TURBO PILOT
by Robert Nerbovig
                                                           The Robin Hood Virus-Discovery
Turbo "Pilot" Screenplay


1 EXT. WHITTIER BOULEVARD EAST LOS ANGELES (1940) 1
FADE IN:
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Órale, check it. It's 1940, and the sun's beatin' down on Whittier
                    Boulevard like it's tryna fry our asses. This is where our story goes
                    down, ese. We see Moe's office above Rosario's Panaderia. That's
                    where Snake-Eyes Juarez posted up. Used to be a real vato loco,
                    you feel me? But now he's tryna go straight. Got a picture of his
                    old lady Amelia up there - she ghosted from the flu. Left him with
                    a kid, Roberto, stayin' with his tío Georgie in Pico.

2 INT. MOE'S OFFICE 2
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Snake-Eyes' spot is like somethin' outta them gringo detective
                    flicks. Got them cheap novels, and wanted posters. Two desks,
                    four chairs, and a bookshelf full of law crap. Smells like pan dulce
                    from downstairs, makes a homie hungry just thinkin' about it.

3 EXT. WHITTIER BOULEVARD 3
WE SEE MOE'S 1939 BUICK CONVERTIBLE PARKED OUTSIDE.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Outside, Snake-Eyes got his ride parked up - a clean '39 Buick.
                    Shit's tight, makes the whole block look boujee. Now, lemme
                    school you on SnakeEyes. Homie got popped for cheatin' at
                    some rigged casino when he was 25. But he got tired of that
                    vida loca, wanted to flip the script and go legit. As legit as a
                    vato with his connections could get, you know what I'm sayin'?

4 EXT. WHITTIER BOULEVARD - VARIOUS SHOTS 4
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Whittier wasn't just some street, ese. It was where we showed
                    off our cultura. The threads, the grub, the lowriders - all of it.
                    You could cop a burger with frijoles at Lucy's Drive-In or hit up
                    El Encanto for some bomb chiles rellenos if you was feelin' fancy.

5 INT. MOE'S OFFICE - NIGHT WE SEE MOE STUDYING CRIME SCENE PHOTOS. 5
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    So there's Snake-Eyes, smokin' like a chimney and starin' at
                    some deadend case 'bout the Eastside mob. Then this fine-ass
                    ruca struts in like she owns the joint.

LOLA ENTERS.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    That's Lola Ramirez. Sings at one of them Cuban spots on Brooklyn
                    Avenue. She's all curves and red lips, the type that'l make you
                    do stupid shit.
LOLA
                    Mr. Juarez, I need your help. Someone's been leaving me threats, ugly
                    notes shoved under my dressing room door.
MOE
                    Why come to me, Lola? With your connections, you know plenty of boys                     who could take care of this.
LOLA
                    Because I want someone I can trust. Someone who plays by their own                     rules.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    She slaps down some feria, and Snake-Eyes is in. Typical vato, can't say
                    no to a pretty face and some cash.

THE SCENE CONTINUES WITH MOE AGREEING TO TAKE THE CASE.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Snake-Eyes knows he's in deep. Lola's ex, Enzo Castellano, is some
                    big-time capo in the Palermo family. Could be him or some pendejo
                    tryna claim Lola for himself. Either way, shit's about to get real.

6 EXT. WHITTIER BOULEVARD / OUTSIDE ROSARIO'S PANADERIA - NIGHT 6
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Snake-Eyes grabs his jacket and fedora like he's some big-time
                    detective, you know? Hops in his Buick and cruises over to Club
                    Intimo. That's where Lola used to sing before she hit it big.

7 INT. CLUB INTIMO – NIGHT 7
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Inside, it's all smoky and shit. Some bolero's playin' on the jukebox.
                    Snake-Eyes slides up to the bar like he owns the place.
MOE
                    Dos cervezas, Eduardo.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Eduardo, the bartender, he's all surprised to see Snake-Eyes. Thought
                    the vato was out of the game, you feel me?
EDUARDO
                    Juarez, I heard you was out of the game, compadre. What brings a P.I.
                    like you around these parts again?
MOE
                    I'm working, Eduardo. Need to learn what you know about who might be
                    leanin' on Lola Ramirez.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Eduardo's playin' it cool, but he drops some knowledge about them
                    Eastside barzones. Says they got a thing for their working
                    girls. Snake-Eyes knows he's talkin' 'bout that gang that
                    runs everything 'round here. If they're after Lola, she's
                    in deep shit.

SUDDENLY, THERE'S A LOUD CRASH FROM THE BACK ROOM.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Next thing you know, there's some ruckus in the back. Snake-Eyes,
                    actin' all chingón, pulls out his piece and creeps back
                    there. Bursts in like he's John Wayne or some shit.
MOE
                    Alright cabrones, keep your hands where I can see them!
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    There's three vatos in there. Two of 'em look like straight-up
                    gangbangers with snake tats. But the little dude in the
                    corner? That's Miguel "El Raton" Quesada, Enzo
                    Castellano's bitch-ass capo.
JULIO
                    Well, if it ain't Snake-Eyes Juarez. You still slingin' that
                    peashooter and pretendin' to be a detective?
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Before Snake-Eyes can even flex, El Raton starts squealin'
                    like the rata he is.
EL RATON
                    He's telling the truth, Julio! I've heard of this Juarez...
                    he ain't afraid to go too far.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    That's when shit really pops off. Snake-Eyes starts blastin',
                    drops both gangbangers like it's nothin'. Then he
                    grabs El Raton and starts puttin' the squeeze on him.
MOE
                    Start talking, Raton! What's your play with Lola and I'll
                    make sure you get to see Don Castellano again...
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    El Raton spills everything. Turns out Lola left Don
                    Castellano for some singer named Puente last year.
                    The Don was hella salty, put out a hit and
                    everything. But Lola and her new man dipped
                    before they could get got.
EL RATON
                    The Don's been obsessed, thinking Lola was playing
                    him for a sucker! He wanted to flush her out
                    into the open, get her scared enough to show
                    herself.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Snake-Eyes lets the little rata go, but not before
                    puttin' the fear of God in him.
MOE
                    You tell Castellano, if he even thinks about going
                    near Lola again, there'll be more holes
                    comin' to him next time.

