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MOE "SNAKE-EYES JUAREZ A PRIVATE DETECTIVE IN EAST LOS ANGELES IN THE 1940s
Chapter 1
The year was 1940, and the
unforgiving sun beat down on the dusty streets
of East Los Angeles, turning the asphalt into
a shimmering mirage. Inside his cramped office,
Moe "Snake-Eyes" Juarez mopped his brow with a
sweat-stained handkerchief. The air hung heavy
with the smell of stale cigarettes and
desperation. Three years had passed since he'd
traded the smoky haze of underground gambling
dens for the uncertainty of private
investigation, and business, to put it mildly,
was slow. Snake-Eyes hadn't exactly been a
choirboy in his younger days. His arrest at a
crooked casino in El Monte at the tender age
of 25 was a badge of dishonor he wore with a
rueful smile. But that life, a life filled
with the adrenaline rush of marked cards and
shady characters, had eventually soured. He
craved something more, something legitimate.
So, with a past that reeked of backroom deals
and whispered secrets, Snake-Eyes decided to
go straight ? or at least as straight as a man
with his connections could manage.
His tiny office, nestled above a noisy bakery
on Whittier Boulevard, was a testament to his
newfound (and somewhat precarious) path. The
walls were adorned with cheap detective novels
and faded wanted posters, the only real
decoration a framed photograph of a woman with
a smile as bright as the California sun. Her
name was Amelia, his wife, gone too soon from a
bout of the Spanish Flu. The picture served as
a constant reminder of the life he was trying
to build, a life where justice, not chance,
determined the outcome.
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TURBO PILOT
by Robert Nerbovig
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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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