VAST. HUMID. STILL.
Under a FEVER TREE, a LEOPARD lies nursing TWO CUBS.
The mother yawns — fangs gleaming — then rises, muscles
rippling. Hunger-driven.
She slips silently into ELEPHANT GRASS.
PHINEOUS (30s) — powerful, lean, half-smiling — crouches
naked except for BUCK HIDE armor and TATTERED LOINCLOTH.
In his hand: a TINY BOW, crude ARROWS. A BONE-HANDLED KNIFE
at his waist.
He listens. Breath slow.
A FLASH OF GOLD in the grass.
He fixes an arrow. Lowers himself.
PHINEOUS (V.O.)
Control the heart. Control the
breath.
The leopard STOPS.
A SCENT SHIFT.
The leopard FREEZES — paw raised.
Phineous’ eyes widen.
PHINEOUS (V.O.)
She’s nursing.
The leopard SNARLS.
SPRINGS.
TIME SLOWS.
Phineous FIRES.
The arrow STRIKES the leopard’s shoulder — but momentum
carries her ONTO HIM.
They crash to the ground.
Silence.
Phineous lies utterly still.
The leopard hovers over him, confused. LICKS the arrow.
Then — she backs away.
Disappears into the grass.
Phineous exhales, trembling.
MANFRED DEXTER (40s) pours a scotch. Smiles.
He presses PLAY on the ANSWERING MACHINE.
ALEX (V.O.)
(frantic, rushed)
Manfred— I need to get away. Fraud.
I took a backup disk—
Manfred’s smile dies.
He grabs the phone. Dials.
ENGAGED. Again. Nothing.
He calls OLIVER.
INTERCUT – MANFRED / OLIVER (PHONE)
MANFRED
Harding’s bolted.
OLIVER (V.O.)
Calm down. Stick to the plan.
MANFRED
He took evidence. A streaming disk.
A beat.
OLIVER (V.O.)
There is no evidence.
MANFRED
He sounded— scared.
OLIVER (V.O.)
Then let him be scared.
Click.
Manfred stares at the dead phone.
ADRIAN GOULDING (60s) stands at the window, city sprawling
below.
Manfred sits opposite, stiff.
ADRIAN
A million’s one thing.
But betrayal?
He turns.
ADRIAN
Stick around town, Manfred.
We’ll sort this out.
Manfred forces a smile and leaves.
Dark. Empty floor beyond glass walls.
Manfred stares at nothing.
Then — resolve.
He slips out.
A lone OPERATOR works.
Manfred leans casually.
MANFRED
What exactly is a streaming tape?
The operator blinks.
OPERATOR
High-volume backup.
Saturday’s missing, actually.
Manfred pales.
OPERATOR (CONT’D)
Backups run just after midnight.
Manfred bolts.
Moonless. Quiet.
MANFRED DEXTER stands across the street, composed,
calculating.
Beside him, MICKEY (30s), squat, scarred, restless energy.
MANFRED
(MORE)
MANFRED (CONT'D)
(low)
Five minutes. No noise.
They cross the street and disappear inside.
Dark. Still.
Manfred moves with surgical precision. Drawers. Desk.
Shelves.
Too neat. Too clean.
Frustration creeps in.
Then — the BED.
He lifts the mattress slightly.
A folded MAP slips out.
Manfred spreads it on the bed.
Handwritten notes. Fuel stops. Border crossings.
His eyes lock on one word.
SEROWE.
A flicker of satisfaction.
He photographs the map with a small camera.
Carefully refolds it. Replaces everything exactly as found.
He exhales.
MANFRED
Someone curious.
Someone desperate.
Someone disposable.
Mickey watches him.
MICKY
You thinking courier?
Manfred nods.
MANFRED
A backpacker.
Clean passport. No questions.
Mickey grins.
MICKY
Leave it with me.
Busy. Harsh sunlight.
HOLLY GARDNER moves through the crowd — BEADED DREADS, dusty
boots, heavy rucksack.
She pauses to give COINS to a BEGGAR WOMAN holding a CHILD.
A moment of humanity.
Behind her — MICKEY.
He bumps into her deliberately.
MICKY
Sorry—
His hand flashes low.
A quick SLICE.
Holly GASPS — spins — sees him sprinting away.
She chases instinctively.
He rounds a corner and vanishes, tossing her MONEY POUCH to
the pavement.
Holly grabs it. Light. Mostly empty.
She sinks against a wall, shaking — anger, fear, humiliation
mixing.
Holly sits on the curb, trying to steady her breathing.
A SHADOW falls across her.
MANFRED
You alright?
She looks up. Wary. Vulnerable.
HOLLY
I just got robbed.
He offers a hand — not touching her yet.
The lie comes easily.
MANFRED
I'm Jack Wellington. There’s a bar
here. You look like you could use
water.
Or something stronger.
She hesitates. Then nods.
Crowded. Loud. Alive.
They sit at the bar. Drinks arrive.
Holly downs half of hers too fast.
MANFRED
Johannesburg chews people up.
Spits them out worse.
She studies him.
HOLLY
You local?
MANFRED
Passing through.
Work takes me north.
A beat.
MANFRED
Botswana.
Her interest flickers despite herself.
HOLLY
I heard it’s expensive.
MANFRED
Only if you stay in the wrong
places.
Serowe’s quiet. Honest.
Good place to disappear for a
while.
She looks at her drink.
HOLLY
Disappear sounds nice.
Manfred lets silence do the work.
Then —
MANFRED
I could help you with that.
She looks up sharply.
MANFRED
I need something delivered.
Rock samples.
Mining survey work.
He slides a SMALL ENVELOPE across the bar.
Not opening it. Not pushing.
MANFRED / JACK
There's some cash in the envelope.
You’d be paid more on arrival.
Enough to get settled.
No questions asked.
A long beat.
HOLLY
Why me?
MANFRED
Because you don’t look like someone
who belongs anywhere right now.
She exhales. Looks at the envelope. Then at him.
HOLLY
Where exactly?
MANFRED
Near Serowe. Details in the
envelope.
She nods slowly.
Fear. Hope. Distance.
HOLLY
(reluctant)
Okay.
Manfred smiles — warm, professional.
But his eyes are cold.
End of Chapter Four
EXT. AFRICAN BUSH – DAY
VAST. HUMID. STILL.
Under a FEVER TREE, a LEOPARD lies nursing TWO CUBS.
The mother yawns — fangs gleaming — then rises, muscles
rippling. Hunger-driven.
She slips silently into ELEPHANT GRASS.
EXT. TALL GRASS – CONTINUOUS
PHINEOUS (30s) — powerful, lean, half-smiling — crouches
naked except for BUCK HIDE armor and TATTERED LOINCLOTH.
In his hand: a TINY BOW, crude ARROWS. A BONE-HANDLED KNIFE
at his waist.
He listens. Breath slow.
A FLASH OF GOLD in the grass.
He fixes an arrow. Lowers himself.
PHINEOUS (V.O.)
Control the heart. Control the
breath.
The leopard STOPS.
A SCENT SHIFT.
The leopard FREEZES — paw raised.
Phineous’ eyes widen.
PHINEOUS (V.O.)
She’s nursing.
The leopard SNARLS.
SPRINGS.
TIME SLOWS.
Phineous FIRES.
The arrow STRIKES the leopard’s shoulder — but momentum
carries her ONTO HIM.
They crash to the ground.
Silence.
Phineous lies utterly still.
The leopard hovers over him, confused. LICKS the arrow.
Then — she backs away.
Disappears into the grass.
Phineous exhales, trembling.
INT. MANFRED DEXTER’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
MANFRED DEXTER (40s) pours a scotch. Smiles.
He presses PLAY on the ANSWERING MACHINE.
ALEX (V.O.)
(frantic, rushed)
Manfred— I need to get away. Fraud.
I took a backup disk—
Manfred’s smile dies.
He grabs the phone. Dials.
ENGAGED. Again. Nothing.
He calls OLIVER.
INTERCUT – MANFRED / OLIVER (PHONE)
MANFRED
Harding’s bolted.
OLIVER (V.O.)
Calm down. Stick to the plan.
MANFRED
He took evidence. A streaming disk.
A beat.
OLIVER (V.O.)
There is no evidence.
MANFRED
He sounded— scared.
OLIVER (V.O.)
Then let him be scared.
Click.
Manfred stares at the dead phone.
INT. GOULDING SECURITIES – CEO OFFICE – DAY
ADRIAN GOULDING (60s) stands at the window, city sprawling
below.
Manfred sits opposite, stiff.
ADRIAN
A million’s one thing.
But betrayal?