8 EXT. WHITTIER BOULEVARD / OUTSIDE CLUB INTIMO – NIGHT 8
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Snake-Eyes books it outta there, headed downtown.
                    He's thinkin' this whole thing's more twisted
                    than a telenovela. Someone's playin' everyone,
                    and he's gotta figure it out before Lola ends
                    up in a body bag.

9 EXT. OUTSIDE THE BILTMORE HOTEL 9
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Snake-Eyes pulls up to the Biltmore like he belongs
                    there. Place is fancy as hell, nothin' like
                    the spots back in the barrio.

10 INT. INSIDE THE BILTMORE HOTEL LOBBY 10
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Inside, it's all high rollers and fine-ass rucas
                    servin' drinks. Snake-Eyes spots Lola on
                    stage, lookin' fine enough to make a priest sin.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    They have a quick chat, and SnakeEyes drops the
                    bomb about her ex still wantin' her dead.
                    Lola's all shook up, swears she ain't
                    tryna start no shit.

JUST AS THEY'RE TALKIN', JOHNNY PUENTE SHOWS UP WITH A GUN.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Turns out this puto Puente's been playin' everyone.
                    He set up Lola, made her ex think she was
                    doublecrossin' him. All 'cause she finally
                    got wise and was gonna dump his sorry ass.
PUENTE
                    I got permission from the biggest narco hoods in
                    the city to take her out. Just needed to make
                    her big shot ex think she was playin' him
                    again first.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    But Snake-Eyes, he ain't no punk. Before Puente
                    can even think about pullin' that trigger,
                    Snake-Eyes lights him up. Puente goes down
                    like a sack of papas.
MOE
                    You okay, mamacita? That scheming yucca got what
                    he had comin'.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    And just like that, Snake-Eyes saves the day.
                    Lola's all over him, cryin' and shit.
LOLA
                    Gracias, you are my guardian angel. I don't
                    know how I'll ever repay you...
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Two weeks later, Snake-Eyes is back to
                    defendin' small-time cholos in court.
                    But now he's got Lola ridin' shotgun
                    in a sweet Cadillac. Looks like our
                    boy Snake-Eyes finally caught a break, ese.
                    Sometimes, even in this loco life,
                    the good guys win.

11 EXT. OUTSIDE THE MISSION DISTRICT COURTHOUSE - DAY 11
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    So check it. Two weeks after all that drama went
                    down, Snake-Eyes is back to his usual grind.
                    Defendin' all the small-time hustlers and
                    barrio bandidos that keep his lights on,
                    you feel me?
MOE FLICKS AWAY HIS CIGARETTE AND STARTS WALKING TO HIS CAR.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Homie's struttin' outta the courthouse like he
                    owns the place. Probably just got some
                    cholo off with a slap on the wrist. That's
                    when this clean-ass black Cadillac rolls up.
A SLEEK BLACK CADILLAC CONVERTIBLE PULLS UP BESIDE MOE.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Snake-Eyes reaches for his piece, thinkin' it's
                    about to pop off again. But nah, it's just
                    his new ruca, Lola.
LOLA
                    Get in, Snake-Eyes. I'm taking you out for a
                    celebratory lunch. My treat for once.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Lola's lookin' fine as hell in some white sundress.
                    Snake-Eyes can't help but grin like a fool.
                    He hops in that Caddy faster than you can
                    say "órale".
MOE
                    If this is how you treat all your friends, I might
                    just get into trouble more often.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Lola's laughin', and you can see Snake-Eyes is all
                    twisted up inside. Good twisted, though.
                    Like when your abuela makes your favorite
                    tamales, you know?
LOLA
                    You've done enough noble deeds to last a lifetime,
                    mi Angel. From now on, just think of me
                    as your own personal chaperone... away
                    from trouble.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    Snake-Eyes is eatin' it up, holdin' her hand like
                    it's made of gold or some shit.
MOE
                    (chuckling) Sounds like a deal, hermosa.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    For once, our boy ain't thinkin' about the next
                    case or how to outsmart some pandillero.
                    Nah, he's picturin' himself ridin' off into
                    the sunset with his smokin' hot ruca.
THE CADILLAC DRIVES OFF, LEAVING THE COURTHOUSE BEHIND.
GANG MEMBER (V.O.)
                    And that's how it goes down in East LA,
                    carnales. Sometimes, even a vato who's
                    been around the block a few times gets his
                    happy ending. Snake-Eyes traded in his
                    loaded dice for a badge, and now he's
                    got himself a piece of that American Dream.
                    (laughing)
                    Who knows? Maybe there's hope for the rest
                    of us locos too, eh?

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