT window.
OLIVER TAMBO (30s), a programmer, appears from another
country.
OLIVER
Don’t launch the program until
after midnight.
MANFRED
You’ve said that already.
Why midnight?
OLIVER
Technical shit.
Just do as I ask or they’ll have
you by the balls.
Manfred bristles, but says nothing.
His finger hovers over the mouse.
A DIGITAL CLOCK on-screen counts down.
Across the room, a GRANDFATHER CLOCK ticks loudly.
ON LAPTOP SCREEN, an ICON of a LEOPARD sits at the center.
MANFRED
What’s with the leopard?
OLIVER
It’ll shift when the program does
its business.When it’s red, we’re
done.
The leopard seems to stare back.
The digital clock hits MIDNIGHT.The grandfather clock CHIMES.
Manfred checks his watch. Waits.
MANFRED
Now?
OLIVER
Go for it.I’m off now.
And Manfred?
MANFRED
What?
OLIVER
Good luck.Lie low.
The video DISCONNECTS.Manfred clicks.
ON SCREEN
The LEOPARD SWIRLS — vanishes.
BLACK SCREEN.
A NEW COUNTDOWN begins.
Manfred rubs his palms together. Leans forward.
An OFFICE TOWER glows faintly in the distance.
Manfred looks toward the tower through his window.
MANFRED (V.O.)
Unattended.In darkness.
Under siege.
The leopard ICON briefly reappears, swirling in blackness.
Then —
It turns RED.
A DIGITAL GROWL.It vanishes.
ON SCREEN:
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Manfred stares — breathless.
Another WINDOW opens.A BANK BALANCE.
Seven figures.
Manfred pours a SCOTCH. Downs it. Pours another.
Clinks his glass toward the screen.
MANFRED
To you, Oliver.
He smiles — intoxicated with power.
Empty. Dark.
A BACKUP SYSTEM spins up.
Data scrolls.
A small DIGITAL SIGNATURE lingers — unnoticed.
Manfred shuts down the laptop.
He kneels, lifts a rug, exposes CUT FLOORBOARDS.
Hides the equipment. Replaces everything precisely.
The room is spotless. Manfred smiles — satisfied.
Shower running. Steam. Manfred scrubs himself raw.
Manfred steps into the Johannesburg night.
CUT TO:
End of Chapter One
INT. MANFRED DEXTER’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
Near midnight.
The only light comes from a LAPTOP on a dining table.
MANFRED DEXTER (50s) sits alone, tense, immaculate.
On-screen: a VIDEO CHAT window.
OLIVER TAMBO (30s), a programmer, appears from another
country.
OLIVER
Don’t launch the program until
after midnight.
MANFRED
You’ve said that already.
Why midnight?
OLIVER
Technical shit.
Just do as I ask or they’ll have
you by the balls.
Manfred bristles, but says nothing.
His finger hovers over the mouse.
A DIGITAL CLOCK on-screen counts down.
Across the room, a GRANDFATHER CLOCK ticks loudly.
ON LAPTOP SCREEN, an ICON of a LEOPARD sits at the center.
MANFRED
What’s with the leopard?
OLIVER
It’ll shift when the program does
its business.When it’s red, we’re
done.
The leopard seems to stare back.
The digital clock hits MIDNIGHT.The grandfather clock CHIMES.
Manfred checks his watch. Waits.
MANFRED
Now?
OLIVER
Go for it.I’m off now.
And Manfred?
MANFRED
What?
OLIVER
Good luck.Lie low.
The video DISCONNECTS.Manfred clicks.
ON SCREEN
The LEOPARD SWIRLS — vanishes.
BLACK SCREEN.
A NEW COUNTDOWN begins.
Manfred rubs his palms together. Leans forward.
EXT. JOHANNESBURG – NIGHT (INTERCUT)
An OFFICE TOWER glows faintly in the distance.
INT. MANFRED’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
Manfred looks toward the tower through his window.
MANFRED (V.O.)
Unattended.In darkness.
Under siege.
The leopard ICON briefly reappears, swirling in blackness.
Then —
It turns RED.
A DIGITAL GROWL.It vanishes.
ON SCREEN:
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Manfred stares — breathless.
Another WINDOW opens.A BANK BALANCE.
Seven figures.
Manfred pours a SCOTCH. Downs it. Pours another.
Clinks his glass toward the screen.
MANFRED
To you, Oliver.
He smiles — intoxicated with power.
INT. GOULDING SECURITIES – COMPUTER ROOM – NIGHT (INTERCUT)
Empty. Dark.
A BACKUP SYSTEM spins up.
Data scrolls.
A small DIGITAL SIGNATURE lingers — unnoticed.
INT. MANFRED’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
Manfred shuts down the laptop.
He kneels, lifts a rug, exposes CUT FLOORBOARDS.
Hides the equipment. Replaces everything precisely.
The room is spotless. Manfred smiles — satisfied.
INT. MANFRED’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Shower running. Steam. Manfred scrubs himself raw.
EXT. MANFRED’S APARTMENT BUILDING – NIGHT
Manfred steps into the Johannesburg night.
CUT TO: