ZR-X ROUND 1 - SHAKEDOWN

PART ONE

OPEN ON:

EXT. SERVICE PARK, AUTOPOLITAN RALLY COMPLEX - DAWN

ORBIS, a red dwarf star, sails across and above the holy ground of rallycross. Sluggish men and women in blue uniforms unloads a container full of tyres. Pockets of MEDIA PERSONNELS are on the hunt for the juiciest headlines.

Amongst the increasing chaos is an

ANNOYED RACE ENGINEER

decked out in Apollo Racing’s orange and white tracksuit. A prime target for journalists. She dashes towards the motorhomes in a blur.

INT. ROOM, MOTORHOME - MEANWHILE

A typical student dorm with the bare essentials. An old MP3 player sits on the bedside table, playing OCEAN SOUNDS. Fast asleep and happily dreaming is

A LION HUMANOID

with a wild and tangled mane covering his face. He rolls over and a clawed hand dangles off the side. A dull green aura ebbs and flows under his shirt - just above his heart.

It’s peaceful... for once --

-- BANG. BANG. BANG.

The hammock shakes --

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY - DAWN

-- as do the framed WRC memorabilia on the walls. Standing outside of room 16 is

AYAME

(19, graceful, nurturing and bossy) with arms akimbo, foot TAPPING away. Her attractive and striking features scrunched in annoyance. She ignores the chatter coming from the BEE-COMM headset around her neck.

AYAME
Wake up!

BEAT. There’s no response. Typical.

Ayame SIGHS.

AYAME (CONT'D)
Some things never change.

She goes in for the kill --

The door -CREAK- opens slightly. A single

FELINE’S EYE

security checks the luna wolf. The gap widens, revealing:

TERO

(18, average, observant and socially awkward) Already in his orange and white racing overalls. He sweeps his mane into a loose pony tail. Then, slumps -THUMP!- against the door frame.

Tero YAWNS.

TERO
Mornin’.

AYAME
We have to stop beginning our mornings like this.

TERO
Why? We have a good system going on.

Ayame pokes Tero on the chest. Claws retracted. No green aura to be seen.

AYAME
Because I’m not your mother. You’re also old enough to wake up and get to work on time by yourself.

TERO
True. But, you are my sister --

AYAME
-- Sworn sister. I’d like to remind you of that precise distinction. We’re not blood related, Terry.

TERO
Whatever. It was your idea and let me remind you - it was you who wouldn’t take no for an answer. So, just consider this as helping a brother out with his morning ritual, and if it makes you feel any better: you’re an important part of it.

Ayame rolls her eyes.

AYAME
Yeah... real important. You need a better ritual where it doesn’t involve me babysitting you! What if, one day, I’m not around to whip your butt into shape?

TERO
We’re a team. Driver and engineer. Why wouldn’t you be around?

AYAME
That’s not important. Just answer the question.

TERO
Is it... Oh! I get it... Duh! When you and Dex get married --

AYAME
-- Shut. Up. And. Answer. Me!

Tero shrugs.

TERO
I’ll replace you with someone better.

Ayame aims a kick at Tero’s leg. It misses... barely.

AYAME
Idiot! Enough messing about. We’ve got an event to win!

She storms down the stairs.

TERO
Nothing better to start the day than with some sibling banter.

AYAME (O.S.)
(Calls out)
Hurry up!

EXT. SERVICE PARK, AUTOPOLITAN RALLY COMPLEX - DAWN

Tero follows Ayame closely, ninja-ing their way through the EXCITED CROWD. Doing their best to stealth the media again.

A pit reporter spots them.

PIT REPORTER (O.S)
(Calls out)
-- Don’t think I wouldn’t notice you... Ayame!.. Terry!

AYAME
Shit! Pick up the pace.

A chase ensues across the service park, all the way until -

INT. APOLLO RACING GARAGE - DAWN

- They enter into a pristine automotive workshop. An utopia for any rev-head. Ayame SLAMS the door shut and hits the lock.

AYAME
I don’t have time for this --

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

AYAME (CONT'D)
-- Come back later!

They slip on through the work floor as TWO GROUPS OF MECHANICS clean the

SORA AQUILAS

(Think ’63 Alpine A110 on steroids) Codenames ‘AQUILA-16’ and ‘AQUILA-22’ on the windscreen banners. Primed and polished. Ready to do battle.

AYAME
I’m going to have a few words with the mechanics. Do you want to listen in?

TERO
Nah. I’m good.

AYAME
I’ll come and grab you when we’re done.

TERO
Aight.

Going their separate ways, Tero crosses path with

GEN TASAKI

his teammate and exchange a brief acknowledgment of one another. Rivals and nothing more.

Tero raids the mini fridge for coffee. One shots it. His attention turns to the live broadcast on the nearest monitor.

CUT TO:

INT. MEDIA HUB - DAWN

JENI, the studio host, starts the next segment.

JENI
Since you mentioned ‘shine’, Aki. Why don’t we check what the weather has in store for us over the next two days?

The latest weather report and radar images are displayed.

JENI (O.S.)
The cloudy skies will remain until noon with a small chance of showers. Then it’s sunshine for the rest of the day. Temperatures are expecting to hit eighteen degrees. These are great conditions to kick off the opening day.

AKI (O.S.)
They certainly are. However, it’s the calm before the storm. The radar predicts of thunderstorms building overnight and is likely to stick around tomorrow morning for the warm up session. If the predictions are correct, we’re going to see carnage. Lots of carnage.

The studio host appear back on screen.

JENI
From memory, I can only recall we’ve driven on a wet track only a handful of times in the academy. Remember how chaotic it was or can be?

AKI
That’s what makes it fun. It’ll be interesting to see which of the eight will rise up to the challenge and survive in such conditions. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough!

JENI
Your eyes are twinkling. I’m not surprised you’re excited about the weather, Aki. You were untouchable when it’s raining. Do you regret your decision on not joining the series as a driver?

AYAME (PRELAP V.O)
It’s a shame he declined the offer.

BACK TO:

INT. APOLLO RACING GARAGE - RESUME SCENE

Tero turns and sees Ayame glued to the Chronicle tablet, swiping across the holographic screen.

TERO
He looks happy.

AYAME
He should be on the grid with his talent, demeanour and technical knowledge.

TERO
Maybe. But the guy chose to do what he enjoys. I respect that.

Ayame looks up.

AYAME
And, what about you?

TERO
Me?
(Beat)
Mate, I’m living the dream.

AYAME
Good.

She slaps the Chronicle on Tero’s chest.

AYAME (CONT'D)
Check over these settings and notify me if you need any changes before you get into the car.

TERO
Yeah... I know.

Tero drags his feet to the

ROW OF LOCKERS

along the back wall. He opens No.16 locker and finds his belongings: His helmet, HANS device, new balaclava and gloves.

Tero slips on the items and adjusts them to fit. On his way back, he gives the Chronicle back to Ayame. She wriggles in her chair.

AYAME
Any changes?

TERO
Nah.

AYAME
Are you sure?

TERO
Yeah.

Ayame narrows her eyes - something’s off.

AYAME
Did you even check?

BEAT. Tero averts his gaze.

TERO
... I trust you.

Ayame holds back her anger.

AYAME
Then I don’t want to hear a single complaint afterwards.

Ayame slips her headset on and hits a switch on the control panel. She brings the microphone closer.

AYAME
(Into the mic)
Dex, are you in position?

CUT TO:

EXT. LEVEL 1, SPOTTER’S TOWER - MEANWHILE

DEX
I am.

Amongst the group of SPOTTERS waiting is:

DEX

(18, charming, lanky and proud gourmand) An alpha wolf in the making. He’s slouched over the rails, arms swaying to the breeze. Bored out of his mind...

His stomach GRUMBLES.

DEX (CONT'D)
And I’m getting hungry.

AYAME (V.O.)
You’re always hungry.

DEX
Can you bring me some food --

-- An ENGINE ROAR cuts him off.

BACK TO:

INT. APOLLO RACING GARAGE - RESUME SCENE

Ayame jumps to her feet, caught surprised. There’s frantic movement from the other side of the garage.

AYAME
Shit. Our teammates jumping the gun.
(To Tero)
Are you ready?

Tero hops and sprints on the spot, warming up.

AYAME (CONT'D)
Why can’t your other ritual be this simple?

TERO
Where’s the fun in that?

Ayame rolls her eyes, helping Tero slip into -

INT. AQUILA 16 - DAY

- and plugs the radio into the port. Tero quickly runs the belts over his body. Each point -CLICK.- meets at the buckle between his leg.

Ayame’s voice enters through the speakers in his helmet.

AYAME (V.O.)
Radio check.

Tero thumbs a button on the steering wheel.

TERO
Copy.

The door shuts.

AYAME (V.O.)
Commence ignition sequence.

Tero blindly flicks the row of switches on the centre console. Red lights appear on the dash. The fuel pump WHIRS beneath his foot.

INT. APOLLO RACING GARAGE - DAY

Ayame scans the service park in front of AQUILA-16. She looks over to the data centre. She’s given the ‘All clear’ sign.

AYAME
(Into the mic)
Fire it up!

FADE TO BLACK.