He turns.
ADRIAN
Stick around town, Manfred.
We’ll sort this out.
Manfred forces a smile and leaves.
INT. MANFRED’S OFFICE – NIGHT
Dark. Empty floor beyond glass walls.
Manfred stares at nothing.
Then — resolve.
He slips out.
INT. COMPUTER ROOM – NIGHT
A lone OPERATOR works.
Manfred leans casually.
MANFRED
What exactly is a streaming tape?
The operator blinks.
OPERATOR
High-volume backup.
Saturday’s missing, actually.
Manfred pales.
OPERATOR (CONT’D)
Backups run just after midnight.
Manfred bolts.
EXT. ALEX’S APARTMENT BLOCK – NIGHT
Moonless. Quiet.
MANFRED DEXTER stands across the street, composed,
calculating.
Beside him, MICKEY (30s), squat, scarred, restless energy.
MANFRED
(MORE)
MANFRED (CONT'D)
(low)
Five minutes. No noise.
They cross the street and disappear inside.
INT. ALEX’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
Dark. Still.
Manfred moves with surgical precision. Drawers. Desk.
Shelves.
Too neat. Too clean.
Frustration creeps in.
Then — the BED.
He lifts the mattress slightly.
A folded MAP slips out.
Manfred spreads it on the bed.
Handwritten notes. Fuel stops. Border crossings.
His eyes lock on one word.
SEROWE.
A flicker of satisfaction.
He photographs the map with a small camera.
Carefully refolds it. Replaces everything exactly as found.
He exhales.
MANFRED
Someone curious.
Someone desperate.
Someone disposable.
Mickey watches him.
MICKY
You thinking courier?
Manfred nods.
MANFRED
A backpacker.
Clean passport. No questions.
Mickey grins.
MICKY
Leave it with me.
EXT. DE BEERS STREET – DAY
Busy. Harsh sunlight.
HOLLY GARDNER moves through the crowd — BEADED DREADS, dusty
boots, heavy rucksack.
She pauses to give COINS to a BEGGAR WOMAN holding a CHILD.
A moment of humanity.
Behind her — MICKEY.
He bumps into her deliberately.
MICKY
Sorry—
His hand flashes low.
A quick SLICE.
Holly GASPS — spins — sees him sprinting away.
She chases instinctively.
He rounds a corner and vanishes, tossing her MONEY POUCH to
the pavement.
Holly grabs it. Light. Mostly empty.
She sinks against a wall, shaking — anger, fear, humiliation
mixing.
EXT. STREET CORNER BAR – MOMENTS LATER
Holly sits on the curb, trying to steady her breathing.
A SHADOW falls across her.
MANFRED
You alright?
She looks up. Wary. Vulnerable.
HOLLY
I just got robbed.
He offers a hand — not touching her yet.
The lie comes easily.
MANFRED
I'm Jack Wellington. There’s a bar
here. You look like you could use
water.
Or something stronger.
She hesitates. Then nods.
INT. BAR – DAY
Crowded. Loud. Alive.
They sit at the bar. Drinks arrive.
Holly downs half of hers too fast.
MANFRED
Johannesburg chews people up.
Spits them out worse.
She studies him.
HOLLY
You local?
MANFRED
Passing through.
Work takes me north.
A beat.
MANFRED
Botswana.
Her interest flickers despite herself.
HOLLY
I heard it’s expensive.
MANFRED
Only if you stay in the wrong
places.
Serowe’s quiet. Honest.
Good place to disappear for a
while.
She looks at her drink.
HOLLY
Disappear sounds nice.
Manfred lets silence do the work.
Then —
MANFRED
I could help you with that.
She looks up sharply.
MANFRED
I need something delivered.
Rock samples.
Mining survey work.
He slides a SMALL ENVELOPE across the bar.
Not opening it. Not pushing.
MANFRED / JACK
There's some cash in the envelope.
You’d be paid more on arrival.
Enough to get settled.
No questions asked.
A long beat.
HOLLY
Why me?
MANFRED
Because you don’t look like someone
who belongs anywhere right now.
She exhales. Looks at the envelope. Then at him.
HOLLY
Where exactly?
MANFRED
Near Serowe. Details in the
envelope.
She nods slowly.
Fear. Hope. Distance.
HOLLY
(reluctant)
Okay.
Manfred smiles — warm, professional.
But his eyes are cold.